Everyone makes a big deal about not posting until you search the forums. Well how can I search the forums when key terms like VPN and GSM and GPS yield no results because the engin ignores strings shorter than 3 characters.
Is there some way to fix this?
amazing how you have a hermes (according to your signature) and have failed to read this sticky
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=298893
Because Google search is so unevenly applied for most sites I usually ignore it.
Here's the other thing: google search is kludgy, contextually inept and horribily inconvenient since it's not built into the interface.
And another thing, it's not current. (from the sticky post: "Remember that Google takes a couple of days to "crawl" sites for new info. so results will not show the absolute latest posts.")
Related
I added this to the main wiki page:
Search
If you're having trouble using the search function on our site, (for 2-3 letter acronyms like ROM/IPL/OS etc.) one method around this is to use an external search engine like Google. To narrow your search to our site, just include "xda-developers" along with your other search criteria. i.e. search for "xda-developers AKU 3.2" without the quotes. obviously this doesn't solve everything, but searches are at least more useful than before.
There's my contribution, now what works for you?
Guys and gals, I’ve finished transferring most (but still not all) of my past guides, articles and Bibles to the XDA-Wiki (http://wiki.xda-developers.com/ ). Don’t forget to check them out – I’m ABSOLUTELY sure you’ll find them VERY useful!!
Wow.... GREAT WORK! Nice to see all the "FAQ" stuff in one place. THANKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Disabling Beep Noise
Thank you so much for the FAQ, one question though, I tried to disable the beep sound when initiating a call and followed the steps, apparently that still didn't disable the beep noise.
Any suggestions?
Found it
After playing around with the registry, I finally found how to make the beep go away when initializing a call.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\ControlPanel\SoundCategories\CallStart\InitVol set to 0. At default it should be set to 2.
Guys and gals, I've just finished migrating my latest articles & Bibles from the last ~5 months into the Wiki (so far, I haven't had the time to do this).
VERY important: I use my own scripts to convert my HTML-based articles to PhpWiki (also using other, Web-based PhpWiki converters). Unfortunately, there're some constructs that I just can't convert (and don't have the time to manually adjust ALL the articles - remember, there are hundreds of them); for example, consequent rows separated by only one line feed. (With them, the rows aren't rendered separated.)
If you encounter cases like this and would like to read the original instead,
1. you can find almost all these articles in the General forum ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=256 ) here; you can easily find them by just entering a, say, sentence to search for from my Wiki article, only searching for my nick and the General forum in the Advanced Search engine ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/search.php )
2. at the bottom of many of my articles, there's a "Cross-posted to" section. Just click the XDA-Devs link in there.
3. alternatively, you can also search my blog ( http://www.pocketpcmag.com/blogs/ )
I do hope you'll find my articles useful
nice! thanks for all your work
Holy, old-thread, batman!
As far as I know, the only software difference between Dream and Sapphire is kernel and driver stuff, neither of which effect themes at all.
So why not get rid of the Sappire themes forums completely and just provide a link (for convenience) to the Dream ones? The Hero themes might be identical as well?
I'm sure there are a few other discussions that can be shared between the various platforms too.
I only suggest this because this website is fairly slow (at least here) and having to search both the Dream and Sapphire themes topics can be quite frustrating.
All of my Oreo themes work for CM so if you are running that version of CyanogenMod you can use my themes for the G1. The same applies to any theme, they are just built for a specific rom, not hardware.
Thankyou for clarifying that. It's exactly what I'm getting at. Dream? Sapphire? Hero? It doesn't matter regarding themes because they are all interchangeable between these models. The themes forums for all 3 platforms (and any others that are compatible) should be merged so that it's easier to locate them.
Actually some Rom's are not yet for all Sapphire builds yet. Like the Hero's. There getting there just not yet
Because if someone comes here wanting to theme their Sapphire, and theres no dedicated section for it, the average person would probably be confused, then continue their search elsewhere.
I'm sure in this day and age we have the technical capacity to still make it seem like there is a "Sapphire themes and wallpapers" section, can simply link to to the "Dream themes and wallpapers" section transparently. I agree that it would be confusing for users to not find such a section at all.
My problem is that we have parallel discussions happening, which is a waste of time. It's also a waste of time having to search 2 sections in order to prevent parallel discussions happening. Why not simply merge them since we know for a fact that all the content within such a merged forum would apply equally to both for the benefit of all?
I agree. This is confusing. There are a LOT more themes available on here than what you see in this area because themes for Magic and G1 are also compatible.
Why don't we use tags for this?
From the FAQ:
Tags
What are tags?
Tags are a useful way to search for threads with similar subject matter and content. This complements the normal search system, which searches only for certain words or phrases and/or posts by specific users.
To use tags, you add words or phrases to threads to help describe the content. For instance, if the subject matter is 'photography' then you can add the tag 'photography' to the tag list. But you could also add tags like 'digital image', and 'camera' (depending, of course, on the nature of the thread).
This will categorize this thread with all other threads that have matching tags, whether or not they have the word 'photography' in them.
Who adds the tags?
Tags are initially added to threads by the user who started the thread. Other users may also be able to add and remove tags.
How do I use tags?
Tags are displayed in a box near the bottom of a thread page. Clicking on a tag will allow you to view other threads that have the same tag - and which may be related. Clicking on the word 'Tags' in the top of the box will take you to an overview page with a 'tag cloud.'
This cloud allows you to see which tags are the most popular - the larger the word, the more times it has been used on threads within the board. There is also another tag cloud on the advanced search page that shows you the tags that have been searched for (or clicked on) the most.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We could post a sticky listing the tags in use to be consistent. When you post a theme, you tag it. Relevant data would be:
Type (#theme
Theme name (#remix)
OS (#android)
Compatible ROM+build (#cyanogen4.0.4)
Compatible devices (#hero #sapphire #dream)
Then search tags instead of threads.
Vallyn: that's not a bad idea really. I've noticed there's already a convention in place for the title of a thread, which is almost as good as some minor tagging. I'm actually just now transitioning my data over to tags and it's actually a really cool way of doing things.
Convincing everyone to start using the tags can be tricky though. That may or may not be easier than possibly having to modify the layout or even backend of these forums to get a simple link in. /shrug
Hello
Every time I try to search more than a single word it looks for any of the individual words - even when I am putting the words in quotes "" or as word1+word2+word3.
What am I missing here? Is there no way to search for phrases on here?
I found this :
Basic Search Syntax
Search multiple words use Boolean operators such as:
- AND (ex. ajax AND instant)
- OR (ex. ajax OR instant)
- NOT (ex. ajax NOT instant) or use the minus sign (-) (ex. ajax -instant)
Search for an exact phrase using quotes:
- (ex. "instant email")
Search for wild cards using asterisks (*)
- (ex. *mail)
black3yed said:
I found this :
Basic Search Syntax
Search multiple words use Boolean operators such as:
- AND (ex. ajax AND instant)
Search for an exact phrase using quotes:
- (ex. "instant email")
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but as I said neither of these seems to work on XDA .
Unfortunately, vBulletin's search function lacks recognition of Boolean operators. It makes searching for exact phrases difficult.
Try to use the keywords from your phrase. For example, instead of 'root for captivate', try 'samung captivate root guide' or something similar. The more specific you make it, the higher the chance of your top hits coming back with all your keywords.
It's a known issue, and there's been a lot of discussion on what can be done to get around it. Unfortunately with it being a 'feature' of vBulletin, it may take some time for this to occur
Good luck! If I can help with your search at all, feel free to send me a PM
Hate to resurrect this thread from the dead but, this is especially frustrating for searching within threads... Trying to search by phrase or just two words gives an impossible result
For example I'm try to search for "change color" unfortunately I get just the individual words results, and 125 pages of results lol :crying: Seems like I run into this wall on a weekly basis, frustrating. Usually I can just do a google search ie. site:forum.xda-developers.com "my phrase" but this doesn't let me search within specific threads.
There is still no work around for this right?
quick_ said:
Hate to resurrect this thread from the dead but, this is especially frustrating for searching within threads... Trying to search by phrase or just two words gives an impossible result
For example I'm try to search for "change color" unfortunately I get just the individual words results, and 125 pages of results lol :crying: Seems like I run into this wall on a weekly basis, frustrating. Usually I can just do a google search ie. site:forum.xda-developers.com "my phrase" but this doesn't let me search within specific threads.
There is still no work around for this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use double quote marks round your query?
"like this"
pulser_g2 said:
Use double quote marks round your query?
"like this"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately that doesn't work anymore, just gives results of the individual words.
that's so incredible that this simple thing cannot be solved on the biggest forum for smartphone, pfffff
in applications forums all the message are in a database and that is VERY easy to make a query for exact phrase with php.
I think xda dont want, for unknow reason ...
ANd i am afraid to read several same bad answers here ( and one by an "Developer Admin" ! OMG ! ) : ==> use quote '"like this"
====>
READ OR TRY , BECAUSE THAT DONT WORK !
anyway i give you my contribution , use Google ,
with the "trick" : site:forum.xda-developers.com
example :
"smallest rom" site:forum.xda-developers.com
unfornunately that dont work for specific smartphone forum then : give in more some indications to Google :
"smallest rom" I9300 s3 site:forum.xda-developers.com
jimi27 said:
that's so incredible that this simple thing cannot be solved on the biggest forum for smartphone, pfffff
in applications forums all the message are in a database and that is VERY easy to make a query for exact phrase with php.
I think xda dont want, for unknow reason ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. xda DB is huge. Querying the database directly is not a good idea since it can heavily impact the performance.
Thus the need of an external service for indexing and searching, such as Apache Solr..
Request 1: Add HTML Tidy to the xda wiki stack
Template:Navbox @ Wikipedia said:
Using this template on other wikis requires HTML Tidy to be turned on. A version that does not require Tidy can be found at Wikipedia:WikiProject Transwiki/Template:Navbox. (That version generally shouldn't be used here on the English Wikipedia.) More detailed information on copying {{Navbox}} to other wikis can be found on the talk page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing a LOT of work adding stuff to the xda wiki, but I've hit an impasse, some of the most complex templates used on Wikipedia depend on it being 'scripted' with HTML instead of pure wikimarkup.
The main example is Template:Navbox. While this specific template does have a pupre wikimarkup equivilent (if it even is an equivilent, it's not maintained at the level of the normal one). The other templates I wish to use dont have equivilents.
Template:Navbox subgroup is the one (among others) that I wish to add in but cant because it depends on HTML Tidy. The Template itself is already on the xda wiki, but if you attempt to use it it's completely broken.
I cant say it's as simple as "install on server and turn it on" but the fact of the matter is that without it most of the fun/magic stuff on wikipedia cant be brought over to the xda wiki.
Some examples of recent stuff i've made (for reference):
Samsung Galaxy S Series Navbox
Samsung Galaxy S II Series Navbox
New Samsung Portal on Main page
Entirety of Dell devices page
If you look at the several navboxes I've made they have hacks in the code to get around the fact that I'm just a normal level editor.
Request 2: We need MOAR editors!
Also this doubles as a request for more editors on the wiki: XDA is the largest android development based site on the internet, yet here we are weeks after the release of the Galaxy Nexus and Galaxy Note and the pages didnt even exist until I made stubs for them.
As of this past quarter I've generated more edits then possibly nearly every other user combined, but there's only so much I can do at this point by my self. (With my primary style being to organize page layouts and tidying stuff up vs writing new content for devices)
[Edit count itself is a bad metric, but edits that arnt mine only number in the dozens a month]
Sure it's reasonable for minor devices and varients to be stubs, but the Note has sold over a million units and yet not a single person has even bothered to make as much as a scribble on the wiki about the device. That's just an example, but ultimately if this were wikipedia, the amount of pages rated 'good' or higher would only number in the dozens. (There's also the fact that my belief is that it's a bad idea to add anything intensive for a device you dont own, standard fare on one device can super-brick another due to quirks)
It's a rather sad state of affairs that for such a large web site with 22000 active users at any one time that there's not a single good consistant repeat editor besides me.
Edit: changed wording to not be inflammatory
Request 3: Turn on Subpages on the main namespace
Mediawiki:Subpages are by default enabled on the template and user namespaces, but not on the main namespace. I believe it's done this way because of editor policy and not technical reasons.
The xda wiki would HEAVILY benefit from having it enabled since it already currently manually uses them, the previous example of:
Samsung <Series>/<model number>/article has long existed this way but without the automatically generated anchors.
The majority of pages are already ready to accept it, it might simply need to be turned on.
XDA Wiki
TheManii said:
there's not a single good editor besides me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMHO that is a rather sweeping statement and is likely to put off anyone from editing the Wiki. I would dispute even your claim as a good editor would not make sweeping changes to categories without discussion on the pages involved. Should I just "undo" them?
XDA has a problem with repetitive questions leading to user dissatisfaction with overlong forums and the loss of good developers such as AdamG.
One solution may be to create a FAQ Wiki for any thread over a certain size (for example 1,000 posts) and automatically link to that thread at the top of every page and above the reply box.
Cheers
Tom
It is sweeping, but the fact is there arent many repeat editors, many devices havnt not seen edits in months because a great deal of the changes dones are a one-time batch job with a single theme.
I'm not at all saying that the other editors are bad, though yes that what the impression was (and perhaps I should have worded it better). I'm saying that few wish to stay with it for the long-haul.
There's few editors that consistantly return to add/update/expand artitles for their own devices or other devices. That's my main issue. I actively want to be proven wrong in this regard, I'm inviting other to prove me wrong. I myself am somewhat guilty of this myself, I primarly concentrate on the dell devices, but I've kept them very up to date for the previous year.
One example I have issue with is: Acer A500 -xda wiki the entire page are just forum links. I have no issue at all with the contents of the posts (just as much my opinion on them is irrelevent) but the fact they are just links and not part of the article. The fact it's not on the wiki means that other editors cannot make changes themselves, which rather defeats the point of the wiki, which leads to,
The other issue is, unless the OP is excellent at keeping the thread organizied, you often have to wade though the entire thread to keep up to date. With a thread with +200 posts even if you wanted to it's a huge effort to do that. Even in the most complex of topics, they can be broken down a couple bullet points and approx a paragraph each to elaborate. There's also 'bad' advise that doesnt get edited away on topics ('bad' as in it may simply be the case that it was the right thing at the moment but there was eventually a more 'correct' method discovered later and the original 'bad' one is still reposted for whatever reason)
I could copy the posts onto the wiki verbaitm, but you really should have the poster's permission, what if the poster isnt active? It would be a bad idea to paraphrase advise/guides without context, what if you remove an important small detail. The right way to be to frequent the device and get context, but that triples the amount of work to do so properly.
It's no secret that there's always users that refuse to read topics and simply skip straight to posting repeat questions. Short pages with clear instructions are much easier to recommend then having them read though dozens and dozens of posts (which they skipped as they posted without reading in the first place)
Discussions dont really work on a wiki, esp one without consistant-repeat (or even repeat) editors. There's a fair amount of edits for various devices, but there are obviously more devices then editors. Lets walk though it: I want to make an edit, do I post it on the topic's talk page? Short of doing so on wikipiedia proper on a popular change, you wont recieve much feedback.
Do you make a post on each of their device's forums? XDA has sub-forums for each device, but not really a sub-forum for the family itself (back to the SGS/SGS2, there's the main device's subforum and each varient's subforum but none for the entire family, i think) That means making dozens of posts to talk about each major change.
What if it's an old device such as the winmo devices? The HTC HD2 is the only one left on the active part of the xda forums, because it's obviously not just a winmo device now. You're going to have to wait a very long time as they naturally only get a couple posts a month now.
Just as much, unless a mod/admin states to the contrary, you can always assume Wikipedia:Be Bold is implied to apply. I honestly have no issue if my edits are reverted if they are constructive reverts, as that's how wikis work.
If anyone has a issue with the edits I make, you're welcome to discuss it with me and hopefully we'll find a middle road.
Also I've made a reply on User_talkaveShaw#Page Name & Categories (as a fun note: & is translated to _.26_ in links while / isnt, though mediawiki has no issue with either of them, though you cannot directly use & in page names while you can use /) You should read it if the critisim is directed towards me.
tl;dr prove me wrong, Be Bold, help make the wiki better
Edit: HTC_HD2 - NexusHD2 ICS CM9 FAQ is an excellent example of why things should be on the wiki as articles instead of just merely links to a thread. It's about 3 pages of topic points and contains the majority of the topic points instead of having to read 225 (currently) pages to get the same info. (Also, just as much if I inadvertently remove valid content, revert/add it back! That was not my intention, everyone makes mistakes. The xda wiki is pretty well off in that it has little/no intentional vanadalism, you can always assume an edit is in good faith, I dont recall more then 1-2 legitamitely bad edits in nearly a year)
I've asked someone to look at Request 1.
I'm not sure what can be done about Request 2, if people don't want to maintain it, we can't make then
Thanks!
I dont really expect req 2 to be fullfilled in any real manner. Just pointing it out.
Added request 3: enable subpages on main namespace
TheManii said:
Added request 3: enable subpages on main namespace
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Our server admin has told me this has been done.
Dave
I can confirm it's on now, all the subcatagorized pages seem to be working great now
TheManii said:
I can confirm it's on now, all the subcatagorized pages seem to be working great now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Dave