Just in case you haven’t noticed, I’ve added some new features to the old jalopy:
**Faster, improved search.** Based on the results from the poll, I've gone ahead and implemented a Google Custom Search Engine on Sways. The only drawback that I saw to going with it was that it puts contextual ads at the top and the bottom of the search results. I could get rid of those ads for a mere $2000/year or hey, you could click on a few and help Sway's make a couple bucks.
Other than that, the search results are SUPER FAST, and in my opinion pretty comprehensive. You can now search unusual and complex strings, usernames, common names, three letter words, etc.
Cooler, more comprehensive user profiles. I’ve added a new profile & improved profile form so people can share more about themselves. The form includes fields for some basic personal info such as real name, location, occupation, as well as more specific info related to your surfing and surfcraft building. I hope many of you choose to fill out your public profile – I’m sure others would be stoked and it will undoubtedly benefit the community. To view a member’s profile, simply click on their username. To edit your public profile, click on “My Account” in the upper right and click on the “Edit Public Profile” tab.
Regarding your profile and privacy, here’s some things you should know about the new profiles:
They are 100% optional.
Only the fields you fill out will show on your profile.
They are only viewable by registered and logged in member.
In the coming weeks, I'm going to be adding on a member directory that can be sorted based on location and interest/specialization fields that you fill out in your profile.
As always, if you have any problems or questions, feel free to post them here or pm me and I’ll try to deal with them.
The new search engine is a lot faster but it seems to be faster because it doesn’t search the entire Swaylocks archives. In fact no matter what keywords I enter, I only get a few results and can’t find the threads I was looking for.
For exemple, if you type “flat rocker”, you’ll get only 6 results …
Mike -------------I have always loved this site. The site has evolved and matured. I would like to think I have also. I am not that computer-literate and I am sure that some problems I have encountered during the recent changes may have been my own fault. I have had problems finding things in the archives that I know; would have been there under the old setup. Also have had problems getting over to the surf shop. Wouldn’t come up for some reason. Don’t know how you keep it all together, but I commend you for having created a great website and your rising to the challenge as IT grew and came into it’s own. Also --------My apologies for anyone I may have offended over the years. I guess I’m “feelin’ the Love”. Lowel
Well Lowel, you’ve confirmed my belief that in Swaylock’s as in life, there are those who “get it” and those who “don’t.” To those who don’t, one can only smile and nod in affirmation. From those who do, one gains comfort. It appears you’ve gotten it.
Ok, I’ve run into a problem… Don’t know if it is a problem with the search, or with the archives, but it’s definitely an issue.
I wanted to find a specific thread about bonzers, the “bonzer Q + A thread”. The new google sways search didn’t give me anything. Then I searched from the google page itself for ( site:swaylocks.com
“bonzer three” ) Apparently google still has the thread preview
cashed from when it was originally spidered. The problem is, when you clicky the linky www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?post=280165
it comes up as “Page requested not found”.
So has this thread disappeared from the ether? Or is it just not findable? I hope it’s a search issue, because I’d hate to be losing anything from the archives.