Why is Snaptream.NET searching so lame?

[bpsmicro]

Man, the so-called search mechanism in Snapstream.NET is so annoying sometimes. It's just *way* too loose and defies all attempts to tighten up.

Example. I'd like to set up a search for the "Targa-class" car rallies (Targa Newfoundland 2005 is coming up soon, for example). "Targa" isn't a common word, so it should be easy, right?

I enter "Targa" (in quotes), which *should* be an exact search. I get back all the episodes of "Stargate" (note the lack of an uppercase 'T').

Okay, let's try "Targa " (added space on the end, which *should* isolate the word). But noooo, that returns all the Stargate episodes as well. Apparently the training space is ignored.

Okay, well Targa rallies are in the "Auto" genre, so let's try 'Targa auto' (not in quotes). Okay, this is really whacked, because it returns everything with "auto" in it, *and* everything with "targa" in it, but this time *doesn't* return the "Stargate" episodes. So it's not really an "OR" search, nor is it an "AND" search.

Note that in all of the above I could find what I wanted by scrolling through the lists. It's just that the intent is to set up a favorite search and have it e-mail me, but *not* get a constant stream of e-mails with totally irrelevant stuff.

C'mon folks, doing string searches ain't rocket science. As an absolute minimum support the "AND" and "OR" keywords (or '&' and '|' if you prefer). And beef up the "exact" search so that it's an EXACT search (including any leading/trailing/embedded spaces). If you really want to get tricky, include an "advanced" mode that supports Regex (which the underlying .NET technology has built in for you already).

Brad.

[BankZ]

Originally Posted by bpsmicro

C'mon folks, doing string searches ain't rocket science.

Must be nice to be as smart as you are... I can only dream...

[merrypig]

He's right though.

[BankZ]

You can be right and not condescending...

[Eric3a]

It's a known fact that searches on Snapstream.net aren't very good.
On a similar note, wouldn't you like to be abe to record anything that contains the word "Targa" (and not Stargate obvisouly!)?

I've never understood why a show had to exist in the next couple of weeks for me to record it.
Record anything with a certain actress in it, a certain director, etc...

It's been on my wishlist for a long time, but it seems a better search ability is at the base of such a feaure. Otherwise you'd fill up your HD with junk.
Eric

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by bpsmicro

I enter "Targa" (in quotes), which *should* be an exact search. I get back all the episodes of "Stargate" (note the lack of an uppercase 'T').

A work around is to use the program in my .sig (I think StephaneM app in the download section could work too). While I am still limited by the same search engine, in the Targa case you could exclude the Stargate SG1 and Atlantis from the search results... Since it's done after the actual search, you are still limited to 200 search results before my exclude goes in, but that might just do it... As far as automatically creating recording jobs and more advance searches, it is in the work, so keep an eye on the development section too...

[Eric3a]

As far as automatically creating recording jobs and more advance searches, it is in the work, so keep an eye on the development section too...

Enough with the smilies. But you get the message.
Eric

[Fonceur]

Originally Posted by Eric3a

Enough with the smilies. But you get the message.
Eric

I just uploaded 1.43b to my development thread:

http://forums.snapstream.com/vb/show...335#post177335

It can automatically create recording jobs that match the basic search criteria (Title, Keyword or a specific Episode in a serie). I still have stuff on my ToDo list, but if you have some suggestions for some more advance searches, let me know, I will see what I can do.

[Eric3a]

Thanks. Just downloaded and I'll give it a shot.
Eric

[jtdwab]

My issue with snapstream.net is that it doesn't list if a show is new or repeat. The guide in snapstream lists repeats but the .net version contains all but that, unless I've just missed it.