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The entry you've been waiting for
Mon Dec 10 2001

At least anyone that tried to connect yesterday evening (UK time).

I tried the DD search tool yesterday.

After I decided I couldn't wait until my pension was ready at the Post Office, I figured I had better do something about it. So I did. What I DIDNT realise was that the 5 minute job would turn into an all nighter....

It was a simple idea. Add FULLTEXT indexes to MySQL, and update search.cgi to take advantage of them.

2 x FreeServe disconnects later (ie, 4 hours!) and I decided to let it get on with it. It was 1am and I was tired, and it was showing no signs of being ready any time soon. So, I'm afraid I left it and went to bed.

However, this morning it was all done, and after an hour or so tweaking the search.cgi to take advantage of it, you can now use the Search feature again without risking a died of boredom certificate. I suspect also that the Search feature was one of the causes of the wonderful 'Database Connect Error' problems because anything that takes a long time to run stands a chance of making things pile up.

So, sorry it was down for so long. It wasn't meant to be. However, searches are now almost instantaneous again, and search the title and text of a diary for keywords. It also ranks the result and displays them in (what it considers) the most relevant first.

Go check it out and see!

Steve.

9 Comments
  • From:
    Starcrossed (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Hello there! Hey, I bet I logged on to DD more than anyone. I'm so totally addicted. Plus, I had an entry I REALLY, REALLY wanted to put on last night. My first annual DD Christmas open-house. It's on line now though and you and everyone else here are invited to drop by.

    Take care and I'll try that search. I think you all are great. Merry Christmas if I'm not back here to tell you between now and then.

    Star
  • From:
    Rosebud (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Glad you got your sleep anyway..LOL

    You did a great job, I didnt even know it was down!!

    Rosie
  • From:
    Viivi (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    I think it's disgracefull to leave a service down for such a long time! I find it totally unacceptable, and unforgiveable. You gave it up to get some sleep???? What kinda excuse is that??? You don't need any sleep, thats the biggest waste of time there is!!!!

    Ok... perhaps not. I LOVE the search thingie now, it was getting slower and slower, and quite frankly I stopped using it, cause it was just too slow. It is brilliant what you've done with it!!! A job well done once again.

    Thanks!!! :-)

    Wiffy
  • From:
    Abdaeal (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Jolly good job Steven!
  • From:
    Bookworm (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Gee, thanks. I thought it looks and worked really zippy when I finally got in. Cool job, thanks again. ;-)
  • From:
    Xedri (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Great! So um...where is this mysterious search thingy?? I looked and looked and couldn't find it...is it only for premium users or something?
  • From:
    Jencat (Legacy)
    On:
    Mon Dec 10 2001
    Wow! It's got all fast!

    Well done!

    JenCat

    ^ ^
    00
    =+=
    o

    Impressed by the speed cat
  • From:
    Fallinstar (Legacy)
    On:
    Tue Dec 11 2001
    yea!!! the site's back up :)

    Thought it was ironic that this quote came up too when I came to this diary:

    "This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. If this had been an actual emergency, do you really think we'd stick around to tell you?"

    We all still love y'all...and the need for sleep :)

    (((hugs)))
    Christina
  • From:
    Xedri (Legacy)
    On:
    Thu Dec 13 2001
    *smacks her forehead and laughs*

    Duh! You'd think I would've seen that too...

    You can just call me blondie from now on :P