Search field: Select the content type you are looking at.

Alpha1

Well-known member
When you are looking at a content type like resources, media, etc, then the search field should preselect to search this content type.
When you are looking at a forum or category overview, then the search field should preselect that forum or category.
If you are looking at an Item/thread then you are likely to have found what you are looking for and a new search may not relate to the same category or content type. There it would be logical to have it preselect 'everywhere'.

Currently it looks like this. 'Everywhere' is always selected.
.webp


Look at Google which is the king of Search: When you are looking at Google News, your search results will not go back to Google main search (web).

Please consider to add admincp settings so that admins can decide themselves.
 
Upvote 21
Tabs should dictate the search area. Perhaps the best solution would be to eliminate the drop down altogether and rename the Search title to Search resources.

1504371506152.webp

When the Resource tab is selected the search would logically be to search Resources.

If I want to search forums I will click the Forums tab.
 
When you are looking at a content type like resources, media, etc, then the search field should preselect to search this content type.
When you are looking at a forum or category overview, then the search field should preselect that forum or category.
If you are looking at an Item/thread then you are likely to have found what you are looking for and a new search may not relate to the same category or content type. There it would be logical to have it preselect 'everywhere'.

Currently it looks like this. 'Everywhere' is always selected.
View attachment 156777


Look at Google which is the king of Search: When you are looking at Google News, your search results will not go back to Google main search (web).

Please consider to add admincp settings so that admins can decide themselves.

Yes, this bothers us too. It should be defined by a global setting somewhere, so that board owners or even users can decide on the default behavior.

I'm betting a large portion of users would prefer for the default behavior to be "search this thread" or "search this forum". while broswing a certain thread or a certain forum.

This is standard behavior on sites such as Reddit also.
 
Last edited:
Recently starting to play with XF2 search, and I agree this change is not only counter productive, counter intuitive, and against the general UIX of search across the internet. For sites with small amount of content, it may work, but for sites with lots of content - both core and 3rd party - it just makes it harder, more effort, and more confusing, to find what you're looking for.
 
Could having search return results specific to the currently viewed content type, followed by a general search for all other types excluding the viewed content type be the ultimate solution? This would reduce the chances of not finding any matching results, while still preferencing the content type selected.

For instance, lets say you searched for "Calendar" while looking within the XFRM area, to see a list of resources (addons, translations, whatever), followed by matching content from all other content types except resources:
XenForo-2-search-results-group-by-content-type-mock-up.webp

Something else is staring me in the face though... on XF2 search result screens there is basically no indication of where a search is fetching items from except in the browser address bar with &t=[content_type]. At the very least this should be addressed... something like as follows perhaps, inspired by the existing what's new filters. Clicking the "Limited to: Resources" link should ultimately perform the search again but remove the content type restriction and any associated content-specific parameters (e.g. resource category, prefix).
XenForo-2-search-results-everywhere-filter-mock-up.webp
 
Last edited:
Could having search return results specific to the currently viewed content type, followed by a general search for all other types excluding the viewed content type be the ultimate solution?
Perhaps, but quite a different suggestion than OP. Probably best if you start a new thread for your suggesstion - both are great, and deserve to stand alone.
 
The current search behaviour in XF2 is somewhat illogical imo, so this would be nice.

I'd also add, on a very similar note, that making a search in the context of a search should retain the original search parameters. For example, if you've just made a search within the "Add-ons" RM category, and you click "Search" and make another search, logically this is most likely going to be a search similar to your prior parameters (in the resources category). Currently that doesn't work, you need to go all the way back to making a brand new search or go back to your original context and search again. It's a bit inconvenient imo.
 
Just wondering if this was ever fixed? There should be an option as having adaptive constraints for search on the navigation bar was perfect.
 
Top Bottom