option to limit a search to a sub forum

[Psymon²]

following this answer
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/3062996278002182447/

my suggestion is that an option is added to the search so it can be limited to an individual sub forum.

...happy to say why, if that's not obvious, but i think it's obvious why.

[Gwarsbane]

This has sadly been something we have been asking for for a LONG time. Ever since these forum were created if I remember right, not sure why its never worked. Heck some of the search stuff says "search in this discussion area" or something like that, but again its never actually worked.

It would make the discussion areas so much easier to search in.



Being able to exclude stuff would be nice. It can be done like many other places do it with a - before the word.

For example
search for Example -test1
So every thread with Example in it will be included except for all the ones with test1 in it.

Also the other opposite way too would help.
Search for Example "test1"
So that every thread with Example and test1 would be included but no others.

And of course
Search for "Example of test1"
So that only threads with Example of test1 would be returned. (though I do think this part of the search has gotten better and generally gives you this in at least the first page of results)


Would also be nice to limit the search to title, body or both cause sometimes you are looking for something specific and you know the wording is in the title but the search just throws so much at you because its so generic.

[Brian9824]

Agreed, would be useful. In addition i'd also say to add filters so you could search by poster name, by specific forums, by date range, etc.

[Crazy Tiger]

The search function as a whole can use a major update. Both on the forums and on the store.

[Start_Running]

Wait. I'm quite sure search already limits itself to whatever subforum you're currently in.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Wait. I'm quite sure search already limits itself to whatever subforum you're currently in.

Nope.

I use the search in Suggestions/Ideas and it gives results for Suggestions/Ideas as well as all other sub-forums. It separates a bit by what sub-forum, but that is a few posts, then it goes to another sub-forum, with sub-forum repeating.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Spawn of Totoro:

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Wait. I'm quite sure search already limits itself to whatever subforum you're currently in.

Nope.

I use the search in Suggestions/Ideas and it gives results for Suggestions/Ideas as well as all other sub-forums. It separates a bit by what sub-forum, but that is a few posts, then it goes to another sub-forum, with sub-forum repeating.

Try doing a search under The Steam FOrum. and then under the STeam for Linux Forum.My experience is that they will show different results and the STeam for Linux doesn't cross with teh main STeam FOrum

Though looking at it it does seem that it will also branch out to sibling forums in a search which is annoying.

[Spawn of Totoro]

Originally posted by Start_Running:

Try doing a search under The Steam FOrum. and then under the STeam for Linux Forum.My experience is that they will show different results and the STeam for Linux doesn't cross with teh main STeam FOrum

Though looking at it it does seem that it will also branch out to sibling forums in a search which is annoying.

Steam for Linux forum isn't a sub-forum. It is it's own forum or group, hence why it was never added to the main discussions.

Steam Forums includes Suggestions/Idea, Off-Topic, Steam Discussion, Steam Community, ect. All these are one forum, broken into sub-forums.

[Quint the Alligator Snapper]

Yes, this feature would be very useful.

(No, it does not already exist.)

[Jessie]

+1 when I use the search feature I automatically assume it is searching through where I currently am but often results come from all over the place making it difficult to use.

[Drab]

It does work in game forums, even their sub-forums.

[Psymon²]

Originally posted by Drab:

It does work in game forums, even their sub-forums.

good shout!
I just picked portal 2 at random, and after doing a search it shows the subforums on the right to filter on.
something like that here would be delightful!

but, more enhanced, such as tickboxes to allow filtering multiple at once, instead of just one subforum at a time.

[zaphodikus]

the Community forum has sub forums, but search searches the entire community - and it's rather slow as a result. How hard do we have to hammer the search service before this gets fixed?

Is there a google search we can use instead perhaps?

[Gwarsbane]

Originally posted by zaphodikus:

the Community forum has sub forums, but search searches the entire community - and it's rather slow as a result. How hard do we have to hammer the search service before this gets fixed?

Is there a google search we can use instead perhaps?

yes you can use google search, sometimes it actually finds things you are looking for faster than a forum search but not always.

As mentioned in the first reply to this thread from 2021, the forums search needs an upgrade badly. I don't think you will find anyone on these forums that really truly disagrees with that unless they are just disagreeing to disagree and this is coming from someone who tells many people to search before posting messages that are posted over and over again. The forum search sucks, it needs to be better.

Maybe... just maybe with all the other updates that are slowly happening to Steam itself, the forums search will finally after many years get an upgrade.... but I won't hold my breath.

[zaphodikus]

The slowness of search means finding a answer is slower than asking a fresh question, which merely adds to the number of bytes the CDN's have to replicate. Well not entirely that simple, but it has to cave at some point, especially if people do use search as part of some kind of trolling or other accidental non-malicious activity, it's probably high on their agenda. I imagine it was just one big forum originally, so it makes sense it's a bit broken today, hindsight and all.