Loomio
Wed 18 Nov 2015 12:18AM

Search in Loomio

MB Matthew Bartlett Public Seen by 211

Hi Loomio Community :)

I'm working on the design of our search feature in our new interface. (By the way, if you're a longtime Loomio user and not already on the new interface, you can switch it on here.)

I'd love to understand a bit about how people are using search in Loomio.

  • Do you use it at all?
  • Does it do a good job of finding what you're looking for?
  • What kinds of thing do you want to be able to search for?
  • Do you lose stuff on Loomio?

If you're moved to respond, it would be really interesting to also know whether you're new to Loomio, or an old hand; and whether you usually use Loomio on a phone or computer.

Thanks for your help!
Matthew Henry John Bartlett

Previous discussions on this topic
https://www.loomio.org/d/3SLm7V0D/searching-for-content-from-past-messages
https://www.loomio.org/d/5DW3EdGp/search-for-anything
https://www.loomio.org/d/3n2DgHGJ/search

SZ

Silvia Zuur Wed 2 Dec 2015 1:15AM

Do you use it at all?
YES!
Does it do a good job of finding what you're looking for?
No! The other day (I told @richarddbartlett about this issue - when looking for a recent discussion within Enspiral I searched using the word I knew was in the title but it didn't even come up)
What kinds of thing do you want to be able to search for?
Title, Person who posted it, date range
Do you lose stuff on Loomio?
Yes!

DS

Danyl Strype Tue 26 Jan 2016 5:32AM

As an old sod who has been using Loomio pretty much since the beginning, and is a member of many groups, I think search is an essential function. Yes, I do sometimes lose stuff on Loomio. Sometimes I do find what I'm looking for with the existing search function, but more often I'm overwhelmed with non-targets results, which often turn into time-consuming distractions.

There are at least three kinds of search I'd like to be able to choose between when I search:
* search within a particular group: usually as others have said, I have a vague memory of a stalled discussion and I'm trying to find it again. Usually, so I can re-activate it, rather than reinvent the wheel, or because there is a useful link that was posted there.
* search across all my groups: I'm working on a particular project or issue, and I want to know what has been said or decided about it across all the Loomio groups I'm a member of.
* search across the all public Loomio groups: I'm working on a particular project or issue, and I want to know what has been said or decided about it across all the public-facing discussions in Loomio groups

This last one breaks down into two layers; search across one Loomio server (eg Loomio.org) and search across the whole Loomio network, although I'm not sure if there's been any work on integration between different Loomio servers yet.

JCG

Josir Cardoso Gomes Tue 26 Jan 2016 11:15AM

Hi Mathew,

I try to use but with no sucess. As I am a group admin, I receive a lot of complaints about the search either.

Could you explain how the search works ? What words were not searchable for instance ?

My strategy to overcome this limitation is to use hashtags on every post that I consider sensitive to find it later.

If you need "use cases" to improve the search, I will be glad to help.

DS

Danyl Strype Tue 26 Jan 2016 4:38PM

#hashtagsareuseful :P

MB

Matthew Bartlett Tue 26 Jan 2016 9:17PM

@jameskiesel mind explaining a bit about how the present search works?