How To Search T4R (far more accurately than standard method)

The search function within T4R, both the Google bar and the nested search function are very inadequate for finding out recent relevant 4Runner information.


Standard T4R website search function:
Useful but does not return any search words < 4 chars exampe: 'TRD'.
Allows searching within certain forums which can be useful.
Returns results with no basis on date.

Google Search bar at the top of webpage:
Better because it allows searches using Google's algorithm
Returns results with no basis on date.


Better way:

Use Google itself and enter the following into the Google search bar then a SPACE then your KEYWORD(s)

Next, on the left hand side, click the Google button/link "show search tools".
You will now be able to choose a date range such as 1 year or whatever you desire.

I recently wanted to search SoCal on the T4R site. Only by using this easy method was I able to find recent threads related to my area, postings, events, threads ect. The old methods will bring up thousands of results from 2005, 2006 and a bunch of stuff I don't care about.

Example: If say you wanted to find out about a tundra coil lift on a 3rd gen 4Runner and wanted to know what people are saying and doing you will have a very hard time finding those threads unless you use the method below. There are a lot of great threads in the last year about Tundra coils (BigFishAllDay, 4RipCord, Richashey, Dirtco all have made informative posts) but you won't see them using standard search because it will be cluttered with out of date info from 5 years ago.



Instructions

* Go to Google Google

* Enter the text below into the search bar, hit enter.

* Enter a space and then keywords(s)

* Click "show search tools"

* Choose a date such as 1 year or custom range



Whole Site


3rd Gen Section Only


4th Gen Section Only


5th Gen Section Only


Classifieds Only


Classic T4Rs Only



Trust me this is the best way!

arty:

Been a while BUMP! I wish this was at the top of every section!

If you want to use the forum search, I have found that this works pretty well.

The first post clearly indicates the differences between a forum search, a google forum search, and an outside google search (preferred by me)

See the first post but in short ... the main difference is an outside google search allows multiple options that increase search accuracy (usually) AND the forum search does not search 3 chars or less (meaning TRD returns no valid results)

At least that was how it worked when I created this thread.

Thanks for the compliment!

It actually wasn't that much work; about 15 minutes over a few beers. And I haven't updated it since the original post.

The method isn't perfect but I can't see any other way to search for ARB or TRD _____ from Jan 2013 to July 2013 in a specific section. The site does not do 2 or 3 char search variables and probably won't in the future. Most forums do not support 2 or 3 char search variables.


JB. wrote:

Beyond that, I think the general sentiment of the thread exaggerates Google's exclusivity a little. There are options in the T4R advanced search that can't be duplicated in Google. I find some of them very useful and tend to use it by default despite having used Google site: search for a very long time.

Click to expand...

Thread now a "sticky".