Need for a Search within specific features (& Profiles/member List issues)

So as a little test I pretend to be a normal member on my site looking to locate a certain member who hasn't posted in a while. I remember his name is Stanley but unsure of his last name. So I go to the "Profiles" link along the top of my site and, first of all:
There are only ten members showing on a page, stacked from top to bottom with huge avatars and lots of wasted blank space on the right of each name, and they are listed in the order of the very FIRST/oldest members to join my site five years ago...(yikes) and only 10 per page....and this list goes on for 440 pages. =8-\ (I assume there are ways to make this into a more space-efficient grid that can be sorted newest/oldest or ABC, like http://mountaindulcimer.ning.com/profiles/friend/list?page=52 ...but that's actually not my question)
So anyway there I am in the Profiles page 1 of 440 and I need to find member Stanley something. The only Search I can see is at top right corner so I click on that (directly from the profiles page) and enter "Stanley". The search result give me a few discussions only, and it even says right there:
=========
"Stanley" in Discussions
Home » All Search Results for "Stanley" » Discussions

Discussions
Wonderful film by David Holt featuring Stanley Hicks and Edd Presnell
Stanley Hicks
Stanley & Ray Hicks video
========

(Hmm...why is it showing only 'discussions' in the search function?)

So my question here is...we cannot sort profile list by newest/oldest or ABC and we cannot do a search for a member by name, and of course no one is going to look through 400 pages to find someone... so how do people find each other if they are not recently in the activity feed?

This comes back to the need for features having their own search function within them. If I'm in the video section I should be able to punch in a search for the VIDEOS showing members playing jazz on their dulcimers, without being tossed to a list of FORUM discussions about playing jazz on the dulcimer.

I know Ning 3.0 does not yet have feature-specifc search yet, and it drives people nuts having to use a site-wide Google search bar instead...but even that would be better than a search that gave you only results from discussions.

Thanks for listening!




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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 07/09/16 09:21:02AM

First up let me say that EVERYTHING you see on your site is changeable, since it is all templates. Having supported Jamroom for a very long time, one thing I've learned is it is rare that 2 sites want the exact same layout - thus the need to make everything configurable. So in the future if you're thinking "I wonder if this is changeable" the answer will almost always be "yes".

Until I have the new Groups, Discussions and Pages modules released (hoping for tomorrow) please ignore the groups, discussions and pages - they are not setup now as they should be, and I'd rather address questions and issues about that functionality after the new release (as it is likely to change).

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

OK thank you for clarifying. Makes sense! I'll be patient.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Hi Brian,

I concur with Strumelia that category specific search is something all former Ning communities are used to, and will be expecting.

Definitely an important "feature request", when the structural issues are settled and time permits.


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Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Jamroom already can search by items and specific entries in those items. What "category search" were you thinking of?

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Within videos for example, searching for a video with a keyword like "fiddle".

Or enabling network members to search within Members section for a key word in the profile layouts, such as "Boston" or a first name like "Betty" when they can't remember a last name.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

This is already supported "out of the box".


Yep - this should work too right now.

Let me know if you're seeing this not working...

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Hi Brian,

I don't know if it's because I'm not looking at the Ningja skin when I say this, but I only see one site wide search box.

What Stumelia and I were referring to, was that on Ning if you were on the members page (for example) it had it's own (not site wide) search box, that "only" searched member info.

If you were on the video page, it had it's own search box, independent of the "site wide" and "members" search box. It would only show video results.

Every category was he same - images, songs, whatever - would have it's own "independent" search box that only searched and displayed results for that category - everything else was excluded.


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Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

What Ken said. That's what i'm talking about, and it's really, really useful.


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Like this?
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Yes - exactly like that... Only that search box must be "functionally" different than the main "site wide" one above it in the menu bar.

It must be restricted to ONLY searching audio, the video one - ONLY videos, the members one - ONLY members (and their particulars - like location).

Tagging complicates matters somewhat, because they need to feed two lists. One for the category only, one for the main.

So (for example) the search box on the videos page will sort all VIDEOS tagged Christmas, but WILL NOT turn up any pictures, or blogs tagged Christmas.

The main "site wide" search will turn up EVERYTHING tagged Christmas whether they be videos, pictures, or blogs.

That (in a nutshell) is what we are used to - what seems "intuitive" to us...


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Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Got that added to the next version. It will need to wait until the next core version is released though as I needed to add 2 new icons to the core. (person and globe)

Also added in better search/browse for inside the jrEmbed module.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Awesome...


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Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Yes, awesome!
AND....My members will be much less confused about the difference between global/sitewide search and within-the-feature search if for example the video only search bar is labeled "search videos" instead of just "search"....and the member-only serach box showed "search members"....

and then the site-wide "search" can be left the same at the top right of every page, as simply "search" with the text field.
This helps people understand which search bar they should use for what they want to do.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Do we really need to have a button to decide? Why not show the user their own items by default and if they "search" then search site wide? I think the cleanest and easiest way for users would be to remove the entire bar there (we don't need the 5/10/15/20 icons) and have a clean search field. If they search, show all matches in that category.

I think it is important that we focus on ease of use and NOT maximum configurability.


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I'm not sure what you mean by that - what button?


I agree with that 100%


Well that's OK if they want to search "site wide" by which I mean all categories. However, if you are just looking for Christmas videos, then you don't want Christmas blogs, and Christmas pictures showing up - hence a category specific search box in each category and a site wide one in the main menu.



A category specific search is what we have been asking for, the aesthetics are of course up to the designer. It's the functionality we are missing.


Again agree 100% - some of the Ningster that will be coming over, are not very advanced and are used to easy intuitive tools.


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Ken Rich
indiegospel.net

updated by @ken-rich: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

The "person" and "globe" button to decide between profile/site wide.


Of course - the Embed modal window is already setup by categories - your search within "audio" would be for audio items, not blogs.

So I think we agree - what is needed here is ONLY a search field (with "search" and "reset").

- by default the user sees their own items
- IF ALLOWED (by the site config) the "search" will show. If they do a search it does a site wide search
- if they press "reset" they go back to seeing their own items.

I think that is simple and clean.

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Just to show what we are used to on Ning 2.0, using the Videos section and the Members section as examples...but the same is on Blogs, Groups, Forum, etc:
See the site-wide search at the top of every page on the site, then the section-specific search available on that section's own page...


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

and...


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Yeah - I understand what you're looking for in that regards - it will be something we add specific to the NingJa skin (not a JR feature).

Hope this helps!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Sounds perfect Brian.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

The button works in easiest without changing existing functionality of the module. The 'TinyMCE Embed Button' module has a "profile media only" setting that is on by default. So by default it will only show the profile's stuff. If the admin turns that setting on, then it searches everywhere by default. The button just allows the user to go back to searching just their stuff.

The 5 10 15 20 are actually useful. When the popup comes up, how big it is is determined by the size of the screen. having that as an option allows you the pagination buttons to show without scrolling.

eg: normally i can see 10, but with firebug open 5 displays better.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

There are 2 different things in discussion that seam mixed in that exchange. Brian is talking about the embed editor search/browse functionality while ken is replying with relation to the site search.

The "Like this?" screenshot is from the site, while the second one is from the embed from within TinyMCE.

It will be clearer once the modules get to the marketplace.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

As a developer I agree 100%, but as a user having more "controls" in an interface leads to more initial confusion. From a UI perspective we should always try to do the simplest implementation first - if that does not work and users ask for more control, then we expand. But "simplest" should always be first.


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Done (works as you've outlined above - simple.). Its up for checking now for the Audio, Video and Youtube modules. If they look ok, then we can get them out for everyone.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I've rebuilt this a little bit to make it easier to work with and expandable - please check it out as I can get the release out tomorrow.

Thanks!


--
Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Just an update that there are new releases of:

- User Profile module
- Search module
- NIngJa skin

That add support for searches on the module "index" pages (i.e. /video, etc.)

Right now only the PROFILE and IMAGES listings will show the search box, but we'll be releasing module updates that add this to the other indexes ASAP.

Let me know if you see any issues.

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I am seeing the search boxes within the Images and Profiles sections, but when I punch in search terms or names, it windmills and then says "All Searrch results for ____" but nothing in the page is changed or shown as a search result. SAre they supposed to be functioning already? (i cleared cache) Do I need to go in somewhere and set the search to be active in various modules?


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Did you update to the latest Search module available in the marketplace System Updates section?

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Yes all my modules have been updated. It's there, and I can type in terms and punch to activate the search, but it's not actually producing any search results in Profiles or Images in either FF or Safari for me. I cna then hit "reset and clear the search field again, but to no avail.
I should mention that the regualr upper right site-wide search does seem to work for me.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Hmm - yeah that should be working. You said above that it just "spins" - is that correct? If so, try doing this:

- ACP -> Integrity Check - run the integrity check
- ACP -> Reset Caches - reset your caches

Let me know if that works.

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Did all that, no fix.

It doesn't just spin- it spins and then acts like it completed the search and says "All Search Results for "____" " (with the search term within the quotes) but I get no search results.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Something's weird - I still have the login for your site, so let me know if it is OK to check it on your system.

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

There's a bug in the skin that I can see - fixing it up and will have an update out.

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Turns out there is also a low-level caching issue affecting this in the core {jrCore_list} template function - I have a fix in for it and will get a new core release out tomorrow that will fix this up.

Thanks!


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Brian Johnson
Founder and Lead Developer - Jamroom
https://www.jamroom.net
updated by @brian: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

That's always ok with me Brian- I'm grateful for your help and expertise.

I'm happy that I was able to point you to a problem so that it'll be fixed soon.


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

Sort of similar but different...is there a way to see what I am following as far as posts, forums, etc here?
updated by @jeffh: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

There is a "suggestion" thread open about here:
https://www.jamroom.net/the-jamroom-network/forum/suggestions/15379/forum-topic-subscription-tab

Currently its not an option but is on the list of things todo.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

There's an update for the Audio, Video and Youtube out now that includes the search on the list pages and updated embedding layout.
updated by @michael: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

I'll have to check on those updates later on this afternoon- thank you Michael!


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...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM

The search boxes are working now, thanks! I may have some thoughts on it later as well- for refinement maybe.

But I just noticed I only seem to have 16 of my 60 groups, even though they 'seem' to be present in my ning archive... but can't do any more on JR tonight- gotta do some work. Later!....


--
...just another satisfied Jamroom customer.
Migrated from Ning to Jamroom June 2015
updated by @strumelia: 12/29/14 09:23:54AM