XenForo XF & ElasticSearch - why haven't you?

[Tracy]

I've put it off... and I've put it off.... finally got tired of using an add-on to push out my site searches of 2 & 3 letter type to Google... so I broke down and installed ES and the XF add-on for it on my site... damn, why didn't I do that sooner. Two letter and 3 letter searches (such as M1 and M81) now show up fine.
Now I just have to decide if I want to get any of Xon's add-ons that enhance ES search processes.

If you are not happy with the crappy mySQL search ability.. spend the $55 for the ES add-on if you have at least 2GB of spare RAM on your VPS/dedi, or grab a $5 Hetzner 2GB VPS and set up an instance there... you will be happy.

 

[Tracy]

There are several benefits that the ES add-on provides... the least of which are 2 and 3 letter search terms.
The other big one are "similar threads" at the bottom of a topic, and then when you are entering a new thread, suggestions for existing ones that may be similar and you can use instead of a new one.

 

[Shawn Gossman1]

This is the XF search addon right?

Until now, I never realized that the default search can only find over 3 characters!!

 

[Tracy]

This is the XF search addon right?

Until now, I never realized that the default search can only find over 3 characters!!

Yep, the add-on in conjunction with ES on the server (or 3rd party provider).
And actually... by default I think mySQL search is 4 character. You have to change the mySQL my.cnf to allow 2 or 3 character searches and rebuild your search index... and even then it's a rather simplistic search with no real relational capability.

ES/ES add-on is also what gives you this on many XF sites.

 

[Shawn Gossman1]

I might add this once the forum gets larger and more active. I feel like it would benefit a larger community more than a smaller one - what do you think?

 

[Tracy]

I might add this once the forum gets larger and more active. I feel like it would benefit a larger community more than a smaller one - what do you think?

For niche related like mine.. it's very helpful when frequent search terms are going to be very short.

Another thing I like (I purchased Xon's ElasticSearch Essentials add-on....
When you are searching in the search box... you get results as you type

 

[Shawn Gossman1]

you get results as you type

I like that feature! When Google introduced it, I felt like it was a game changer.

 

[Tracy]

ES and the XF add-on costs... then add the Xon add-on into the equation and you are looking at dropping a simple C-Note.... but honestly, for me, it was worth it... what else would I do with that money? Can't get a bottle of Stagg Jr. any more locally for less than $300 (it lists for around $80). At least the add-ons will last a lot longer! 🥃

 

[Shawn Gossman1]

I might have to invest in it as long as yall keep coming back here to see me

 

[ClicketyKat]

Ugh! I HATE when I try to do 3 letter searches that are important to me, but XF denies me. This sounds like a brilliant add-on!

 

[Shawn Gossman1]

Ugh! I HATE when I try to do 3 letter searches that are important to me, but XF denies me. This sounds like a brilliant add-on!

Yeah I could see it being annoying really fast.

 

[Tracy]

Ugh! I HATE when I try to do 3 letter searches that are important to me, but XF denies me. This sounds like a brilliant add-on!

Weird.... AFAIK, there are not any specific ES settings for that... I wonder if it is tiedto the minimum search term length selected... I have a feeling it is and they have the default still set at 4.

 

[~ True Legend ~]

This is the XF search addon right?

Until now, I never realized that the default search can only find over 3 characters!!

Ahhh I was wondering why I wasn't able to search <= 3 characters on many forums while on a few I could! This explains it!