TDR's most important feature... The Search feature.

[gitchesum]

This might have been brought up before but I dont remember if it was.



I use this feature on a regular basis. If there is something strange going on with my truck, I do a search of the TDR forums before I ask any question. 90% of the time, I find my answer without having to post the question.



Just click on the "Search" button at the top right of the screen anf type in a keyword. For instance, if you notice you lights dim when you start your truck on a cold morning, go to the search feature and type in "light and dimming". The "and" is very important. If you just type in "light dimming" you will pull up every thread that contains the words "lights" or "dimming". If you put the "and" in between the two words, you will only get the threads that contain both words together in a thread.

There are many threads that discuss lights, but only a few that discuss the light dimming. This can save you a lot of reading.



Considering the TDR forums have been online for several years now, there is a lot of information that is just waiting to show itself.



Also, choose your titles wisely to help other members decide if they want to read a thread, and to make searches even easier in the future. A title like "I have a question" doesn't help members know if they can help you or not unless they have time to open your post. But if you say "Which exhaust brake is best?" then folks know exactly what you're looking for and you'll get more and better responses from those who own exhaust brakes. Also, anyone seaching titles for exhaust brake information will find your thread under the second title, but not the first.



Also, welcome to the TDR to all the new members.

 

[Deezul1]

Good info Curtis, we that are puter challenged can use good simple little tricks like that.

John

 

[WadePatton]

Just Do It

I came over here to recommend using the search feature of the website--by golly somebody done said it.



That's the way I use the whole web!



Possible Scenario(not saying it ever ACTUALLY happened, just bear with me). Somebuddy gets a new to him/her CTD. They find out about the TDR. They come to the great TDR site and read a bunch of stuff. They don't join right away 'cause they're all tapped out from buying a new truck and a can of wax. So they read what they can and get a bunch of questions in their heads and they can't do a search because they're not members--and finally they drop the coin and get signed up and they're so excited about being a genuine certified TDR memberdieselfreak that they forget all about the SEARCH and just post a question right away.



We who have spent a whole ton of time reading and doing and learning and answering questions as we know how see this same old question that we know has 900 posts on it in 150 threads and say ARRRGGGG! and ignore it and look for something interesting like triple turbos



So JohnnyNewTruck doesn't get his question answered as quickly as he'd like and gets the idea that we're a bunch of standoffish diesel freaks



and goes and buys a FORD!



Okay okay, I got kinda carried away and exaggerated a bit, but that's the mood I'm in- so enjoy it.



SEARCH! not all of the 500,000 posts on here are as lame as this one!

 

[CHeiny]

Re: Just Do It

One thing that might help is for someone to produce the TDR Cookbook which would contain recipes both for the newbie (like myself) and the veteran.



This could be done either as a digest of information from existing posts, or simply a link to relevant threads for a given topic. It sure would be nice to find the answer to "What are the three best things I can do to ensure long engine life?" - not something that turns up easily in the Search!



No, I can't volunteer to do this. I've undertaken the task for another group (Mopar road racers) and am behind on that already!

 

[Turbo Tim 1]

CHeiny

First I want to apologize, Is that your real name? I am sorry but it's kinda funny. Second try the TRUCK/SITE FAQ button at the top left side of your screen. It is useful to find things.

 

[CHeiny]

Originally posted by turbo tim1

First I want to apologize, Is that your real name? I am sorry but it's kinda funny. Second try the TRUCK/SITE FAQ button at the top left side of your screen. It is useful to find things.

Yep, it's my real name.



Truck/site FAQ doesn't display in Mozilla (Windows/Linux), Opera (Windows) or Internet Exploder (Windows). I assumed it was just empty.

 

[ToolManTimTaylor]

#ad
= your buddy!

 

[Bob Wagner]

thanks guys

 

[kboettcher]

Thanks for bringing this topic up... . seems lately there has been quite a few posts asking questions that have been answered a hundred times... . most from the same person (not going to mention any names). I have been on this site for just over a year now and most all of the great stuff I have learned is from using this "search feature". There is an awful lot of really good info on this site... ... all you have to do is look a bit.

 

[Will24]

Half the time when I attempt to use the search feature I get like 3000 posts... arghhhh

 

[R C Cola]

Thanks !

Newby here

The search know-how will be a big help. I tried getting info with a post and it never even showed up. Then mailed inquiry to moderator ? or something like that... got no response. I got the impression they (whoever "they are") did not think my dumb question was worth posting.

When you guys post "how to info" on the board it is a big help.

Thanks Again... ... R C

 

[Steve St.Laurent]

I don't know what happened with the inquiry to the moderator but my guess on the post that didn't show up is that you posted it in one of the FAQ sections. The FAQ sections are moderated - we have to go through the posts in there and approve each individual post. The only function for those forums is to answer fequently asked questions. When questions are posted in there we usually move them to the regular forum (ie, if posted in the 24v faq section we'll move it to the 24v forum). We don't go through those posts every day either - so it can be some time (a week or two) before something shows up in there.

 

[xxx_CHiers]

Who Owns Cummins???

Can anyone tell me who owns THE MIGHTY CUMMINS motor!!!! I have had several guys tell me that "phord" owns it, and that makes me BOILING mad. I know this is not true, but I'm not sure of all the details. I want to be able to "squash" this ridiculous rumor once and for all!! :-{}



p. s. I hate phords.



1998. 5 SLT 24V 5 SPEED, UPGRADED STANDARD transmission,4. 10 RE, 4" EXHAUST, EDGE EZ, FIRESTONE AIR BAGS, WESTACH FP, AUTOMETER EGT,BOOST, CAT COOLANTS

 

[rbattelle]

It might be useful to have this sticky thread placed on every forum.



Or, perhaps a GIANT search button across the top of every forum?



Ryan

 

[Schlickenmeyer]

A great sentiment, however, I offer this question.

Why is it when I try to narrow the results to a useable

number by requesting searching titles only, I get mostly stuff that my search

words are not even in the titles.

I have had mixed luck with the search feature.

 

[rbattelle]

This is a subtitle under the main thread title - I think the software searches this.

A great sentiment, however, I offer this question.

Why is it when I try to narrow the results to a useable

number by requesting searching titles only, I get mostly stuff that my search

words are not even in the titles.

I have had mixed luck with the search feature.

Exactly the same thing happens to me. I decided the "title only" search searches not only on the thread title, but also any secondary titles that anyone adds in the thread. I highlighted a secondary thread title in this post.



Try it out. Search on "just do it" in titles only and this thread will come up because the title on one of the posts is "Just Do It".



It's annoying, I agree completely.



Ryan