Groundspeak Portal

From what I've seen, the search feature here uses words in the description.  I keep running into trouble remembering the exact name of categories.  As we get more and more categories, creators will need to better think about words that should be used in the description.  Maybe adding a category creator keyword at the end of the description would help.

Some examples of failed searches that really shouldn't have failed:

I searched for scuba (when I was looking for a scuba shop) and the one thing that showed up was "Dive Sites".  Dive shops should also have shown up but without scuba in description, no luck.

Keyword "animal" gives you 50 responses but not "Bear Statues".

"ben" gives you nothing, not even "Benjamin Franklin".

Have you searched for other categories that you know are there but couldn't find them by the keyword you thought should bring them up?  If so, add them to this thread, maybe they will get added.

how about this one:

look for 'American Guide Series'
enter 'American' as the search word....

AGS is like the 4th entry--there are categories about it that do not even have american as the first word in the title.

and yes, i have several other search terms, for real common categories, that return everything but what i want.

but, there is a keyword section. but i never know what to put there? i know what i call 'it', but what do you call it?

[it's a coke. it might not be made by 'coke', but its a brown syrupy liquid. when in new regions i might say 'can i get a soda/pop/coke, pepsi/RC'.]

but then thre are the 'partial' names.

'Abe' just gave me Abraham Lincoln.

'leon' was the first thing i tried that didnt return Ponce de Leon (i did get carniverous plants) - Deleon and De Leon both gave nothing.

anyway, this would be something to help win n00bs over--making searches easier to return what you are looking for--and if i cant spell, maybe take me there anyway....

chapterhouseinc:

how about this one: look for 'American Guide Series' enter 'American' as the search word.... AGS is like the 4th entry--there are categories about it that do not even have american as the first word in the title. and yes, i have several other search terms, for real common categories, that return everything but what i want. but, there is a keyword section. but i never know what to put there? i know what i call 'it', but what do you call it? [it's a coke. it might not be made by 'coke', but its a brown syrupy liquid. when in new regions i might say 'can i get a soda/pop/coke, pepsi/RC'.] but then thre are the 'partial' names. 'Abe' just gave me Abraham Lincoln. 'leon' was the first thing i tried that didnt return Ponce de Leon (i did get carniverous plants) - Deleon and De Leon both gave nothing. anyway, this would be something to help win n00bs over--making searches easier to return what you are looking for--and if i cant spell, maybe take me there anyway....

American yield other  categories with American in title, I am not sure what is driving the precedence.  If you used Guide it is number 2 and Series it number 1.

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.  If you use Ponce you get it everytime

Good idea for a thread.  I think keywords get overlooked a lot.  The only category I've created is James Bond, and the keywords I used are:
fleming spy movie book british brosnan connery moore dalton craig

I didn't know at the time that the search checks all text fields, so some of these are redundant with the full category description.  Maybe I should replace "fleming" -- who knows how many people have searched for "lazenby" and not found my category!

dinoprophet:

Good idea for a thread.  I think keywords get overlooked a lot.  The only category I've created is James Bond, and the keywords I used are:
fleming spy movie book british brosnan connery moore dalton craig

I didn't know at the time that the search checks all text fields, so some of these are redundant with the full category description.  Maybe I should replace "fleming" -- who knows how many people have searched for "lazenby" and not found my category!

What, no "007"?

My question is, what does a search search?  Just the key words?  Category name?  Text of the descriptions?

In any case, no search can find what is not there.  So if the Dive Shops category does not have the word "scub" in it anywhere, there's not much to be done except ask the category leader to put it in - somewhere.

in relation to 'american'

shouldnt the results be the categories with that word first?
then second?
and so on....

i usually try to use the first word of the category (american, georgia, FL)

what about 'war' or 'memorial'...both of these return A LOT of results, and it seems to not have any order at all....

i could go for a WOW for woodmen....(cause it isnt woodman, or is it?)....speaking of that at a caching event i had some random person show me a pic of a 'cool headstone'.....turned out to be a WOW. i tried to explain waymarking, but she was too busy......and it was a style i havent seen yet....

silverquill:

dinoprophet:

Good idea for a thread.  I think keywords get overlooked a lot.  The only category I've created is James Bond, and the keywords I used are:
fleming spy movie book british brosnan connery moore dalton craig

I didn't know at the time that the search checks all text fields, so some of these are redundant with the full category description.  Maybe I should replace "fleming" -- who knows how many people have searched for "lazenby" and not found my category!

What, no "007"?

My question is, what does a search search?  Just the key words?  Category name?  Text of the descriptions?

My unscientific experiments tell me it searches all text fields (including the category title, which covers "007" for my category).

In any case, no search can find what is not there.  So if the Dive Shops category does not have the word "scub" in it anywhere, there's not much to be done except ask the category leader to put it in - somewhere.

Yeah, "scuba" ought to be a keyword for that one.  Basically, use keywords for words that you want to hit on your category but that you haven't put in the description or title.

dinoprophet:

silverquill:

dinoprophet:

Good idea for a thread.  I think keywords get overlooked a lot.  The only category I've created is James Bond, and the keywords I used are:
fleming spy movie book british brosnan connery moore dalton craig

I didn't know at the time that the search checks all text fields, so some of these are redundant with the full category description.  Maybe I should replace "fleming" -- who knows how many people have searched for "lazenby" and not found my category!

What, no "007"?

My question is, what does a search search?  Just the key words?  Category name?  Text of the descriptions?

My unscientific experiments tell me it searches all text fields (including the category title, which covers "007" for my category).

I had a short discussion with bootron on this and you are correct, it searches on title, short and long description and key words.  Each of these areas are weighted differently which may be the reason for the order the categories appear in the list

BruceS:

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.

Sounds like Leon (no accent) would make a good keyword.

ODragon:

BruceS:

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.

Sounds like Leon (no accent) would make a good keyword.

Yes.  Skimming through Wikipedia, I'd say keywords (limit of ten, last I checked) for that category should be:
leon
spain
florida
columbus
explorer
san
santiago
cristobal
maria
caribbean

The keyword DRUG does not bring up Independant pharmacy's

Quadrivia is missing Quad

Here are the keywords for the cats for which I'm leader:

Preserved Architectural Ruins and Remnants:

architecture history preservation building arch wall heritage saved doorway remains

Military Surplus Stores:

military surplus army navy ammo boxes supply camo geocaching shopping

Woman's Clubs:

volunteer women clubs history charity nrhp international community

Ponce de Léon:

florida cuba havana poncedeleon hispaniola puertorico columbus explorers conquistadors spain

Urban Legends and Superstitions:

urban legends lore stories tales campfire scary superstitions religion culture

Pet Stores:

animals dogs cats supplies food birds fish tanks cages shopping

Drawing Waymarks:

art sketching painting drawing

ODragon:

BruceS:

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.

Sounds like Leon (no accent) would make a good keyword.

That's a good idea. Scroll up and suggest which one to remove to fit that in. I'm leaning towards 'poncedeleon' but I'm open to suggestion.

0ccam:

ODragon:

BruceS:

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.

Sounds like Leon (no accent) would make a good keyword.

That's a good idea. Scroll up and suggest which one to remove to fit that in. I'm leaning towards 'poncedeleon' but I'm open to suggestion.

I would say if you are leaning towards something, I would agree with your choice, however, you could just make up your own keywords section at the end of your description and add some words that don't fit into the keywords section. 

Expanded Description: Juan Ponce de León (1460 – 1521) was a Spanish Conquistador who was instrumental in the discovery, mapping and colonizing of southern portions of the United States of America, Puerto Rico, Cuba, and Hispaniola.

Ponce de León was born in Santervás de Campos, served as governor of Puerto Rico, and is associated with the discovery of The New World and with the legend of the Fountain of Youth.

Many statues, memorials, plaques, markers and other permanent displays of tribute exist throughout the many places that Ponce de León explored and lived. This category documents the locations that celebrate the life and achievements of Ponce de León.

Additional Keyword: Leon, Léon

Here's a great example... I cut and pasted the name of your category from what you wrote in your post.  I got nothing.  The category is Ponce de León but you wrote Ponce de Léon.  My guess is that is a common mistake so add that spelling of Leon also. :-D

0ccam:

Here are the keywords for the cats for which I'm leader:
...
Ponce de Léon:

florida cuba havana poncedeleon hispaniola puertorico columbus explorers conquistadors spain
...

ODragon:

BruceS:

The reason the Leon didn't yield is anything is because of spelling.  The spelling in the the category is Ponce de León with the accent mark.

Sounds like Leon (no accent) would make a good keyword.

That's a good idea. Scroll up and suggest which one to remove to fit that in. I'm leaning towards 'poncedeleon' but I'm open to suggestion.

Don't forget that all text fields get searched.  So 'cuba' and 'hispaniola', for example, are redundant as keywords, since they're in the extended description.

OK, I changed it: removed cuba; added leon and saved it.

Then went to the category search tab off "Home" and tried ponce de leon without quotes.
nothing

Then I tried leon and got Carnivorous Plant Localities only.

cuba returns three, one of which is this category.  ponce returns the correct category.

Will an index routine run overnight?

How do I get the phrase ponce de leon to actually work?

'webcam' nor 'web cam'

return "web cameras"

http://www.waymarking.com/cat/details.aspx?f=1&guid=d23f8e0b-2e43-4530-8f46-2e4fdae93ddd&gid=2

edit: 'web' was that worked

static aircraft displays

needs to add

'airplane'

maybe 'plane', but i didnt try that...

Webcam doesn't bring back the web camera category

hey i said that 3 boxes up....

vane and weather
DID NOT return
Unique Weathervanes

farm doesn't return old argricultural equipment

American or Revolution

does not return

Revolutionary War Memorials

chapterhouseinc:

American or Revolution

does not return

Revolutionary War Memorials

I would update, but only SQ has permissions to update that category

Is American Revolution Patriot Graves in the grid? I don't remember seeing it, but it shows up in a search on revolution