Am I dim or do I just have "poor" equipment to work with? For instance I have tried several times to access earlier threads - but to no avail. I remember reading about a "Walk through Siena with Paulo" and I can't get it to come up on my machine from any direction. And I certainly don't understand what Elvira means when she says she hits "refresh". I admit I am fairly new to this world, but could you guys give me some basic advice about using the forum. I can't believe the amount of information here but sometimes I just feel lost... <BR>Thanks <BR>jwg

Jan, <BR> <BR>Since you did not describe the age or make of your computer system, I think it best I not to answer your first two questions (smile). <BR> <BR>In terms of searching on Fodors, remember that text word searches are very slow. While you think your computer is not doing anything, the search is still going on. I know there have been times that I simply moved on to another page because I got tired of waiting for the search to end. <BR> <BR>If you do a text search, I would avoid clicking on the box indicating exact name match. I recommend you begin with a more general search using your desired words and the connectors of AND or OR. For example in your search box put the words "paulo and siena and walk", without the quotation marks. <BR> <BR>This may give you more results than you wanted, but you can then become more detailed by adding other specific words you desire. Just be patient, it may take 45 seconds for your search results to appear on the left of your screen. I tried this search and came up with several results of Paulo discussing his recommendation around Siena. <BR> <BR>When referring to the Refresh button, Elv is talking about the actual browser you use, such as internet explorer. You can hit the refresh button several ways. One option is to click on the word "view" on the top of your tool bar and then select refresh. Another option is to simply click on the refresh icon, also on the tool bar. <BR> <BR>Please remember that the refresh button is not really a search function, it serves to update your screen page to display an changes which may have occurred to that current page since you had opened that current browser session. <BR> <BR>In otherword, you open a topic that had five responses. Say you read through those five responses and then go get a cup of coffee. If during the time you were gone, two others posted messages you would not see them on your current open page of five posts. However, if you now click on the Refresh button, all seven messages will now appear. <BR> <BR>Think of the refresh button as a window shade looking out onto a busy street. Each time you close the shade and then reopen it, you will see any changes that occurred since the previous time you closed the shade. <BR> <BR>I hope this is not overly simplistic, I am just trying to help.

Chris, <BR>Thank you for such a thoughtful response. I can hardly wait to try all of my new options. <BR>Again, I truly appreciate your answers. <BR>jwg

Jan, <BR> <BR>Brought the Siena tour to the top for you. Searching is tricky. If the search string is too broad, i.e., Siena, then you'll get everything with the work Siena in it. If the search is too narrow then you'll get nothing. I used "tour of Siena" since I remembered part of the title. You probably couldn't fine the thread since you spelled Paolo's name incorrectly and used the word "walk" rather than "tour." I told you it's tricky. <BR>Helping Hand

I have to say though that I've noticed the search results seem rather inconsistent. I have posted questions myself or been reading older posts which I then cannot call up in a search. For instance if you search on 'Caitlin' none on my posts come up, despite the fact I generally sign off with my name (all the results are for another 'Caitlin').

The search function is haunted and usually of no use to me. I will remember a specific unusual word I used in a post, and when I search for it, I get nowhere. <BR> <BR>I don't think it is me. Today, for a test, I tried to search on the U.S. board for the Rambo parenting thread, which is currently quite active. The search did not pick up the word Rambo, even though it was sitting right there in the top ten threads, both in the title and in a couple of replies.

As noted above, the text search function is inconsistent. It falls way short producing all the messages that bear the chosen text, specially the newer ones. <BR> <BR>IMO, the biggest drawback, though, is that the text search function DOES NOT GO THROUGH post TITLES. It considers only message bodies. <BR> <BR>As a consequence, to find a specific post, <BR>a) one has to know specific characteristic words in a message; and <BR>b) one has to be lucky! <BR> <BR>Paulo <BR>

yes, you are dim

Thank you for asking the question Jan and thank you, Pete, Paulo and others, for answering it! I thought it was just me and it was getting on my nerves. I spend my whole day working on computers and think I "know" what I am doing. So whenever I did one of those "test" searches, even while looking for something I had just seen and it came back "nothing matches - try again, stupid", it was hurting my feelings. Anyway, nice to know we are all having the same problems. I still say it is a great site and I can't start work without coming here first to see what's up! Thank you all for being there. <BR>luigi

I've made a post, re-read it from the thread so I know it's there, then searched for a word in it. Does my post come up in the search results? No! Try a couple of days later. Still no. I go and find it (next 50, next 50 etc). It's there. Cut and paste the text. No, it's not my spelling/cap lock. It just don't work every time. Try Albereta, bet my post don't come up. <BR> <BR>Now when you find someone who brings useful posts to the top for you, then you have found a true friend.

Guess what Mike? No it doesn't. <BR> <BR>When I first started using this forum about 3 months ago I emailed Fodors asking them why this was. Guess what - no answer. <BR> <BR>Does anyone from Fodors every show themselves on this forum? It would be nice if they could give us an explanation and put us out of our misery.... Sure I know it's free, but that little search box is just sitting there mocking us all.

Just got back from vacation and while scrolling down through the listings I saw my own question still there.... <BR>Boy, do I feel better. I am a new computer person and I just felt like I wasn't doing something right - but it is somewhat comforting to know that I am not as dim as I initially thought. <BR>This forum is so interesting. What sincere and fun people I feel like I have gotten to know just in the last few weeks. <BR>I am in the process of planning our first trip to Italy and I have so much confindence in the information you all have shared with me... I can hardly wait to go. <BR>Thanks for your help <BR>jwg