Search Variables (simple vs. advanced search)


Tim Bray is right on with this (and welcome back to North America, Tim!).

People don't want to have to muck around with 15 fields and widgets in a search form. How on earth would I know if the term I'm looking for is in the Title, Creator, Description, URL, whatever field? Unless I already knew what I was looking for, in which case I probably wouldn't be using a search engine...

We need to build Simple Search (i.e., a single text field with a "Go" button) to be smart enough that it's all that is required. I can't remember the last time I used the Advanced Search form in CAREO, aside from testing/debugging the form itself.

Which would you be more likely to use?

Advanced Search

or

Simple Search

I wouldn't be at all surprised if APOLLO didn't even have an "advanced search" form (unless the users scream for one, that is).


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