Advanced search functionality.

[Valarin]

Hey folks,

While the current search is fairly decent, I'm curious if there's any possibility of extending it a little to allow a few additional features?

Primarily I'm seeking the option of inputting shorter search strings. Currently it will only accept entries of four or more alphanumeric characters.
More and more often I'm wanting to search for things such as faction tags to find information; yet can't. Instead of slapping, say, [ETC] into the search box, I instead have to delve through the daunting hundred-plus pages of the unofficial factions forum in search of a thread which may or may not even exist! It's quite frustrating and time-consuming, so I thought I'd come here and ask if there's any chance of help!

Further, I'm curious if there could also be an option to selectively omit results via search operators, this due to the vast number of posts this forum contains and the likelihood that almost any common search will produce dozens of pages of irrelevant results.
As an example, I couldn't search for "Advanced search" without finding the majority of results - even searching specific forum areas - actually about Advanced Trains or Advanced Cloaks, etc. If there existed the ability to exclude the word Train or Cloak, however, it would allow us to be much more precise in what we're after.


If not, that's a shame, but I thought it could hardly hurt to ask .

Many thanks!

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