Recently, I notice that whenever I search the Trade Zone with a certain keyword, I find the results to be somewhat less than expected.

So I decide to do a test by using "penang" as the keyword. All settings are at default (search subforum is ticked).

After the result were displayed, I open another window under the separate sub-forum, eg CPU, Motherboards, Casings, PSUs and keyed in "penang" under the search box at the bottom. Then compare results....

Seems that many posts that turned up in the 2nd search didn't turn up in the main search.

for eg these threads,

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=351036&hl=penang

http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=349148&hl=penang

there are many other such discrepancies. Can someone else confirm this?

Yes, I have limited the search to 200 topics a few days ago, to manage load on the database server. After this weekend I should have a better search backend implemented. Stay tuned.

is that the only reason? because those missing searches i mention are not old threads (ie fall outside your 200 limit) but based on the time of last post, should be within the search results.

Yes that's the only reason.

I ought to have mentioned that it's actually 200 topics or 200 posts - whichever one comes first. Some posts may be within the same topic as another, so that's why you end up with fewer than 200.

ok, thanks for the clarification.