Auto Title Search

[smorter]

um it would be ironical if this has been discussed before, but being frustrated at typing a really long winded response post about something, only to have the exact same topic pop up a few weeks later makes me worry about how well the search function is being used.

In another forum I frequent, what happens is when you create a new topic and start typing the title of the topic, the system automatically starts to generate a list below your topic thread with links to recent threads with similar topics to yours.

I'm not sure if that makes sense, but would something like that be a postive addition?

[Skip Souza]

You will find it near the bottom of the page.

[smorter]

I was a bit ambiguous in my wording, the system I saw is live, so as you type it populates the fields, so it's pre-emptive rather than appearing after the topic has been created. It's the only forum I've ever seen have one though, so it might be some proprietary technology and not feasible in other forums

[DanteCaspian]

New users, or just those impulsive ones tend to bog the forums with the same old topics. An expected issue on many forums. It does make it difficult to sift through and find something over the long term for those of us who do search, as best we can.

I think an auto search, or something like the example here, as on another forum I am on, would help reduce the excess.
As in the screen shot, when typing a title after initiating a "new post", this button irritatingly pops up, suggesting you should search before proceeding.
It is not as automated, as I would still have to opt to press the button, but it is a prompt and pre-emptive.

[TheHoff]

Pekka does not install mods that are not from vBulletin / Jelsoft themselves so until this appears as a feature in the software, I doubt it will show up here.

Would be nice though -- it is like "similar threads" but pre-emptive.

[Pete]

Before posting a new thread here, users are encouraged to

a) Use the search functionality
b) Read the sticky threads in the appropriate section.

Of course, this won't stop people from hitting the "New Post" button and typing away regardless.

Users are given every opportunity to look for their question before posting.