h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Okay theres something seriously wrong with that h2g2 search engine if it's not finding that... I thought they'd fixed it.

Ah don't you love procrastination

You should know by now that the more the h2 servers are 'fixed' the longer it takes for them to work properly

This works just as well, if not better:

http://h2g2aviators.com/info/search

Funny thing is Rich, that search engine /does/ actually work! Its gave me this http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/U222700

Which at least is better than nothing!

How can an external search engine be better than an internal one?

I know it works - I coded the page up

It works because Google indexes pages much better than h2g2 or the BBC can. Mind you, I could stick a pin in the categorisation system and get you a better result than the search facility here.

Oh, and it works better than Google itself, because it filters out the pda skin.

I must say I am impressed by your technical prowess Rich. But certainly not surprised.

It would be nice to see some effort on this search engine though . I've always said we should have more involvement in the development of the site - but I suspect theres several rules in the BBC that would stop us from doing that.

Of course theres also the fact that h2g2 has essentially been canibalised for many other BBC sites... which I'm sure plays no small part. And the developers are busy on other projects...

You know I think I'm turning in to a broken record, I'm sure I keep saying the same things...

A h2g2- (or even a decent BBC-) specific search engine would need a decent spider to go around and index the site. In an ideal world, they'd get Google or Yahoo to power it, but I suppose they can't because they can't be seen to favour one business.

And on the latter point, see F47997?thread=5739127&skip=20#pi29

Is there any chance that I can understand what you lot is on about......................

Depends. Are you a ?

is not I, I ham an Artist

No chance then