Redoing Texas3006.com view / search section

[kahrfreak]

I use the "search by location" and "sort by date added" features quite often. (I realize I'm not "everyone"). Please consider keeping that functionality.

[Teamless]

When we get the email of a "new submission in your area", is there a way that the email could show the submission?

[fickman]

Sometimes functionality gets in the way of usability.

I'd recommend cleaning up the search to assume defaults and get one-click search capability with an "advanced search" option.

See which decision flows can be minimized:
Open-ended search currently requires the following:
View Entry --> Search --> Submit --> Search for? --> Submit --> Text entry --> Search Entries

Why not:
Search --> Goes to search screen
- Search screen has "View All" quick button
- Search screen has text field for open-ended search and drop-down list for "type" that defaults to "Business Name" with one submit button for both fields

AND/OR
A search field that is part of the header and available from any screen. . . can't you integrate Google search of your own site for free? Just brainstorming.

[davidtx]

The first time I used the site, it took me a few minutes to try "View Entry" in order to search. I'd recommend changing the "View Entry" menu item to "Search".

I suggest using the "Advanced Search" screen on this site for ideas on re-doing your search screen. Your current implementation forces you to select a single attribute to search one. You could put all of the choices on the screen along with the appropriate drop down or radio box selections for category and restrictions. This would make the search both easier to use and more powerful.

[dcphoto]

I'd like to see "View Entry" changed to something a little more intuitive. I don't visit the site often, and every time I do I have to stare at it for a minute to figure out where to go. I've also seen a few posts here over the years to the same effect.

Maybe have two different links. One to view all entries as an alphabetical list by city: All 30.06 Entries. The other to search entries: Search 30.06 Entries

I also agree with having a simple search and a link to an advanced search.

[rosebud99]

keep the location function. makes it easier to me to find exactly area im looking for

[TXlaw1]

I like your site. I'd want to be able to use the city search for sure but we are not a big city with multiple locations so I'm sure folk living in big cities would want the location search option. Thanks for your service.

[The Annoyed Man]

How about a search by zip code added to the search by list?

[The Annoyed Man]

I would provide the zip code if asked for it. I don't think it is that big a deal to get it if I don't have it. It should be easy enough to add a column to an address table in mySQL to accommodate the zip code. For existing entries, you could make the address editable by the member who contributed the listing by adding a member ID# column to the same table, and then place a post to the members on the home page, asking them to go back into the listings they posted to add the zip code.

It's not a perfect solution, but those of us who find this a valuable resource would probably be willing to take the extra few minutes to bring the records we created up to date. Kind a community effort, as it were....