Solution
For an explanation of how Search works on the site, see Search Tips
Aircrew Remembered Search tips
As we are adding thousands of names to our various databases and more recently these have been carefully entered into our search facility it is important that you are able to understand the powerful search engine we are currently using.
We have also implemented the “highlight” facility.
Sometimes a page contains thousands of names, dates, locations. To help find the one(s) you're interested in, use our Highlighting facility. Once name (2) selected paste into the “Apply Highlight” box - then scroll down the page to find the entries.
Highlighting will ONLY find entries within this specific page.
Sample of the Highlight box shown on the Kracker Archive:
By default the search engine we use tries to locate pages which have exact matches for all of the words entered in your search query. If that fails, it then tries to locate pages which contain any words in your search query. If that happens a short message is displayed at the top of the search results indicating this has been done.
In addition, there are several ways to modify the default search behaviour.
1: phrase search.
The search engine supports three types of phrase search.
A: To match an exact phrase, use quotes around the phrase.
Example: "free search engine"
B: To match a near (within a couple of words) phrase, use square brackets [around the words]
Example: [free search engine]
C: To match a far (within several words) phrase, use braces { around the words }
Example: {free search engine}
2. + and - qualifiers.
If you prepend a word with + that word is required to be on the page.
If you prepend a word with - that word is required to not be on the page.
Example: +always -never
3. * wildcard.
If a query word ends with a * all words on a page which start the same way as that query word will match.
Example: gift*
4. ? wildcard.
If a query word contains a ? any character will match that position.
Example: b?g
5. boolean search.
You can use the following boolean operators in your search: AND, OR, NOT. These operators MUST be in capital letters.
Example: (contact AND us) OR (about AND us)
All of these techniques can be combined: +alway* -ne??r*
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