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A Better Way to Search MSDN

I have previously ranted about the Search capabilities of MSDN, so I decided to try and do something about it. I have created a Smart Search for MSDN page, which modifies a search engine query to greatly improve the hit rate. Well, at least it works for me: I tried all of the bad examples from my original blog entry and my Smart Search hits the right one, first time, for everything. It even uses MSN Search (though you can use Google if you really insist). The actual page is hosted on another site as I could not get the client-side script to work correctly when hosted on this site.

If you like it, or hate it, or have further suggestions, please use the Comments feature to tell me.

[apologies for the problems with the original MSN-hosted page]

Published Sunday, December 18, 2005 4:32 PM by andypennell

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Comments

Sunday, December 18, 2005 9:20 PM by Andy

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Can't follow that link without being an MSN user?
Sunday, December 18, 2005 9:25 PM by Paul M

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Apparently we aren't wanted here. :( Can we apply for amnesty?
Monday, December 19, 2005 5:59 AM by the_joric

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

404 error when trying to see your page
Monday, December 19, 2005 9:46 AM by Tim

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

I just get an empty page after I've logged in.

"I...I'm not helping much, am I Dad?"
Monday, December 19, 2005 1:00 PM by Andy Pennell

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Sorry about the hosting problems, please try again.
Monday, December 19, 2005 4:49 PM by Robert

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

It does work now. I typed 'printf' and the first page non of the links were to Microsoft or MSDN. Is that right?
Monday, December 19, 2005 5:30 PM by Andy Pennell

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Robert, what browser are you using? My client side script might be IE-only for all I know (I am no expert in it). You also need Javascript enabled in your browser: if the client script fails to run (for whatever reason), then you will get a vanilla MSN Search of hat you input.
Monday, December 19, 2005 6:19 PM by mikeb

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Nice. This may give me the kick in the rear to work up a toolbar add-in that filters out the WinCE/archive/Japan stuff. Thanks for following though on the annoyance...

But, there's a tiny bit of a bug - the script confuses the No WinCE option and the no archive option.
Tuesday, December 20, 2005 2:20 AM by Steve Bivens

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

I'm seeing the same kinds of vanilla results that Robert is (eg 'xml parsing samples'). I'm using IE with script enabled.
Tuesday, January 03, 2006 7:54 PM by andypennell

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

I have fixed the CE/achive mixup and added an Error page, so those folks having problems might be able to provide me with some more diagnostics.
Sunday, January 08, 2006 3:03 AM by zzz

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

Try using this URL instead

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&domains=blogs.msdn.com%3Bmsdn.microsoft.com&q=whatever&btnG=Search&sitesearch=msdn.microsoft.com

Little effort with ability to add your favorite places.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007 8:32 PM by Pavel Chuchuva

# re: A Better Way to Search MSDN

MSDN Google Search

http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=001706605492879182808%3Ayra97xpb_7y

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