I'm stymied in my ability to search the forums, so I'm looking for some guidance. Under the current search rules, I can't search for any word or character string less than 3 characters long. However, some pen models are named with two letters (i.e., lamy 27) . Under the current rules, I can't search for this pen. Is there a work-around for this limitation?

Thanks!

James

Hi James,

Yup...go to google.com and click on "Advanced Search." In that mode, Google allows you to restrict your search to a specific domain; enter your search term(s), and in the appropriate field on the Advanced Search page, just type in the FPN url. Google will search FPN only; no 3-letter limitation.

(And the Lamy 27 is certainly a pen worth searching for!)

Cheers,

Jon

Thanks, Jon. The FPN search engine cannot work when I type "PFM".

purpledog

Hi,

You're more than welcome! The inability to search "PFM" has frustrated me as well.

There's also that other pen that goes by the two-digit name - 51? - but as a Sheaffer person, I seldom feel the need to search that one.

Cheers,

Jon

For two letter ones it's certainly best to use an external search, like Google advanced search. But I have managed with 3-letter words on FPN. E.G., this morning I was searching for info on dip-pens. Typed in dip pen and nothing comes up, as it uses two words that are too short. But, type in 'dip* pen*' (without quotation marks) then it performs the search. The asterisks have the added benefit of searching not just for dip pen, but also dip[less] pen[s], dip[ped] pen, dip[ping] pen... etc.

Patrick

I agree that Google Advanced search is the best way to search this forum.

Thanks, Patrick, for the tip - very useful.

By way of followup, let me add something that other folks may already know: using Google Advanced Search, it's possible not only to specify FPN as the domain to be searched, but to specify a specific FPN forum or subforum as well. Simply enter the URL of the desired forum (the Sheaffer Forum, for example, is http://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/in...p?showforum=30) in the Advanced Search "domain" field, and your search will be limited to that forum only. Handy if you're trying to track down brand-specific information, etc.

Hope that's helpful!

Cheers,

Jon