Champion
•
5K Messages
•
118.4K Points
Issues with the updated /find search results display
I'm seeing a different format and content for search results when using the search feature at the top of every IMDb page (desktop format).
Is it true that the option for Exact Title Matches does not appear unless an exact match is available?
I like the other search options being present on the right panel.
Did I miss a Sprinklr announcement for this? I can't seem to find one.
Note: This comment was created from a merged conversation originally titled New search results page?
keyword_expert
2.7K Messages
•
47K Points
2 years ago
As of a few minutes ago, the IMDb keyword search results changed significantly when I view in my browser.
I will discuss the new display in this post, and will also ask three questions (in bold-face font below).
Below are a couple screenshots of what the search results look like now.
https://www.imdb.com/find?s=kw&q=argue+couple&ref_=nv_sr_sm
The search results are presented in a more "modern" format on a white background, with larger, bolded text for the keywords.
One big change is that the number of titles for each keyword is now presented on a separate row from the keyword itself. This will hurt my ability to post lists of duplicate keywords for mass mergers. Previously, I could easily copy and paste keywords to assemble lists like this:
arguing-couple (15 titles) --> couple's-argument (2 titles) --> argument-between-couple (75 titles) --> couple-argues (27 titles)
knife-held-to-someone's-throat (40 titles) --> knife-held-to-one's-throat (20 titles) --> holding-a-knife-at-someone's-throat (22 titles) --> holding-a-knife-to-someone's-throat (11 titles) --> hold-a-knife-to-someone's-throat (3 titles) --> knife-held-to-throat (444 titles)
Using the new display, such a list would look something like this (matching the keywords in my first example shown above):
arguing couple
couple's argument
argument between couple
couple argues
I could manually edit such a list to present it in the old format, but that would take a lot of work. Which brings me to my first two questions.
1. Is it possible to opt out of the new display format for search results?
2. If not, could the new display show the number of titles in parentheses in the same row as each keyword, like it was before?
One other major change: for keyword searches on popular words, the old display would include up to 200 results. The new display only includes 25 results at a time, and you have to keep clicking "More popular matches" to show more. Here is an example link to show what I mean. Having to click that button 7 times to get the same 200 results as before is less than ideal. On the more positive side, if you click the button enough, you can display way more than 200 results. I tested it using this link and got up to 1,200 results, which is likely the limit. But that required clicking the "More" button 47 times. Which brings me to my third and final question.
3. Can the new display be modified to show up to 100 keyword results as the default (instead of 25 results)?
Displaying up to 100 results would really help with the usability/functionality of the new system. I would even settle for 50 results, but I would prefer 100 results. 25 results is way too small as a default, and will require a lot of button clicking just to get a good understanding of what is going on with popular words within keywords.
39
gromit82
Champion
•
7.5K Messages
•
276.5K Points
2 years ago
With the new display changes, I've noticed that in name searches, the roman numeral after a person's name no longer appears.
I suppose that the staff assumes that identifying a person by one of their jobs and credits is sufficient, although I personally think that including a roman numeral would be helpful too.
But what about the situation illustrated below (with arrows added by me)?
2
keyword_expert
2.7K Messages
•
47K Points
2 years ago
I'm not aware of any official announcement, although @Col_Needham discussed it in response to my post here:
Keyword Searches: IMDb has changed its display format for search results
Overall, two thumbs down from me on the new search system specifically for keywords. I have been discussing the problems in those other threads.
As for basic "All" searches, I agree with you that the new options on the right side are good.
However, those options on the right side seem to have taken the place of additional options that used to be at the bottom of the screen with the old "All" search, and that would actually show some sample search results at the bottom of the screen. This was particularly useful for picking up one or two keyword results in an "All" search. That functionality has now been taken away.
p.s. There was also this comment from @Col_Needham today.
0
keyword_expert
2.7K Messages
•
47K Points
2 years ago
@bderoes
p.s. There was also this comment from @Col_Needham today.
0
Vande
236 Messages
•
4.6K Points
2 years ago
This new search format is back again today. How irritating, I thought they'd abandoned the idea!
How do I get the old name list? | IMDb Community Forums (sprinklr.com)
3
lapind1
3 Messages
•
100 Points
2 years ago
Please bring back the old search in https://www.imdb.com/find
Results are no more in blue (not visited) and violet (already clicked) color, so I have to check thousands of movies running on TV once more over again and again, which I have already seen in last 20 years or only checked and they had too bad rating.
0
phillip
127 Messages
•
2.3K Points
2 years ago
The search algorithm is also just terrible. It needs to be geared towards what I actually type.
A few examples. I just tried to look up King of the Texas Rangers which was an old serial.
1st result....King of the Hill
2nd result...Lord of the Rings: Return of the King
I actually had to click on More Popular matches to get to the title I searched for and it's just ridiculous. Even if it's an exact match I still have to click again and if I misspelled it by one letter then i'm really messed up.
The other thing that is now shot is my ability to search for episodes on the start page and getting the episodes is now pretty much shot because of this. There are just way too many clicks. I used to when I typed in Wyatt Earp The Bribe into the starting search box it brought it up right away. The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and the episode The Bribe. Now if I type in Wyatt Earp The Bribe into a search engine I get a link to The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and if I try to narrow it down by episodes.....I don't even get The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp and The Bribe as a choice.
Obviously whomever designed to do this search engine algorithm change with this website relied way too much on popularity and not enough on what the person searched for. Something needs to be badly adjusted by that. If you want to list close popular results than whatever but the results that should be first and up top in anything should be what you actually typed. I've actually had 6 different people e-mail me complaining about the search engine and the redesign and honestly there shouldn't be a big trailer preview on the primary actor's page, if people want to see them, they can click on trailers.
There are some good things about it. I like the ability to separate them by genre but if you do that you really should factor the number of episodes into the overall total. James Arness for example. it says he did 25 westerns. In reality he did 635 Gunsmoke alone. Might be nice if when you do that genre separation if you list up there the overall total of say westerns than movies, tv series, and number of tv episodes to give a far better picture of the career.
It's just a bit of constructive criticism but also realize not to come off as egotistical but this is coming from somebody who has a masters degree in marketing and is about to complete his PhD in computer science. It's just needs a bit of tweaking search engine wise where it's not based on a fuzzy search logic.
3
ben_hampel
481 Messages
•
8.5K Points
2 years ago
Occasionally if I notice a name that has many, many name pages like "John Smith" as a hypothetical. I try to find all the Self or Actor that I can identify and try to find images of them. Also update if Self doesn't have any further info. I find how they were identified in the episode or documentary and add the info. My record was finding 18 primary images for one name. Or also if less famous people have the same name as a famous person like "Jennifer Lawrence". There is a MAGA person with the same name so I added a photo of her so there would be no confusion later on.
7
frederic_allain
11 Messages
•
218 Points
2 years ago
Why did you change the search engine settings?
Before, when I searched for "Noret", it would have proposed me "Noiret" for sure! Now, searches are difficult.
Frederic Allain
0
Kevin_Powell
Employee
•
27 Messages
•
314 Points
2 years ago
@bderoes -- thank you for keyword search-related feedback. The relevant teams teams are continuing to prioritize keyword search updates to improve results and relevant data. The team has reviewed your post and will consider it as we plan ongoing improvements.
Thank you for the clear feedback - please reach out again at any time.
0