Hi there.
As our forum grows, searching for content becomes more challenging for members. Is there a recommended search plugin that works well with wpforo to improve search results, and would something like the Relevanssi plugin help (and work) with wpforo?
@sofy we’re continuing to support wpforo by purchasing and renewing add-ons but I feel the search still lets the plug-in down, especially when there are loads of topics and posts.
Any updates on the search improvements.
+1
I would love Relevanssi support!
However, the developers plan to implement changes to the search functions in the wpForo plugin, which may be included in the next version.
I don't suppose you have any updates on this?
1. Use Longer Words (at least 4 characters)MySQL ignores words shorter than 4 characters by default.
Try:• plugin setup
• forum access
Avoid:• FAQ, SEO, PHP (they might be ignored)
Tip: If your forum needs short-word support, the server admin must lower ft_min_word_len to 2 or 3 and rebuild the index.
2. Use Quotation Marks for Exact PhrasesTo find a specific phrase, use double quotes: Try:• “user registration problem”
• “private message not working”
3. Avoid Special Characters (@, #, !, etc.)MySQL full-text search ignores most special characters, so searching for emails or hashtags may not work. Don’t search: john@example.com or #tag Instead use:• LIKE operator via database manually (not possible in default wpForo search)
4. Use Important Keywords OnlySearch works best with relevant keywords. Avoid common words like “the”, “is”, “a”, etc. Try:• login error redirect
• forum access permission
5. Use Boolean Mode for Advanced Searches(If enabled by the admin)Examples:• +login +error → Must contain both
• +wpforo -plugin → Must contain wpforo but NOT plugin
• wpforo* → Wildcard to match words like wpforo, wpforo-login, etc.
Note: Boolean mode must be enabled in the wpForo core or by customization.
Limitations to Keep in Mind:• Short words and special characters are often ignored
• You can’t search partial words like plug (won’t match plugin) unless using wildcards in Boolean mode
• Not all forums may have custom full-text settings
Example Searches:What you’re looking for
Try this in wpForo search
Registration problems
“user registration”
Login redirect issues
login redirect error
How to customize plugin
plugin customization
Can’t post in private forum
private forum access denied
wpForo and email notification
email notification wpforo
