Why does it go down all day everyday? Are you guys not indexing database columns? When it does work, it takes like 10 minutes to get a search result. Not caching query results?
I don't think it'd be a big deal to people if it re-cached the queries every five-ten mins.
There's also no back button when you hit an empty page at the end of the results. This should be like programming 101 stuff (there shouldn't even be blank pages of results).
Please please please put some focus on something everyone uses all day.
I fully agree, this would get an F in middleschool's computing 101!
Just wait till we get all those people in here after the "Big Announcement". It'll all be okay then, cuz we got new EM tools.
with all the returning player due to covid-19 why not hire a new member for the staff.... they made way more money they were suppose to make...
Vendor search really needs work. Trying to search for say tailor bods is nothing but frustration. Searching for a specific SoT or SoA is a pain.
I swear every time we get a patch or a update the search goes haywire. This time you can grow old waiting for it to tell you cant find what your looking for.... So fix it already
I search at all hours of the day - yes even prime time.
I did a simple search for Gate Scroll...zero returns, changed it to Gate...every one was listed.
One of the problems is that the search interface lacks a lot of categories. UO also has the problem of so many different stats, etc to search for that many mmo's don't have. The search results also cannot be sorted by price or name, etc. The entire thing is better than what we had, but really needs a lot of work. I would rather see an auction house interface like most modern mmo's.
The equipment list should include weapon, shield, scroll, spell book.
I use this daily with no problems , Once you get use to the flow and how it works errors are usually from the user. Like searching for a spellbook slayer while you still have "head" selected on the right side because last time you used it you were looking for a hat.
On Atlantic, I will do a Search for SOS
I go to the first few locations and buy what they have.
but then when i try to search again, I usually get the too vague message.
I will wait and then try again later, same message.
but on the next day, it will work the first time.
but second search will receive too vague.
now after i get the too vague mesage, I can find it on another account but they don't have the funds. So i give them some gold and then when they search, that char also gets the too vague.
Just a random question, does Bleak still exist? I've been told he doesn't come to the M&G's anymore...
In CC vendor search has been very slow or not working at all no matter the way you request the item
Is it a difference between CC and EC? I use CC - maybe that's why I'm not having as many problems?
I use CC. When the shard is busy VS is tough to get a result. Right now is when it starts working.
Also when you just choose things from the clickys, it works better. If you use a phrase it is horrible on weekends.
I don’t know what the exact reason is for it behaving so inconsistently. I would be cool if the devs could give us some insight. It almost seems like the search crashes and restarts / refreshes an index numerous times a day. The most aggravating thing about it is sitting there waiting for the search to complete only for it to tell you the search was too vague after a few minutes. You aren’t sure if that’s true or not so you search again and again... waiting... wasting time. The messages need to at least be more accurate. Even if it just said it timed out would be a start.
That's because Broadsword went the cheap route when accepting bids for developing Vendor Search. When it comes to coding, oftentimes you get what you pay for...
it is really bad, past 3 days.
It has been for sure very rough the last few days.
This needs to be the top post. It's getting worse and worse.
Agreed, and its not just Atlantic!
Have to agree. Very slow very often on GL the last couple of days.
It's insanity this has been going on for over a year. I seriously don't understand how this can be a problem. We need SOMETHING on this topic instead of dead silence. If it's not fixable, at least tell us that, we'll chalk it up to It's Just a Feature and working as intended.
Hit the Cancel button, it should then work okay on the next search.
they could at least say something...terrible game management and forum
Communication is not this teams strongpoint...
I've ripped out a large portion of my hair due to vendor search working. I still have some left but not sure how long it will last.
Few comments
Seems like all vendor items should be put in a RDBMS when put up for sale then there is no 'updating' its the only place this data lives real time.
For searches - they have categories to select rings, braces, helmets etc - why not a search for PowerScrolls, Alacrity, Transcendance? Thats 80% of the vendor searches. I mean seriously - if its a database you can look at the peoples queries and tune for performance. That is what any decent DBA would do.
Last - I don't know why you can't just allow people to buy things off vendor search instead of this nonsense of paying 1k for a scroll to the location and have to teleport back etc. Its a bit silly. Just charge a 1k fee on all purchases from VS if you like.
category for recipes would be nice too
It seem it's the item name search box that is causing all the problems , exemple :
if you put '120 bushido' in the search box, the ''120'' is probably way too vague and causing the max delay duration on that search, and it ends failing with the too vague message that we all know
or if you put 'trans bushido' to search for pinks exemple, the word ''trans'' might be too vague and will fail with same result
try instead just : bushido
and in categories you check : non-brittle, non-antique ,non elves only, non gargoyles only and non cannot be repaired, then you have a much more specific request , and the search will pull out all the scrolls for bushido both powerscroll and trans scroll.
I'm not saying that it will work all the time and ideal scenario , it depends on other factors like the traffic at that time etc, but its a good way all around that will sometimes work , sometimes changing facet help, sometimes changing character , we are not too sure , the devs still have some work and need to fix the item name search box.
on a last note I'm also almost certain that if the search reach max duration in the code, it ends up failing with the vague message( I haven't timed up my searchs yet , but if someone could chrono it up and see if they are the same duration could be helpful) , could it be possible to increase that delay maybe ? for Atlantic mostly...
It is not an intelligent search. It just searches for letters. Scroll bush leg should get the job done. But scroll Bushino would fail because I placed an n were the d would be.
The easiest fix I can think of would be to allow quotes for exact searches like "legendary scroll of bushido" similar to a google search.
For Power Scrolls I've been using the "Cursed" criteria under Miscellaneous, along with the Skills option for whatever skill I'm looking for, with 0 selected for the skill value.
It is far from ideal, but still allows me to search. At least for power scroll skills that appear on gear.
As long as you don't fill in any input fields of any kind, the results are mostly quick. The moment you fill in a field, the search slows way down, or mostly just times out on Atlantic.
And another day goes by with no communication from the "team". SMH
Begins to wonder if the "team" quit. Might be the big announcement? One would think somebody would acknowledge the subject. Cant fix it, have the balls to say so. Working on it, tell us! Silence shows poor leadership and ability to do your job.
Start tomororrow night:
Try between 6pm central and 10 pm central on Atlantic. Search for power scrolls for pets 110s thru 120. Search rubble. See how long it takes you to make a complete search of all the rubble for sale on Atl.
I've noticed on Atlantic if I wait a little bit after that vague error comes the second screen with what I searched for pops up anyway.
The best time I have noticed to do a vendor search on Atlantic is right before server down (5 am) and right after server up (5:30 am). Got my self some 120 scrolls this morning at 5:45 am. Well 2:45 am for me.
i try not to report anything until i know the steps to reproduce, in fact, i do a lot of work on other people's reports to try and find the steps to reproduce to save the devs time.
The particular bug thread you commented on, were just incorrect/outdated spell descriptions which would take 5 mins to correct. I even wrote out what the sentences should read, so they could copy paste...
I even hold back on bugs, i have a couple of exploits for roof and underwater that i haven't bothered to report as i don't want to overwhelm them. As i think it's more important for them to do a quick 5 min job correcting a spell description, than worry about people pulling the dragon off the roof on belfry or gating into underwater with pets sans quest completed. Or getting double/triple chance of roof drop.
It is currently working without fault
So I have to look at all the scrolls if I want 110s? Ya lets accept mediocrity.
What about Spellweaving and the other scrolls not in the groups? There are 23 skills not in the groups.
How do I find rubble with this method? Granite? Rocks? Scores of other items.
The search on ATL allows for 1 space in the item name, (not sure why it differs for other shards)
okay maybe it’s not without fault, but you can find what you’re looking for
my god still broken even after one day down
yup, I see little difference.
I need a recipe. Can not use the clicky choices for those. Too Vague after a long wait.
The vendor search database maintenance the other day was probably to get rid of the account bound items that were already on vendors.
it worked well yesterday, for the first time in months.
but today its broken again.
it worked well because 95% of the items database wasnt on vendorsearch.
as soon as all items refreshed it started not working again, there is just too many items on atlantic lets be honest, all the bods books not for sale also im sure that doesnt help with the searchs
still down all evening so sad
Ahhhhh they did. We had a hard restart.
The VS was reloading items back in the system.
If you read the message on load up to the game it told you what was going on.
Yes its taking its sweet time to load, and yes you get the above message if the system is bogged down.
The old code plays hell with new code and you as a UO player should know this, Every time the next patch loads up it shoves the old code and a fight ensues which is the root of this trouble. This goes beyond EC or CC code mind you. Give the dev time.. I know we are so use to using the VS that many have forgot how to go shopping the old way. Slow down think of a word or partial of the title of what your looking for and give it a try. You just might be surprised it pops up. Oh and give it time... Speed is not a strong point these days with it.
