Broken Link Research - A Mini Tutorial

[CorinaMarie 29,891]

While browsing the STEX I found this:

In the author's notes it says there is a discussion thread for the mod and shows this linky:

https://www.simtropolis.com/idealbb/view.asp?topicID=52777&pageNo=1&num=

Which gives Error code: 2T187/2 (Cannot find the page you requested)

 

So, here's the tutorial part: I used the search box up there near the upper right corner and typed in: Rural Setting and that gave me 313 hits:

https://community.simtropolis.com/search/?type=all&q=Rural+Setting

Then I clicked the option for: The phrase "Rural Setting" and got 151 results:

https://community.simtropolis.com/search/?q=%22Rural+Setting%22&sortby=relevancy

Using my Ctrl-F, I search for Daeley

And found the thread:

On page 2 of the results I found the already known to me linky for the download. On page 6 I found 2 replies to the discussion thread. (So, nothing new.)

 

So, is this method the best way to track down those elusive, broken references?

If nothing else, my method might help newer members who are faced with a similar conundrum.

Remember the Likey button if this is a good post.

 

 

 

 

[rsc204 21,866]

Honestly, the best method I've found is to simply bypass it altogether and search google. Since that pretty much always comes up with what I want without all the hassle of fighting the search on the STEX. I honestly barely use the on-site search, it's just too hit and miss.

[A Nonny Moose 8,262]

It is really too bad about the on-site search engine.  The GREP engine is public domain and I fail to understand why anyone would implement a private one anymore.

[Edvarz 1,985]

The search engine here used to be rather neat, but now it's just horrible. Using google directly is your best option. If you type "site:Simtropolis.com xxxx" ("xxxx" being whatever you are looking for) in the search box you have better chances of finding what you are looking for.

Also, if you come across broken links to the STEX you can check the URL and see that there's a file number, you can then search that file number with google ("site:Simtropolis.com file yyyy") and you're all set!

Hope this is useful information!

[Sabretooth78 808]

I noticed that about the file numbers a couple of years ago when I rebuilt my plugins folder from scratch.  Apparently the url scheme had changed, but the numbers remained the same.  Through a combination of the means described here I was able to find everything I needed and also all dependencies.  Well, all except one which I wasn't able to find anywhere - I think it was a residential slope mod (i.e. no retaining walls) back from the days of the dinosaurs back in early 2003 that still worked.  Fortunately I still had copies of all the stuff, I was just trying to rebuild links and piece things back together.