[ARCHIVED] Change to course search functionality

[tdelillo]

We recently noticed a change when searching for courses. Previously, if you searched for a course using the exact course name (for example, ENGL-1302-125), you got a list of courses with that name (we re-use sections, and have been on Canvas for 3.5 years, so even a search that precise can yield multiple hits). Now when we use the same search, we get anything that starts with ENGL-1302, and the most relevant results aren't even at the top of the list:

I submitted a ticket and was told to add a space to the end, to get only ENGL-1302-125 courses. And that, without the space, the search is working "as intended", revealing all the courses that a person MIGHT be searching for if they didn't know the exact section. After a lot of back and forth, where I explained that this was a step backward, and could not get anyone to acknowledge that this is a recent development, I got the "Please submit this as a feature request" end game.

Can someone save my sanity by confirming that you didn't used to have to put a space at the end of a search string to execute a search for an exact match? Keep in mind I'm talking about course search only. User searches have always returned imprecise results.

[canvas_admin]

Tracey,

When I add a space to the end of a search for a course name, it does not change any results for me.  We use sections in the SIS ID, so our use case isn't exactly like yours and I don't know if that would affect anything.   Honestly, I've never added a space to the end of any of my searches and always get the results for which I am looking.

Search without a space at the end:

Search with a space at the end:

[tdelillo]

Your example was very useful, because it made me think perhaps something was odd with using numbers in our course names instead of actual words. Which didn't turn out to be true, exactly, but as I tried a few different searches I did discover something odd - the search works as expected (without adding the space) for the majority of course searches. But the particular example we were using includes a section number over 100, and apparently things get weird at that point. So, searching for ENGL-1302-025 will give me the five courses bearing that exact name. But searching ENGL-1302-125 does not. Sure seems like a glitch to me!

[ysmalls]

Hello,

I will be out of my office the afternoon of August 17. I will respond to

emails as I'm able to.

If you need a quick response on an Eduporia question feel free to use the

Eduphoria Conference through UTechHelp.

If you need a quick response on a Canvas question feel free to use the Canvas

Conference through UTechHelp.

Have a great day!

[canvas_admin]

I agree.   I would be interested in updates if you're going to file a ticket about this.

[tdelillo]

We actually have two tickets open about it. Initially we were told it is expected behavior, but now that I see that it's only happening with higher section numbers, I am pursuing it further.

[Robbie_Grant]

 @tdelillo ,

We are giving the Canvas Admins area a little bit of love (especially questions that are really, really old) and just want to check in with you.  This will also bring this question new attention. 

Were you able to find an answer to your question? I am going to go ahead and mark this question as answered because there hasn't been any more activity in a while so I assume that you have the information that you need. If you still have a question about this or if you have information that you would like to share with the community, by all means, please do come back and leave a comment.  Also, if this question has been answered by one of the previous replies, please feel free to mark that answer as correct.

Robbie

[tdelillo · Accepted solution]

 @Robbie_Grant - We never got any confirmation that others were experiencing this bug, and Canvas Support never pursued it further since there was the easy workaround of adding the space at the end of the search string. The behavior persisted for.ever. but I just tried it again (because I'm comparing course searches in Prod and Beta) and it is now mysteriously healed. So, the question was never really answered, but (for now) it is no longer relevant.