Fedi.Tips 🎄
The latest version of Mastodon (4.2.0) brings full text search, so you can search by words instead of hashtags.
However, for privacy reasons this only includes posts by people who have actively opted into full text search.
If your server is updated to 4.2.0 and you want to opt into full text search:
1. Log into your server's website
2. Click your profile icon
3. Click "Edit Profile"
4. Click tab "Privacy & Reach"
5. Tick box "Include Public Posts In Search results"
6. Click "Save Changes"
Fedi.Tips 🎄
If you go to a server's website, it will be written in the About page (and on the bottom left corner of all pages if you're viewing it on a computer).
I can see your server sauropods.win is on 4.2.0
You can get to te About page on the desktop website by clicking "learn more" and on the mobile website by clicking ⋯
You don't need to be logged in or a member to see the About page.
Mike Taylor 🦕
@feditips How can I tell what version of the software my instance is running?
Josh Burke
@feditips thanks for the update. Does that mean when an individual user opts-in or when the instance their account is hosted on opts-in?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
The individual user opts in.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Ah, sorry about that! 😃
Hopefully this helps:
Your server's website is usually the name of your server. You can log into your account through your server's website instead of an app.
For example your server is ohai.social, so the website for your server is https://ohai.social
The settings pages on server websites tend to be updated quicker than the settings pages on the apps. This means when a new feature comes out it's often only accessible through the website at first.
ReverendRef
@feditips You lost me at, “Log into your server’s website.”
I’m lucky I found Mastadon at all.
#Ludite #SpeakSlowly
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Hmm... It's working for me on 4.2.0... I assume you're typing @ before you're typing their name?
Bruce Mirken
@feditips Since the update, some things don't seem to work as well. If I wanted to tag someone I follow or that follows me in a post, typing just the beginning of their handle would bring up their full name. Now it doesn't.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Luddites are the best! Do ask if there's anything else you want help with!
ReverendRef
@feditips Luddites thank you.
Bruce Mirken
@feditips Yes. But now I tried again tagging the same account and it worked. Weird, but maybe a temporary glitch?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
When the update happened on my server, there was a short period where everything was a bit buggy, but after a while it started working normally again.
I'm guessing it takes a little time for the server to get back to normal after installation?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
No, it's not. That option is about whether your posts are indexed by search engines like Google, DuckDuckGo etc.
Your server mastodon.cloud isn't on 4.2.0 yet, so you don't have this setting yet. If you ask your admin, they will tell you when/if they are upgrading.
tzenes
@feditips is it this setting?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
p.s. Apparently it can take a while for the search databases to build up after the upgrade. Don't worry if your searches aren't showing any results yet.
tzenes
@feditips ah, sorry. Thank you for clarifying!
Fedi.Tips 🎄
No worries! 🙂
Domesticated Pagan
@feditips and if I don’t see/find anything other than “edit profile”? There are no other tabs… Near #Ludite too 😁
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Your server is still on version 4.1.8 so you won't have these options available to you yet.
Bear in mind the latest version (4.2.0) was only released a few hours ago, so it may take some time for every server to update 😁
Kevin Karhan :verified:
@feditips which makes it necessary to still use #hashtags, thus it's a non-feature...
Fedi.Tips 🎄
I don't follow your logic?
Kevin Karhan :verified:
@feditips Since findability is opt-in for full-text, I've to still rely on Hashtags.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
It depends on how many people opt in I guess?
Kevin Karhan :verified:
@feditips yeah, but I assume nearly noone will...
PKPs Powerfromspace1
@feditips this ☝️
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Yeah, I can see your server is still on 4.1.9 so it doesn't have this feature.
You can see your server's version by going to its website's About page (to see About on desktop click Learn More, on mobile click ⋯).
Marc
@feditips
Since I didn't see that option, I assume the server hasn't been updated yet. Is there a way to see what version is installed?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Good question! I'm not sure, I can't find the answer to this!
I am guessing it doesn't apply retroactively, as it seems to rely on a post being tagged as searchable. They would have to update lots of past posts if it was retroactive?
Larry Garfield
@feditips Does switching it on apply retroactively to my older posts, or just posts of mine going forward?
Levka
@feditips
I tried to do this. No luck. I clicked "Edit Profile" and found no "Privacy & Reach" tab. I also have no search function. I'm on on koletiva.social on a MacBook Pro, running Ventura 13.2.1. I can't search at all. There is no search function. Is there a work around? What is it?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
You can't do this yet on your server, your server is still running 4.1.9.
The full text search feature requires Mastodon 4.2.0.
Ask your server admin about when they might upgrade.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Did you scroll to the bottom of the page?
Gorgonz
@feditips could follow steps 1-5, but then there ist no Button 'save changes' in the app. Any hints?
Fedi.Tips 🎄
I think you're using an app? My steps are meant for people logging in on the website. For your server, the website is https://mastodontech.de
Gorgonz
@feditips there is no way to scroll. But i must say, my profile page Looks a little bit different
Fedi.Tips 🎄
Yes, that was the compromise reached as people were concerned about how search was used by bullies and trolls on Twitter.
By having it opt-in, it allows people to avoid being part of such a system if they want to. This can be especially important to those in more vulnerable groups.
Peter Sullivan
@feditips Forgot to mention that my favourite thing about the new full text search is that it is entirely optional - you have to actively opt in to have your toots included in the Big Gissy Full Text Searchable Index. Which strikes me as a very “Mastodony”
Way of doing it.
Levka
How do I contact the admin? I don't see link to click.
Fedi.Tips 🎄
If you go to your server's about page, it will have the admin's account link and their public email address:
https://kolektiva.social/about
Your admin's account is at @admin
Fedi.Tips 🎄
I think you'd have to ask your server's admin about that.
It sounds like the part of the server that powers the full text search isn't active?
Ollie Francis
@feditips Hey there. My server has been on 4.2.0 for a few days now and I'm not getting results in search yet. How long do you think it should take? I've reached out to the server admin but they haven't got back to me and Fedi.Tips normally knows this sort of thing. Can the entire server opt out of letting users search? I've been able to do it on my mastodon. social account.
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