Search function not working

[AlfaOttoParts]

Hi,

My website is Alfaottoparts.com

I've been having issues with the search function as it appears that it is not working correctly at all. Most search terms do not show up at all (even though there are many products with the same term within the title and description). The few search terms that do work, are pulling random words from description and nothing else. However, other products with the same keyword in the description do not show up.

IE: "Grille" will show results for a totally different product type (with no grille in the title) and reference the word grille in the description. This seem weird because it should show the actual grille products as the word is in the title as well as the description.

There is also the word "fog" or "fog light" which will pull the actual product, but when using specific words within their title or description, it will not pull the same list of products.

There's also many keywords that are located in quite a huge chunk of products, but do not pull up anything.


I've tried to compare the search files with a clean install as well as another website that I have setup that has a functional search. I haven't been able to find any variations to speak of and have tried switching my template to default with no results. This issue also effects the admin search when looking up products. It has the same issue as the end user side. I've tried doing a fresh install and updating just the database and it still doesn't work so I don't think it's a template error....not sure really.

I believe this to be a database error when possibly adding a module, but I have no idea where to being.

Currently my zencart only has Ceon SEO, Easy Populate, Google Base Feeder and Analytics installed.

If anyone can direct me to files that I should be looking at, that would be great. I've had two people with limited zencart, but some programming background look at it for a couple of hours and none of us can figure out what the heck is going on. I really don't want to have the restart the complete website again and have downtime, money has already been dumped into advertising.

Thanks!

[AlfaOttoParts]

Anyone?

[Ajeh]

What happens if you switch to the Classic Template and test the search?

What happens if you turn off the SEO/rewrites and test the search?

[AlfaOttoParts]

What happens if you switch to the Classic Template and test the search?

What happens if you turn off the SEO/rewrites and test the search?

Thanks for the reply.

I've tried both already, with no luck. I've tried to switch the template and turn off the SEO individually as well as together and both yield no results.

[Ajeh]

Could you check in phpMyAdmin that all of your Products have master_categories_id values ...

Also have you applied all of the Known Bug Fixes:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82619

NOTE: this is also a good time to check that you have applied all of the Security Patches and Updates:
http://www.zen-cart.com/forum/showthread.php?t=131115

[AlfaOttoParts]

Yes they all have numbers. Some are the same number, which I am assuming is just to signify being in the same category. Tried to look around to see any issues, not much that I can tell though.

As far as I know, all the patches have been updated.

[Ajeh]

Your best bet might be to get a clean Zen Cart and compare the code to your site with something like Beyond Compare from scootersoftware.com ...

[Ajeh]

Go to phpMyAdmin and look at the structure of the table:
products

what is the setting on the field:
products_model

for the collation ...

Now look at the table structure for:
products_description

what is setting on the fields:
products_name
products_description

for the collation ...

what