Why doesn't the Search function work on my store?

[twitchtoo]

Have you replaced all of the advanced search and advanced search result files with the stock Zen Cart originals?

[rubyyin]

Yes, I just did. It seems to be same.

[twitchtoo]

Okay, at any point was the search working?

These are the elements it's using:
template - on screen display
modules - some of the filtering/searching is being performed
functions - connected to modules helping with the searching/filtering
data - what the above steps are looking at when performing a search

I can see there are no on screen errors when performing a search, are there any errors in your /logs folder?

Was this a one click install?

Was there a previous Zen Cart database where the data came from?

Do you have anything against dumping the current site and starting over manually?

[rubyyin]

I found the search function doesn't work a couple weeks ago. The store has been online for just over a year. I didn't spend much time maintaining the website in that year.

I did a one click install on the previous host, I added all the data manually. The day before, my site was shut down because the domain was transfered. I followed https://www.zen-cart.com/content.php?142-i-want-to-move-my-zen-cart-installation-to-another-host-or-a-different-server instructions to transfer whole store and data to the new host company. This time i installed zencart manually, I restored my database and my site. I checked my logs and there are no error files.

I wonder if Multiple Categories Link Manager add-on is the cause of the problem.

[twitchtoo]

Well its current version is 1.39 and you're using 1.51... however it'd an admin only change file change. If it was corrupting the data in the database, without errors, maybe adding some strange character to the data - the search wouldn't be able to find the data it was looking for. Bit of a long shot but you could look at your database -> product and category data to see if it's normal looking?

[rubyyin]

One more thing to mention, the search function works in admin. Does that give any clue?

[twitchtoo]

Yes, the admin mimics and occasionally exactly matches the template default. This is still pointing at one of the search files in your template being faulty without actually seeing the files I'm still guessing.

[rubyyin]

Hi,

It works now.

I installed (one click install) Zen Cart to subdomain.
I copied all files under /modules/pages/advanced_search and /modules/pages/advanced_search_result from fresh Zen Cart to my current store, and replaced them. And it works!

Thank you all who spent time on the issue.

[twitchtoo]

Good news :)

[rubyyin]

Thank you