... Broken DMOZ Category Page? ...

Hi all,

Here's a bug that I've noticed for a bit, but only just getting around to report...

If you go to this category:

http://www.dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Internet/Servers/Shopping/Auctions/Assistance/Searching/

...you'll see it seems rather short, right? Well, I'm pretty sure there are other listings in there somewhere, but just not appearing on the page for some reason.

For example, you can run any of these searches:

http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=mapbid
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=gumshoo
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=auctionsieve
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=bargainchecker
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=watchcount
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=auctionmapper
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=goofbay
http://www.dmoz.org/search?q=search+and+gnome

...and you'll see they all link to the problematic category page, but aren't appearing there. It's as if they are listed in the directory, but are for some reason "hidden" within their category.

You may also notice that the category page seems "cut-off" alphabetically, so maybe it's a simple HTML or DB problem ?

I hope the above info helps.

Thanks!

-DG

I will check this.

windharp said:

I will check this.

Click to expand...

Great, thanks!

-DG

The solution is very easy.
The category did get a big clean-up and the search has not been updated yet.

And due to a bug with the search system deleted listings can stay in the search results for a very long time.
The bug is known by AOL technical staff but we do not know when it will be solved.

pvgool said:

The solution is very easy.
The category did get a big clean-up and the search has not been updated yet.

And due to a bug with the search system deleted listings can stay in the search results for a very long time.
The bug is known by AOL technical staff but we do not know when it will be solved.

Click to expand...

Oh, ok, sounds like that explains it.

But I'm still a little baffled... It seems very coincidental that the 2 items that still remain on the page start with "A". They seem to be alphabetically right at the top.

It's an Auction category and both titles, unsurprisingly, begin with the word Auction

jimnoble said:

It's an Auction category and both titles, unsurprisingly, begin with the word Auction

Click to expand...

Touche! Fair enough. That certainly makes sense.

It's just that I'm familiar with a number of the sites that were once in that category, many of them not starting with 'A' and actually being pretty handy free tools (usually for eBay).

I still think this situation is either a bug, or the mass-purge simply removed everything in that category beyond the first couple entries. I'm pretty sure those 2 remaining entries were right at the top of the original list, and if so, is no coincidence.

I'm gonna stop barking up this tree...

Anyhow, thanks for looking into it, and for responding quickly.

Cheers,

-DG

I still think this situation is either a bug, or the mass-purge simply removed everything in that category beyond the first couple entries. I'm pretty sure those 2 remaining entries were right at the top of the original list, and if so, is no coincidence.

Click to expand...

You're welcome to your paranoia but did you read the category description (link towards top right)?

Services that provide searching for items across multiple auction sites, or provide sophisticated searching tools for one or more auctions. For example, providing searching for misspelled descriptions.

Click to expand...

Listing that don't conform were moved/removed.

Most modern auction sites such as eBay already have excellent search tools.

It's a great shame when editors take the trouble to consider a broken category and fix it in a rational way only to be accused of misdemeanours.