Linking to searches

[roddy]

When you do a search, you get a numerical value in the url - ie, it'll be something like

search.php?searchid=251250

This represents a cached set of results. The cache is kept to reduce server load, but expires after about an hour - so if you link to that url, your link will only work for the next 60 minutes.

If you want to link to, say, a search on the hsk, use this format

http://www.chinese-forums.com/search.php?query=hsk (to search page, with query prefilled)

or

http://www.chinese-forums.com/search.php?query=hsk&do=process (to results page)

Those urls will work at any time, and will give the most recent results.

Incidentally, if you are interested you can see what's in the cache by doing a search, then adjusting the number in the url downwards. Most will be blank as they will be 'new posts' searches, but in some cases you can see what people have been searching for.