Alta Vista Varying search results (fwd)

[Joe Barker]

I thought the group may be interested in this reply to a query I sent 
Alta Vista on its widely varying search results.
	Joe Barker, Internet/WWW Program Coordinator
	The Teaching Library, U C Berkeley

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Thu, 13 Nov 1997 08:52:27 -0800 (PST)
From: Alta Vista Support <avsup at av-ops.pa.dec.com>
To: Joe Barker <jbarker at library.berkeley.edu>
Subject: Re: Varying search results

We are currently in the process of doing a system upgrade. Things will 
return to normal shortly. Thank you for your patience. 

AV Support

On Mon, 10 Nov 1997, Joe Barker wrote:

> Can you explain why the same search submitted to A-V more than one time
> usually results in a different number of records retrieved?
> Almost any search will get different results.  One only has to reclick
> the SEARCH button a few times to see.
> 	Many librarians across the country have observed this behavior from A-V
> simple or advanced search.
> 	Thanks,  
> 	Joe Barker
> 	WWW Instruction Program Coordinator
> 	The Teaching Library
> 	University of California, Berkeley
> 
> 
>