Better Search v4.2 – Custom Tables Take Centre Stage

I’ve been heads-down building this one over the past several months. Version 4.2.0 of Better Search is out, and whether you’re a long-time user or just discovering the plugin, this update has something for you. Let’s break this down.

The ECSI Revolution comes to Better Search Pro

The standout feature in this release is Efficient Content Storage and Indexing (ECSI) with Custom Tables. Search queries now run against dedicated content tables, not `wp_posts`. Same (or should I say better!) relevance algorithm, same filters, just faster and far more scalable.

Multisite networks with thousands of posts will notice the most significant improvements.

I originally introduced this in Contextual Related Posts Pro v4, and Better Search Pro will utilise the same tables, eliminating duplicate storage or processing.

New Index Names for Clarity (and Compatibility)

You’ll now see `wz_title_content`, `wz_title`, and `wz_content` instead of vague defaults. These indexes will bring consistency across my plugins. Contextual Related Posts will also use the same indexes. More space saved!

Fallback to LIKE

In edge cases where FULLTEXT cannot be enabled on your site (e.g. some shared hosts), Pro will now gracefully degrade to LIKE-based queries. No blank results, no awkward UX.

Query Timeout Control

I’ve added the `MAX_EXECUTION_TIME` hint to prevent long-running queries from slowing down your site. Better Search now plays nicer with overloaded servers.

Setup Made Simple: The New Wizard

Let’s be honest: configuring Better Search used to feel dense. That changes now.

Setting up Better Search correctly has always been crucial for optimal performance. The new setup wizard guides you through:

1. Basic search settings: enabling seamless integration, live search, etc.
2. Content Tuning: select the post types to search and set the weightage of the multiple fields.
3. Pro settings: set and configure pro settings.
4. Index custom tables: If you’re a Pro User and have enabled ECSI.

New users get a smooth onboarding experience. Existing users can run the wizard to audit their current setup. Find the “Start Settings Wizard” button at the bottom of the Settings page.

Network Administration Updates

Better Search Pro Multisite users benefit from:

• Dedicated network settings page to set up multisite search and copy settings across the network.
• The Network Tools page indexes custom tables across all network sites.
• The Collation fix button resolves character encoding issues across the various tables in your network database tables.

These additions make managing Better Search across multiple sites considerably easier.

Miscellaneous improvements

• Copy SQL to Clipboard: Just click the new copy icon on the Tools page. Paste into phpMyAdmin or Adminer and off you go.
• New function: bsearch_get_blog_option() – Grab options for any site on your multisite install. Perfect for global overrides or diagnostics.
• Improved caching – Internal queries now cache score and blog ID, making results snappier and more consistent.

Bug Fixes and Compatibility

This release addresses a specific conflict between Live Search and Max Mega Menu Pro. Better Search’s Live Search will now work seamlessly with Max Mega Menu Pro’s search box.

I’ve also updated the Freemius SDK to the latest version, ensuring smooth license management and automatic updates.

Final Thoughts

This release focuses on refinement. The foundation of Better Search is solid; however, as more of you use it on large sites, multisite networks, and content-heavy blogs, I realised it needed to scale to meet your demands.

If you are a Pro user, please update to enjoy the performance boost. If you are using the free version, now is a great time to explore the wizard and consider what Pro can offer you.

As always, I would love to hear your thoughts. I developed this plugin solo, and it has improved thanks to your feedback.

Download and Support

Better Search v4.2.0 is available through:

• WordPress.org repositoryOpens in a new window (free version)
• WebberZone (Pro version)

For questions or support, visit the WordPress.org support forumOpens in a new window or check our comprehensive documentation.

As always, test updates on staging environments first. If you encounter issues, I’m here to help sort them out.

Better Search has been helping WordPress sites deliver relevant search results since 2009. This release represents another step forward in making WordPress search both powerful and performant.