diff --git a/data.c b/data.c
index 82f36a4..e3292c8 100644
--- a/data.c
+++ b/data.c
@@ -2490,7 +2490,7 @@ void notify_clear(snac *snac)
 
 /** searches **/
 
-xs_list *search_by_content(snac *user, const xs_list *timeline,
+xs_list *content_search(snac *user, const xs_list *timeline,
                             const char *regex, int max_secs, int *timeout)
 /* returns a list of posts which content matches the regex */
 {
diff --git a/main.c b/main.c
index 9244b5a..240e02e 100644
--- a/main.c
+++ b/main.c
@@ -380,7 +380,26 @@ int main(int argc, char *argv[])
         int to;
 
         /* 'url' contains the regex */
-        xs *r = search_by_content(&snac, tl, url, 10, &to);
+        xs *r = content_search(&snac, tl, url, 10, &to);
+
+        int c = 0;
+        char *v;
+
+        /* print results as standalone links */
+        while (xs_list_next(r, &v, &c)) {
+            printf("%s/admin/p/%s\n", snac.actor, v);
+        }
+
+        return 0;
+    }
+
+    if (strcmp(cmd, "search2") == 0) { /** **/
+        /* undocumented (for testing only) */
+        xs *tl = timeline_simple_list(&snac, "public", 0, XS_ALL);
+        int to;
+
+        /* 'url' contains the regex */
+        xs *r = content_search(&snac, tl, url, 10, &to);
 
         int c = 0;
         char *v;
diff --git a/snac.h b/snac.h
index 7f069ab..e3b76f6 100644
--- a/snac.h
+++ b/snac.h
@@ -179,8 +179,8 @@ xs_list *list_timeline(snac *user, const char *list, int skip, int show);
 xs_val *list_content(snac *user, const char *list_id, const char *actor_md5, int op);
 void list_distribute(snac *user, const char *who, const xs_dict *post);
 
-xs_list *search_by_content(snac *user, const xs_list *timeline,
-                            const char *regex, int max_secs, int *timeout);
+xs_list *content_search(snac *user, const xs_list *timeline,
+                        const char *regex, int max_secs, int *timeout);
 
 int actor_add(const char *actor, xs_dict *msg);
 int actor_get(const char *actor, xs_dict **data);