SQL Server Reference Guide

Mar 28, 2003

␡

⎙ Print

< Back Page 88 of 365 Next >

Full-Text searches give you a broader range of text to search with, usually in char or varchar fields. They're used in an optional SQL Server construct called a full-text search. Once you've installed this feature, you can search on complex string functions within a query. And, if you've stored complex binary objects (such as Microsoft Word documents or Excel Spreadsheets) in a field, you can search within that document as if it were a SQL field.

To use full text searches, you need the Microsoft Search service installed on the operating system on which the SQL Server is running. This service only runs on Windows Server 2000 and higher. Microsoft Search is the search engine used when a Full-Text query is called from SQL Server.

To install the service, stick in the SQL Server CD, and add the feature under Add Server Components. With that done, make sure you re-apply whatever service pack level your server is currently running.

With the service installed, you use either Enterprise Manager or a set of stored procedures to create and manage indexes for a column. Unlike regular indexes, you can only have one Full-Text index per table, and only 256 in the entire database. Another difference is that the indexes aren't stored in the database, but on the OS's file system, which is why you need a set of stored procedures to create and manage them. That's the process I'll focus on in this tutorial. I'll cover the use of Full-Text searches more completely in another tutorial.

You can use graphical or command-line tools to create and implement Full-Text Indexes. I'll start with Enterprise Manager to demonstrate an index creation. The classic example is indexing the notes field in the titles table. Whenever you see a "notes" style field, it's usually a good candidate for a Full-Text index. There are some string tricks you can do to get the same result, but a Full-Text Index is often a good way to go, especially if you have binary data stored, such as a Microsoft Word file in a field.

Moving to the pubs database, I drill down to the titles field. Once I right-click the titles table, I select Full-Text Index Table... and then Define Full-Text Indexing on a Table..., as shown below:

Figure 144

This brings up a wizard. In the first screen, it asks me to define a unique index on the table. Microsoft Search uses this index to tie the items it stores in the index back to the table. There's only one unique index on this table, so I select that, and then select the notes field on which to create the full text index.

The next step asks me to provide the name and location of the index file:

Figure 145

If this were a production system, I'd be sure to separate this file location from the indexes, logs, data files, and tempdb spindles.

The last step of the wizard allows me to set a schedule for the population and re-indexing of the Full-Text Index. I don't set a schedule here, since I'll do everything manually. If you do set a schedule, make sure you take the load into account. Don't let it interfere with your normal maintenance.

With the index created, I need to populate the entries. To do that, I drill down to the table again, and right-click it. I then select the menu item called Full-Text Index Table and then Start Full Population. Once that's complete, I can use Full-Text Search. To try that, I open Query Analyzer and type in the following query:

USE PUBS
GO
SELECT title, notes
FROM titles
WHERE CONTAINS (notes, ' "how to use" ')
GO

And here's the result:

title                   notes                                                 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
Emotional Security: A New Algorithm            Protecting yourself and your loved ones from undue emotional stress in the modern world. Use of computer and nutritional aids emphasized.
Cooking with Computers: Surreptitious Balance Sheets        Helpful hints on how to use your electronic resources to the best advantage.

(2 row(s) affected)

Beyond having to maintain these indexes manually, there are a few other important things to keep in mind. If you lose the drive where the catalogs exist, then you'll need to re-create them from scratch. The drive where these indexes and catalogs are located also have to be local to SQL Server, not a shared drive. And, you'll have to create the indexes for each table to be able to use them.

There are three stored procedures that you can use instead of the graphical methods I showed you here. To create the same index, you could use the following procedures:

-- First, enable the database for Full-Text Indexes:
EXEC sp_fulltext_database 'enable'

-- Next, reference the table, create the index, name it, and set the unique index:
EXEC sp_fulltext_table 'titles', 'create', 'TitleNotes', 'UPKCL_titleidind'

-- Add the column:
EXEC sp_fulltext_column 'titles','notes','add'

-- Now Activate the index:
EXEC sp_fulltext_table 'titles','activate'

-- And finally populate them:
EXEC sp_fulltext_table 'titles',' start_full'

Working with Full-Text Indexes is a useful way to give your applications the flexibility to search in text fields or binary documents, but they do have a cost. Making a call out to the operating system to find the file isn't the best use of resources, and it costs extra in I/O. On the other hand, it isn't often that the users search this way, and it's a good idea to give your apps as much flexibility as you can.

Online Resources

Microsoft has a good chart here that can help you understand the differences between regular indexes and Full-Text Indexes.

InformIT Tutorials and Sample Chapters

Sean Geiger has an article called Using Full-Text Search Catalogs that explain some of the other search tactics.

< Back Page 88 of 365 Next >

🔖 Save To Your Account

InformIT Promotional Mailings & Special Offers

I would like to receive exclusive offers and hear about products from InformIT and its family of brands. I can unsubscribe at any time.

Privacy Notice

Overview

Pearson Education, Inc., 221 River Street, Hoboken, New Jersey 07030, (Pearson) presents this site to provide information about products and services that can be purchased through this site.

This privacy notice provides an overview of our commitment to privacy and describes how we collect, protect, use and share personal information collected through this site. Please note that other Pearson websites and online products and services have their own separate privacy policies.

Collection and Use of Information

To conduct business and deliver products and services, Pearson collects and uses personal information in several ways in connection with this site, including:

Questions and Inquiries

For inquiries and questions, we collect the inquiry or question, together with name, contact details (email address, phone number and mailing address) and any other additional information voluntarily submitted to us through a Contact Us form or an email. We use this information to address the inquiry and respond to the question.

Online Store

For orders and purchases placed through our online store on this site, we collect order details, name, institution name and address (if applicable), email address, phone number, shipping and billing addresses, credit/debit card information, shipping options and any instructions. We use this information to complete transactions, fulfill orders, communicate with individuals placing orders or visiting the online store, and for related purposes.

Surveys

Pearson may offer opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, including surveys evaluating Pearson products, services or sites. Participation is voluntary. Pearson collects information requested in the survey questions and uses the information to evaluate, support, maintain and improve products, services or sites, develop new products and services, conduct educational research and for other purposes specified in the survey.

Contests and Drawings

Occasionally, we may sponsor a contest or drawing. Participation is optional. Pearson collects name, contact information and other information specified on the entry form for the contest or drawing to conduct the contest or drawing. Pearson may collect additional personal information from the winners of a contest or drawing in order to award the prize and for tax reporting purposes, as required by law.

Newsletters

If you have elected to receive email newsletters or promotional mailings and special offers but want to unsubscribe, simply email information@informit.com.

Service Announcements

On rare occasions it is necessary to send out a strictly service related announcement. For instance, if our service is temporarily suspended for maintenance we might send users an email. Generally, users may not opt-out of these communications, though they can deactivate their account information. However, these communications are not promotional in nature.

Customer Service

We communicate with users on a regular basis to provide requested services and in regard to issues relating to their account we reply via email or phone in accordance with the users' wishes when a user submits their information through our Contact Us form.

Other Collection and Use of Information

Application and System Logs

Pearson automatically collects log data to help ensure the delivery, availability and security of this site. Log data may include technical information about how a user or visitor connected to this site, such as browser type, type of computer/device, operating system, internet service provider and IP address. We use this information for support purposes and to monitor the health of the site, identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents and appropriately scale computing resources.

Web Analytics

Pearson may use third party web trend analytical services, including Google Analytics, to collect visitor information, such as IP addresses, browser types, referring pages, pages visited and time spent on a particular site. While these analytical services collect and report information on an anonymous basis, they may use cookies to gather web trend information. The information gathered may enable Pearson (but not the third party web trend services) to link information with application and system log data. Pearson uses this information for system administration and to identify problems, improve service, detect unauthorized access and fraudulent activity, prevent and respond to security incidents, appropriately scale computing resources and otherwise support and deliver this site and its services.

Cookies and Related Technologies

This site uses cookies and similar technologies to personalize content, measure traffic patterns, control security, track use and access of information on this site, and provide interest-based messages and advertising. Users can manage and block the use of cookies through their browser. Disabling or blocking certain cookies may limit the functionality of this site.

Do Not Track

This site currently does not respond to Do Not Track signals.

Security

Pearson uses appropriate physical, administrative and technical security measures to protect personal information from unauthorized access, use and disclosure.

Children

This site is not directed to children under the age of 13.

Marketing

Pearson may send or direct marketing communications to users, provided that

Pearson will not use personal information collected or processed as a K-12 school service provider for the purpose of directed or targeted advertising.
Such marketing is consistent with applicable law and Pearson's legal obligations.
Pearson will not knowingly direct or send marketing communications to an individual who has expressed a preference not to receive marketing.
Where required by applicable law, express or implied consent to marketing exists and has not been withdrawn.

Pearson may provide personal information to a third party service provider on a restricted basis to provide marketing solely on behalf of Pearson or an affiliate or customer for whom Pearson is a service provider. Marketing preferences may be changed at any time.

Correcting/Updating Personal Information

If a user's personally identifiable information changes (such as your postal address or email address), we provide a way to correct or update that user's personal data provided to us. This can be done on the Account page. If a user no longer desires our service and desires to delete his or her account, please contact us at customer-service@informit.com and we will process the deletion of a user's account.

Choice/Opt-out

Users can always make an informed choice as to whether they should proceed with certain services offered by InformIT. If you choose to remove yourself from our mailing list(s) simply visit the following page and uncheck any communication you no longer want to receive: www.informit.com/u.aspx.

Sale of Personal Information

Pearson does not rent or sell personal information in exchange for any payment of money.

While Pearson does not sell personal information, as defined in Nevada law, Nevada residents may email a request for no sale of their personal information to NevadaDesignatedRequest@pearson.com.

Supplemental Privacy Statement for California Residents

California residents should read our Supplemental privacy statement for California residents in conjunction with this Privacy Notice. The Supplemental privacy statement for California residents explains Pearson's commitment to comply with California law and applies to personal information of California residents collected in connection with this site and the Services.

Sharing and Disclosure

Pearson may disclose personal information, as follows:

As required by law.
With the consent of the individual (or their parent, if the individual is a minor)
In response to a subpoena, court order or legal process, to the extent permitted or required by law
To protect the security and safety of individuals, data, assets and systems, consistent with applicable law
In connection the sale, joint venture or other transfer of some or all of its company or assets, subject to the provisions of this Privacy Notice
To investigate or address actual or suspected fraud or other illegal activities
To exercise its legal rights, including enforcement of the Terms of Use for this site or another contract
To affiliated Pearson companies and other companies and organizations who perform work for Pearson and are obligated to protect the privacy of personal information consistent with this Privacy Notice
To a school, organization, company or government agency, where Pearson collects or processes the personal information in a school setting or on behalf of such organization, company or government agency.

Links

This web site contains links to other sites. Please be aware that we are not responsible for the privacy practices of such other sites. We encourage our users to be aware when they leave our site and to read the privacy statements of each and every web site that collects Personal Information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this web site.

Requests and Contact

Please contact us about this Privacy Notice or if you have any requests or questions relating to the privacy of your personal information.

Changes to this Privacy Notice

We may revise this Privacy Notice through an updated posting. We will identify the effective date of the revision in the posting. Often, updates are made to provide greater clarity or to comply with changes in regulatory requirements. If the updates involve material changes to the collection, protection, use or disclosure of Personal Information, Pearson will provide notice of the change through a conspicuous notice on this site or other appropriate way. Continued use of the site after the effective date of a posted revision evidences acceptance. Please contact us if you have questions or concerns about the Privacy Notice or any objection to any revisions.

Last Update: November 17, 2020

Email Address