How hard is it to incorporate full text search with SQL Server?

Question

I am building a C#/ASP.NET app with an SQL backend. I am on deadline and finishing up my pages, out of left field one of my designers incorporated a full text search on one

Answer 1

I have used dtSearch before for adding full text searching to files and databases, and their stuff is pretty cheap and easy to use.

Short of adding all that and configuring SQL, This script will search through all columns in a database and tell you what columns contain the values you are looking for. I know its not the "proper" solution, but may buy you some time.

/*This script will find any text value in the database*/
/*Output will be directed to the Messages window. Don't forget to look there!!!*/

SET NOCOUNT ON
DECLARE @valuetosearchfor varchar(128), @objectOwner varchar(64)
SET @valuetosearchfor = '%staff%' --should be formatted as a like search 
SET @objectOwner = 'dbo'

DECLARE @potentialcolumns TABLE (id int IDENTITY, sql varchar(4000))

INSERT INTO @potentialcolumns (sql)
SELECT 
    ('if exists (select 1 from [' +
    [tabs].[table_schema] + '].[' +
    [tabs].[table_name] + 
    '] (NOLOCK) where [' + 
    [cols].[column_name] + 
    '] like ''' + @valuetosearchfor + ''' ) print ''SELECT * FROM [' +
    [tabs].[table_schema] + '].[' +
    [tabs].[table_name] + 
    '] (NOLOCK) WHERE [' + 
    [cols].[column_name] + 
    '] LIKE ''''' + @valuetosearchfor + '''''' +
    '''') as 'sql'
FROM information_schema.columns cols
    INNER JOIN information_schema.tables tabs
        ON cols.TABLE_CATALOG = tabs.TABLE_CATALOG
            AND cols.TABLE_SCHEMA = tabs.TABLE_SCHEMA
            AND cols.TABLE_NAME = tabs.TABLE_NAME
WHERE cols.data_type IN ('char', 'varchar', 'nvchar', 'nvarchar','text','ntext')
    AND tabs.table_schema = @objectOwner
    AND tabs.TABLE_TYPE = 'BASE TABLE'
ORDER BY tabs.table_catalog, tabs.table_name, cols.ordinal_position

DECLARE @count int
SET @count = (SELECT MAX(id) FROM @potentialcolumns)
PRINT 'Found ' + CAST(@count as varchar) + ' potential columns.'
PRINT 'Beginning scan...'
PRINT ''
PRINT 'These columns contain the values being searched for...'
PRINT ''
DECLARE @iterator int, @sql varchar(4000)
SET @iterator = 1
WHILE @iterator <= (SELECT Max(id) FROM @potentialcolumns)
BEGIN
    SET @sql = (SELECT [sql] FROM @potentialcolumns where [id] = @iterator)
    IF (@sql IS NOT NULL) and (RTRIM(LTRIM(@sql)) <> '')
    BEGIN
        --SELECT @sql --use when checking sql output
        EXEC (@sql)
    END
    SET @iterator = @iterator + 1
END

PRINT ''
PRINT 'Scan completed'