Designing DB to make searchable from web?

[MrPeds]

Hi,

I've been asked to design a database for a customer who wants to make their database searchable via the web by using free form text entry.

The database contains information about night-clubs in different countries and in different cities. The database will be sql server 2005.

A typical query typed in by the user could be something like "heavy metal, england, london" and i would have a query that returns information relating to clubs in london that specialise in heavy metal music and so on.

Basically, I would like to know if there are any considerations I should think about when designing the database to make it efficient for searching. I've never done this kind of thing before, my previous design work has been standard data input systems so am not sure if there are any special considerations for designs for tables and so on.

I am guessing that I will implement a full text catalog on one or more tables - what else to think about?

Any ideas are appreciated.

MrPeds

 

[Catadmin]

Free form text input??

YIKES! You might want to warn your client that this opens them up to all kinds of security issues and possible D.O.S. attacks. If someone who knows T-SQL happens to get the right combo in that text box, their server is screwed. Some of that has been fixed in SQL 2k5, but I wouldn't be willing to bet all of it has.

If you're going to do it, though, look up Full Text Search in BOL (Books Online). Here's the "about" sub-article keywords "Full-Text Search [SQL Server], about Full-Text Search".

Full-Text Search is different (I believe) from Full-Text catalog.





Catadmin - MCDBA, MCSA
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