generating SQL query from Search engine style input string??

[mayB2morrow]

Hi there,

I am currently working on a project which involves the implementation of some database seraching based on user input.

I need to mimic the functionality of a search engine search box in my search - i.e. parse characters such as "", +, - , or etc. to create advanced search criteria.

I need some code which would convert this user input into SQL search criteria.

e.g if someone were to type into my search box....

"experts exchange" or Phil Marsay -unix

would translate to something like...

field like '%experts exchange%' or (field like '%Phil%' and field like '%marsay%') and field not like '%unix%'

You get the idea, I am sure this must have been done somewhere before. I'm not really interested in ranking results or anything like that - the search results will just match everything in the criteria or not show up.

Any help, pointers to info, or code snippets most greatfully accepted! Preferably c# as that is what I am working on, but if there are any examples in other languages, I will gladly take a look at those too!

Thanks in advance,

Phil Marsay