I upgraded to Sql Server Express 2005 w/Advanced Services, chose to install full-text indexing, rebooted, but appear to be unable to set up full-text indexing for a column. After attaching the old mdf file and opening any table in either Management Studio Express or Visual C# Express, I don't get anything but a disabled (Is Full-text Indexed) property for the fields I want to set up. I have verified that FullText Search service is running, and have tried restarting the service. I have also checked that full-text indexing is enabled on the database.
I just feel like I am missing some simple step. Any info would be welcome.
Upgrade to Advanced Services; full-text indexing not working
JoeCoder
So whilst I can kick Full Text Search off, enable it for Express using the Config Tools I cannot for the life of me figure out how to enable it for a database.
Interesting SQL Express's Full text runs as LocalSystem (that can't be right surely bad idea), SQL Developer Edition runs as Network Service
Roger Cheng - MSFT
Great stuff, thanks. I found the 'manage full-text' option in the table designer!!
I just ran a freetext query and didn't recieve an error from my ASP.NET, which is a great result. However I didn't recieve any results back from the search and I'm sure I should have.
I have one column 'ProjectName' that I have selected for the FTS. I then submitted a query to the dbase from my web site just to see if I could pick out all the records that contain the word 'people':
cmdSelect = New SqlCommand("Select ProjectName FROM ProjectList Where FREETEXT( ProjectName, 'people' )", conn)
Unfortunately nothing was returned. Is the structure of my query incorrect for this And should I be referencing the actual FT catalogue table
cheers
Jon
annag
Ok, thanks for your help!
Cheers
Jon
strDisplayName
I cannot get any "create text index" or "manage text index" stuff to display anywhere in the interface (eg. when right-clicking on a database); however I do have a workaround, you must manually create your full text index using a SQL command:
CREATE FULLTEXT CATALOG YourCatalogName AS DEFAULT;
Once created you can open a table for modification, the "Fulltext index..." item in the "Table Designer" menu will then have the "Add" button enabled, allowing you to add columns for that table to the full text catalog.
This works - I am now using it on two different databases!
Only problem is there is no centralised "Manage full-text index" feature like I had in SQL Server 2000 (where I could set population options etc), but at least it is working.
Hope that helps.
Julian
John Hennesey
Sorry Jon, I'm pretty new to full-text myself and have used neither ASP.NET or the FREETEXT command (I'm working with ASP classic and the CONTAINS and CONTAINSTABLE commands). I can only suggest that you run the query from inside Management Studio and check the SQL Server help files (which provide some pretty good examples for most SQL commands).
Julian
Al Dynarski
From what I gather, full-text indexing can be enabled at the database level through Management Studio Express. After attaching your database, if necessary, right-click the database node and select Properties. In the left column of the Database Properties window, click Files, then check "Use full-text-indexing."
Another clue: When I open Management Studio Express, I do get an error reading: Cannot create a stable subkey under a volatile parent key. I am able to click Continue and proceed, so I don't suspect it is related to my issue. However, when I go in to attach a database, I cannot expand at least one folder that does have child folders on my hard drive - unfortunately, it is the folder that contains my mdf file. So I have had to copy the mdf and log files to a folder that Management Studio Express can see. Even still, when I open up the mdf's properties, it shows itself as still residing in the old folder.
How this may relate to full-text indexing being always disabled for my columns, I do not know. Ahhh!!!
J.Mayooresan
Hi,
I finally got the free-text to be enabled when I installed the Indexing for Windows XP.
There is also a very 'well hidden' note on tne read me files stating you should reboot your machine after installing the free text, which I did. Now I can select a database's properties, go to files and select the 'full-text indexing' checkbox.
However I am completely struggling on the next step. I have searched for a few days now for some step-by-step guidelines of how to actually do a full text search with SQL express, but I have found nothing. The Microsoft books online thing has a few categories but explains the theory behind it, NOT actualy how to create an index on the tables. Plus guidelines in text books for SQL Server2000 of how to do this are completely different!
Can anyone help me here. It is so frustarting tyring to do anything with this software.
Cheers
Jon
cyberwälder
Got the same problem - have just uninstalled SQL 2000 Develepor and installed SQL 2005 Express Advanced. Tried attaching a 2K database with full-text, and also created a new db in Management Studio Express; both have full-text enabled on the file but "Full-text specification" all greyed out on Column settings and selecting "Fulltext index..." from Table Designer menu (when modifying a table) gives a message that "Creation of the full-text index is not available. Check that you have the correct permissions or that full-text catalogs is defined".
Note that as this is a completely firewalled server, I am running SQL Server and FullText Search services as Administrator and my login to Windows and Management Studio Express have the highest levels of privilege. Have also tried installing the full Management Studio for SQL Server 2005 trial, but same problems persist.
Has anybody actually got Full-Text search running for Express Advanced This was the reason that I upgraded our test server, after four wasted hours I'm starting to wish I hadn't bothered!
abelegreen
My problem with yet another install is I already have the grown up Management studio.
The fun part comes in trying to attach a database; Visual Studio 2005 places all your databases under "My Documents". Because of the context that Express appears to run under when I use the "grown up" Management Studio it can't browse beyond "Documents and Settings".
Hehehe.
StevenFowler
Hi Jon,
If you have run the create then you have done the hard bit, the only other control you have is to add table columns as described in my previous post (open a table for modification to reveal the "Table Designer" menu at the top of the Management Studio window, then select "Fulltext Index... " from that menu, click add, specify column by clicking inside Columns box then clicking the button with three dots).
As I said there is no control of the catalog and no means for managing it as a whole (ie. where it is placed, navigating and manipulating) - this is simply my workaround to get full-text searches working at all. Hopefully Microsoft will fix this soon and add the missing tools.
Julian
Knvb1123
Management Studio is an option when installing Sql Server Express, so perhaps that alleviates your problem. It is deselected by default.
Reading another post, I see why the directory would not expand while attaching a database (permissions). I still cannot figure out why I can't set any field to be full-text indexed. This is extremely frustrating.
If anyone reads this... do I have to upgrade the database itself when upgrading to Advanced Services
Thanks.
John.Padilla
Thanks for your advice. I too haven't found any "create text index" or "manage text index" stuff.
Unfortunately I'm new too SQL Server after spending a few years running small Access databases and web front ends. Could you possibly explain in more detail how I could set this up
I have just ran the SQL query 'CREATE..' as you have instructed above. However, where is the catalogue placed, and do I need to navigate to the catalogue to start manipulating it
Regards
Jon
Akhraden
DTSlurve
Oh flip, it's bad enough that I already have VS, and the full SQL Management Tools, without having to download yet another tool for SQL Express.
Whilst I realise I can probably fool the grown up SQL into managing Express (although how it would mount databases I simply don't know), however I'm trying to get a nice easy setup for developers, without having to grab another management tool.