System for searching SQL tables and contents of external documents

[dexeloper]

I've written a system in the past that searched the contents of tables and the content of external documents. This was done by using Indexing Services over the documents, creating a linked server in SQL with provider 'MSIDXS', and using an openquery statement in SQL to search the contents.

If I want to write a similar system today what should I be using to search the documents. Microsoft say Indexing Services has been replaced by Windows Search (WS). However they say WS is a desktop tool rather than a server tool. The method of controlling which folders WS uses is also extremely obtuse. Furthermore, I don't see how to create a linked server in SQL that uses WS.

I don't want to copy the documents to columns in SQL tables. That would just be duplicating everything.

Any ideas?

 

[philhege]

https://www.simple-talk.com/sql/dat...ull-text-searches-on-documents-in-filetables/

The documents have to be in a special place that SQL understands (the FileTable). And you have some configuring to do. But that's the answer post-IDXS.

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With business clients like mine, you'd be better off herding cats.

 

[dexeloper]

Hmm. Food for thought indeed. Many thanks.