Gossamer Forum
Home : Products : DBMan : Customization :

Search external file with "External Text File" mod?

Quote Reply
Search external file with "External Text File" mod?
Hi all!

I'm using the External Text File mod to hold lots of text. In fact, I've got 13 external text files to keep the size of the database down. I was wondering if it has ever been discussed if it's possible to modify the search code to include the content of the external file. I've searched but nothing found.

If it's impossible, a short explaination would be great.

If it's possible, some code or link to a thread with the solution would be even greater.

Thank you

Regards

Batdilla

http://baatplassen.no
Quote Reply
Re: [oktrg500] Search external file with "External Text File" mod? In reply to
As stated in the instructions for the mod:

"Note that you will not be able to search for text within the .txt file, but only for text that is in the .db file itself. I would suggest that you add a field to your database for keywords that people might search for. Just be sure that you do *not* name your keyword field 'keyword'. Name it anything else."

Hope this answers your question :)

Unoffical DBMan FAQ

http://creativecomputingweb.com/dbman/index.shtml/
Quote Reply
Re: [LoisC] Search external file with "External Text File" mod? In reply to
In Reply To:
As stated in the instructions for the mod:

"Note that you will not be able to search for text within the .txt file, but only for text that is in the .db file itself. I would suggest that you add a field to your database for keywords that people might search for. Just be sure that you do *not* name your keyword field 'keyword'. Name it anything else."

Hope this answers your question :)


Hi!

Well, almost. I'm still wondering, because I knew about the mentioned statement. The reason for the statement: Isn't it possible to rewrite the code so the external text file is searched too, or would this wreck the gains by using an external file?

Thank you.

Regards

Batdilla

http://baatplassen.no
Quote Reply
Re: [oktrg500] Search external file with "External Text File" mod? In reply to
If you could re-write the code to automatically create the "keywords" field from the text files as the record is saved, then you would have something like what LoisC has suggested.

I don't know how the text file MOD works so I can't be much help, but it seems you could parse the text file down to single words, eliminate duplicate words, eliminate the articles (the,a,an,this,that,those etc.), then store the "keywords" as keywords in a field with the record.

Since you would be splitting the text on a space delimiter, searching for a phrase would be out-of-the-question. (unless phrases were connected with a non-space character).

Good Luck.Smile
Quote Reply
Re: [joematt] Search external file with "External Text File" mod? In reply to
OK - I see that this is complicated. It's just strange that others using the External Text file mod doesn't wonder about the same thing. I've found few other discussions mentioning the subject. But, thanks Joe. I'll put it on my wish list for now. Lots of other things to get ready first.