This question has been asked a few times on this forum but I don't think it that a perfect solution has been offered, yet.
The problem is, how do you go construct a dynamic search form similar to the one on www.findachurch.com?
I do not have any problems with actually creating the form. That particular issue has been solved.
However, the thing that is still troubling me is the question of what kind of SQL commands should we use to execute such a search.
So far, all of the responses on this forum seem to basically suggest building up a very large SQL statement that takes on board each of the variables that have been submitted by the form and ends up with a massive SQL statement that goes something like this....
"SELECT * from TABLE where $something="X" and $something2="Y" and $something3="Z";
This type of approach does indeed work for small tables but when you have a large database, the standard "where this equals that" searches are very slow and pretty useless.
For anyone who is serious about building search engines on their sites, it is (I think) generally accepted that "Full Text Searches" are the way to go. (please refer to http://www.zend.com/zend/tut/tutorial-ferrara1.php for an in depth explanation). But the trouble is, I'm not entirely sure how you would go about using a full text search for a dynamic search form, such as the one on findachurch (Perhaps a boolean search is the way forward. Who knows?).
Anyway, the bottom line is... I am not convinced that anyone on this entire forum has come up with a good explanation of how to build a dynamic search form.
Is there anyone out there who can offer some advice and nail this particular topic once and for all????
Thanks
