Creating a search feature for my forums

j_freeman

So I'm creating my own BBS. Yes, another PHP forum system. :rolleyes: In my defense, it actually is somewhat unique in that it is basically going to be an open-source (MIT/BSD instead of GPL) version of vBulletin 2.x.x (because I loathe vB3). 🙂

Anyway, I've got pretty much 80% of the system completed, and I'm ready to implement the Search feature. But I've got absolutely no idea where or how to start.

I've checked out phpBB and vBulletin, and their spaghetti code doesn't really help at all in giving me an idea. So can anyone here just explain to me the basics of implementing a search feature for a standard forum system? Or perhaps a tutorial or another resource? Anything, really, that would help me out...

Thanks!

planetsim

Have you searched? this topic has come up plenty of times in the past. Im sure theres an example somewhere.

j_freeman

Yup, that's the first thing I did, and it didn't give me anything relevant. Everything I found had to do with searching Web sites a la Google, etc.

rachel2004

Two things:

Where can I get a hold of this BBS after you build it because I'd like to check it out?
If you'll be using MySQL as your backend db, there are a couple of things you want to look into at the MySQL manual: FULLTEXT, MATCH() and AGAINST().

In comparison to the PHP manual, I have found the MySQL manual at times a little harder to grasp right away, so if that happens to you, you may need to Google for MySQL + said keywords for better example usages than what is illustrated in the MySQL manual.

HTH.

j_freeman

Where can I get a hold of this BBS after you build it because I'd like to check it out?

I'll be hosting a Web site like phpBB does. I already have the domain and I'm also working on the site currently. I can't give out the address yet because the domain is pointed to my test computer, which is also my personal computer. 😉

It'll be a few months until the first release. If I still remember, I'll make sure to let you know... 🙂

If you'll be using MySQL as your backend db, there are a couple of things you want to look into at the MySQL manual: FULLTEXT, MATCH() and AGAINST().

Yeah, I've ran into the FULLTEXT thing. I might end up using it, but I'd ideally like to implement the method that vB 2.x.x uses.