Full-text search across multiple tables

[John]

Hello,

We are developing an application against an MS SQL Server 2000 database
which requires that we implement full-text searching across columns in
multiple tables. The research that we have conducted seems to indicate
that this is not directly possible within SQL Server 2000. And we can
find no way to implement this as the catalogs that are generated are
table specific.

As a work-around, we are planning to create a secondary table used
strictly for searching which is going to denormalize and combine the
searchable data into one catalog. We just want to confirm that this is
the recommended approach or if there is an alternate solution anyone
has used. Please note that upgrading to SQL Server 2005 is not an
option.

Thanks.

John Fleming
jf******@misicompany.com

[Hilary Cotter]

You might be able to use the ability to full text index an indexed view in
SQL 2005. Other than that you are correct, all you can do is try to create a
child table containing both tables and do some resolution back to the base
tables based on the key.

--
Hilary Cotter
Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html

Looking for a FAQ on Indexing Services/SQL FTS
http://www.indexserverfaq.com

"John" <jf********@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:11**********************@g47g2000cwa.googlegr oups.com...

Hello,

We are developing an application against an MS SQL Server 2000 database
which requires that we implement full-text searching across columns in
multiple tables. The research that we have conducted seems to indicate
that this is not directly possible within SQL Server 2000. And we can
find no way to implement this as the catalogs that are generated are
table specific.

As a work-around, we are planning to create a secondary table used
strictly for searching which is going to denormalize and combine the
searchable data into one catalog. We just want to confirm that this is
the recommended approach or if there is an alternate solution anyone
has used. Please note that upgrading to SQL Server 2005 is not an
option.

Thanks.

John Fleming
jf******@misicompany.com