Implementing Full-Text Search

Article
04/03/2023

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics

Full-text search is available per instance of SQL Server and is represented in SMO by the FullTextService object. The FullTextService object resides under the Server object. It is used to manage the configuration options for Microsoft Full Text Search service. The FullTextCatalogCollection object belongs to the Database object and it is a collection of FullTextCatalog objects that represent full-text catalogs defined for the database. You can only have one full-text index defined for each table, unlike normal indexes. This is represented by a FullTextIndexColumn object in the Table object.

To create a full-text search service, you must have a full-text catalog defined on the database and a full-text search index defined on one of the tables in the database.

First, create a full-text catalog on the database by calling the FullTextCatalog constructor and specifying the catalog name. Then, create the full-text index by calling the constructor and specifying the table on which it is to be created. You can then add index columns for the full-text index, by using the FullTextIndexColumn object and providing the name of the column within the table. Then, set the CatalogName property to the catalog you have created. Finally, call the Create method and create the full-text index on the instance of SQL Server.

Example

To use any code example that is provided, you will have to choose the programming environment, the programming template, and the programming language in which to create your application. For more information, see Create a Visual C# SMO Project in Visual Studio .NET.

Creating a Full-Text Search Service in Visual Basic

This code example creates a full-text search catalog for the ProductCategory table in the AdventureWorks2022 sample database. It then creates a full-text search index on the Name column in the ProductCategory table. The full-text search index requires that there is a unique index already defined on the column.

' compile with:   
' /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.SqlEnum.dll   
' /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo.dll   
' /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo.dll   
' /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.dll  
  
Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo  
Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc  
Imports Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common  
  
Public Class A  
   Public Shared Sub Main()  
      ' Connect to the local, default instance of SQL Server.  
      Dim srv As Server = Nothing  
      srv = New Server()  
  
      ' Reference the AdventureWorks database.  
      Dim db As Database = Nothing  
      db = srv.Databases("AdventureWorks")  
  
      ' Reference the ProductCategory table.  
      Dim tb As Table = Nothing  
      tb = db.Tables("ProductCategory", "Production")  
  
      ' Define a FullTextCatalog object variable by specifying the parent database and name arguments in the constructor.  
      Dim ftc As FullTextCatalog = Nothing  
      ftc = New FullTextCatalog(db, "Test_Catalog")  
      ftc.IsDefault = True  
  
      ' Create the Full-Text Search catalog on the instance of SQL Server.  
      ftc.Create()  
  
      ' Define a FullTextIndex object varaible by supplying the parent table argument in the constructor.  
      Dim fti As FullTextIndex = Nothing  
      fti = New FullTextIndex(tb)  
  
      ' Define a FullTextIndexColumn object variable by supplying the parent index and column name arguments in the constructor.  
      Dim ftic As FullTextIndexColumn = Nothing  
      ftic = New FullTextIndexColumn(fti, "Name")  
  
      ' Add the indexed column to the index.  
      fti.IndexedColumns.Add(ftic)  
      fti.ChangeTracking = ChangeTracking.Automatic  
  
      ' Specify the unique index on the table that is required by the Full Text Search index.  
      fti.UniqueIndexName = "AK_ProductCategory_Name"  
  
      ' Specify the catalog associated with the index.  
      fti.CatalogName = "Test_Catalog"  
  
      ' Create the Full Text Search index on the instance of SQL Server.  
      fti.Create()  
   End Sub  
End Class

Creating a Full-Text Search Service in Visual C#

// compile with:   
// /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.SqlEnum.dll   
// /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo.dll   
// /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo.dll   
// /r:Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc.dll   
  
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Smo;  
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Sdk.Sfc;  
using Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.Common;  
  
public class A {  
   public static void Main() {  
      // Connect to the local, default instance of SQL Server.  
      Server srv = default(Server);  
      srv = new Server();  
  
      // Reference the AdventureWorks database.  
      Database db = default(Database);  
      db = srv.Databases ["AdventureWorks"];  
  
      // Reference the ProductCategory table.  
      Table tb = default(Table);  
      tb = db.Tables["ProductCategory", "Production"];  
  
      // Define a FullTextCatalog object variable by specifying the parent database and name arguments in the constructor.  
      FullTextCatalog ftc = default(FullTextCatalog);  
      ftc = new FullTextCatalog(db, "Test_Catalog");  
      ftc.IsDefault = true;  
  
      // Create the Full-Text Search catalog on the instance of SQL Server.  
      ftc.Create();  
  
      // Define a FullTextIndex object varaible by supplying the parent table argument in the constructor.  
      FullTextIndex fti = default(FullTextIndex);  
      fti = new FullTextIndex(tb);  
  
      // Define a FullTextIndexColumn object variable by supplying the parent index and column name arguments in the constructor.  
      FullTextIndexColumn ftic = default(FullTextIndexColumn);  
      ftic = new FullTextIndexColumn(fti, "Name");  
  
      // Add the indexed column to the index.  
      fti.IndexedColumns.Add(ftic);  
      fti.ChangeTracking = ChangeTracking.Automatic;  
  
      // Specify the unique index on the table that is required by the Full Text Search index.  
      fti.UniqueIndexName = "AK_ProductCategory_Name";  
  
      // Specify the catalog associated with the index.  
      fti.CatalogName = "Test_Catalog";  
  
      // Create the Full Text Search index on the instance of SQL Server.  
      fti.Create();  
   }  
}

Creating a Full-Text Search Service in PowerShell

# Example of implementing a full text search on the default instance.  
# Set the path context to the local, default instance of SQL Server and database tables  
  
CD \sql\localhost\default\databases  
$db = get-item AdventureWorks2022  
  
CD AdventureWorks\tables  
  
#Get a reference to the table  
$tb = get-item Production.ProductCategory  
  
# Define a FullTextCatalog object variable by specifying the parent database and name arguments in the constructor.  
  
$ftc = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.FullTextCatalog -argumentlist $db, "Test_Catalog2"  
$ftc.IsDefault = $true  
  
# Create the Full Text Search catalog on the instance of SQL Server.  
$ftc.Create()  
  
# Define a FullTextIndex object variable by supplying the parent table argument in the constructor.  
$fti = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.FullTextIndex -argumentlist $tb  
  
#  Define a FullTextIndexColumn object variable by supplying the parent index   
#  and column name arguments in the constructor.  
  
$ftic = New-Object -TypeName Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.FullTextIndexColumn -argumentlist $fti, "Name"  
  
# Add the indexed column to the index.  
$fti.IndexedColumns.Add($ftic)  
  
# Set change tracking  
$fti.ChangeTracking = [Microsoft.SqlServer.Management.SMO.ChangeTracking]::Automatic  
  
# Specify the unique index on the table that is required by the Full Text Search index.  
$fti.UniqueIndexName = "AK_ProductCategory_Name"  
  
# Specify the catalog associated with the index.  
$fti.CatalogName = "Test_Catalog2"  
  
# Create the Full Text Search Index  
$fti.Create()