Search Engine Software
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Category: General Discussion
Forum Name: Classic ASP Discussion
Forum Description: Discussion on Active Server Pages (Classic ASP).
URL: https://forums.webwiz.net/forum_posts.asp?TID=25878
Printed Date: 29 March 2026 at 10:52am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Search Engine Software
Posted By: 123Simples
Subject: Search Engine Software
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 6:55pm
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Hiya I have spent countless hours trying to rack my stupid brain to come up with a simple search engine using either Access or SQL I would like to be able to add a search facility to one of our websites, whereby a user could search for a particular tradesperson, or type of trade In http://www.justcheck.co.uk/business_search.asp - Just Check we have find a business or trade but I realise that the system is crap and needs some major re-working. What I would like is a database that could hold the info, and a search box where people could type in for example: Builder The search engine would then call up the relevant page entries and people could then decide which page to look at. I wish I was brainier but I've spent too long looking for the answers, so I turn to your guys for some help. I usually try and work out this sort of stuff on my own, but my head hurts  ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |
Replies:
Posted By: Jono
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 7:04pm
| Have you considered SQL Server Full-Text Indexing? Are you after a "Google" style "snippit" of the description? If you have access to install software on the server, there is also the new Microsoft search engine - never used it, but it can't be worse than Index Server! |
Posted By: 123Simples
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 7:18pm
Jono - If I even understood what you just typed I'd be famous  I can install server side code and use it within the site, so what I was aiming for was something "site" controlled and easy to setup (from my point of view) My brain is a bit scrambled from today so I will re-read your reply properly tomorrow and in the mean-time I thank you most sincerely for your prompt replyWish I was a lucky programmer Chat soon MrTWS  ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |
Jono wrote:Posted By: Jono
Date Posted: 23 June 2008 at 7:42pm
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If you think my written replies are bad - imagine having to talk to me! Are you looking for a "turn-key" (off the shelf) solution or are you after building it yourself?
Sound like you need some rest - you've been far too busy helping everyone else out.
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After a day of programming and dealing with "support" issues my brain is half fuzzled (if that's a word??).Posted By: 123Simples
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 4:43pm
Hiya Jono - I laughed at your reply about talking to you  What I was hoping to do rather than have an off the shelf package, which in my humble opinion is always rather tying someone to their way of implementing it, was to build a solution myself. I was looking at something similar to this, if I can explain it better: A database that would hold the information, for example: Business Name Business Type Business Description Location Web Address Email address Phone Number Contact Name Then have a search bar where someone for example might type in - Cleaner and then the search results would filter only that word onto a next page showing the matching businesses. Ideally if one could add say their area (their own location) then the match would show cleaners in their location and not all the cleaners advertising in the site Does that help? Or is it beyond a simpleton like myself? ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |
Posted By: Jono
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:09pm
Yeah, they sometimes laugh at me at work as well... 
Your earlier post mentioned SQL so i'm assuming you've got access to a SQL server. It sound quite straight forward for what you are wanting to do. Essentially you'll need to decide what fields you'd like to search on or, indeed, have a hidden metdata field.
That is to say have a keywords field where you can put words that should match what people type. For example "tyre" may be associated with a garage and so might "MOT", etc.
You could then return the relevant records with a query such as:
SELECT * FROM tblBusiness WHERE Bus_Metadata LIKE '%tyre%'
Selecting a location can be a bit more complicated unless you use a drop down menu. If difficult to know if Bristol is near Hull from a computer's perspective (or course as the're both ports they must be next to each other!).
Hope I've not confused you. I think the next thing for you to do is work out your database schema. i.e. What information you want to hold and how you want to hold it (for example "location" may be from a lookup table, how do you hold multiple telephone numbers - or are you only going to allow one).
Hope this helps.
Jono
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Posted By: 123Simples
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:22pm
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It has given me a starting point Jono, and I really thank you for taking "your" time to explain it so clearly. Fancy a job???????????? I will start as you have indicated and take one step at a time Yes I do have access to SQL. Do I build the database therefore using sql rather than access? And if so, do I build it locally (on my Pc) then upload? Telephone numbers would only be one, rather than multiples I'll have a look at this over the next few days and may OFTEN come back and pick your brains, if that's okay? Nite mate ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |
Posted By: 123Simples
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:23pm
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PS I wouldn't laugh at you, I'd laugh with YOU ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |
Posted By: Jono
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 7:59pm
That's better than I get at work (only joking!)
You can build the database in whichever system you prefer. I assume Access may be best as it will be on your PC and has a good upsizing facility.
If you've not done much database design before you may wish to have a quick read on Entity Relationships - this is basically good database design (i.e. in invoicing software you'd only have one record per customer, with several invoices and each invoice having multiple items - you would duplicate the information for each invoice).
Once you got your design, I'll gladly have a look at it for you and make "suggestions".
 Jono
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Posted By: 123Simples
Date Posted: 24 June 2008 at 8:16pm
Thanks Jono  I'm definetly off now  ------------- http://www.123simples.com/" rel="nofollow - Visit 123 Simples Web Design |