Improved Search Functionality - Now includes Boolean Searchability

[HowardE]

I've updated our internal search engine with a faster, better, more precise search engine called Sphinx.

The latest build of Sphinx allows for boolean search functions like this:

Boolean queries allow the following special operators to be used:

• explicit operator AND:
  
  hello & world
• operator OR:
  
  hello | world
• operator NOT:
  
  hello !world
• grouping:
  
  ( hello world )

ADDITIONALLY, you can do this:

• phrase search operator:
  
  "hello world"
• proximity search operator:
  
  "hello world"~10
• quorum matching operator:
  
  "the world is a wonderful place"/3
• strict order operator (aka operator "before"):
  
  aaa << bbb << ccc
• exact form modifier:
  
  raining =cats and =dogs

I hope this makes the search functions more enjoyable and precise.

Thanks.

 

[drbill]

I knew back in the 60s when they taught us Boolean algebra that it would be good for something. Seriously, thanks... I'm sure this will improve the efficiency of searches.

 

[TSandM]

This is fantastic, Howard! Thank you!