Question

I know there’s a wizard out there who can answer this …

I have a PHP / MySQL database that lists over 500 wines. Using a form, web visitors can search the database by wine name, country, vintage, etc.

I have tested two (2) different queries.

The one I want to use refuses to return a country specific search for USA, but has NO problem with Spain, Australia, Italy, Canada or Chile (or even United States – which I tested) .

USA only shows up when the user enters a wine name or vintage, etc., that happens to match a USA product. Otherwise, it treats USA like it doesn’t exist.

The other code (bottom block) returns all USA searches, but does not search across multiple columns / terms, which I need.

1. This code WILL NOT find a country-specific search for USA

      $cob=mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['user-entry']);
   
   // remove the line below to prevent searching multiple terms
      $cob = '+' . str_replace(' ',' +',$cob);
   
     $sql = sprintf ( 
     "SELECT CSPC, Country, Producer, Wine, Year, Price,
     MATCH ( CSPC, Country, Producer, Wine, Year ) 
     AGAINST ( '&s' IN BOOLEAN MODE )  
     FROM winecellar WHERE 
     MATCH ( CSPC, Country, Producer, Wine, Year ) 
     AGAINST ( '%s' IN BOOLEAN MODE )", $cob, $cob ) . $pricerange;
   

2. This code WILL find a country-specific search for USA

     $cob=mysql_real_escape_string($_POST['user-entry']);
   
     $sql="SELECT ID, CSPC, Country, Producer, Wine, Year, Price 
     FROM winecellar WHERE
     ( CSPC LIKE '%" . $cob .  "%' 
     OR Country LIKE '%" . $cob ."%' 
     OR Producer LIKE '%" . $cob ."%' 
     OR Wine LIKE '%" . $cob ."%' 
     OR Year LIKE '%" . $cob ."%' )" . $pricerange;
   

   • MySQL Server version: 5.1.65-cll
   • Country = varchar (20)
   • Country = NULL No
   • Full-Text Index: Country, Producer, Wine, Year

So my question is, what is preventing the multi-term code (in the top block) from recognizing USA as a valid query?

Any help would be greatly appreciated, thanks guys.

Chris

Answer 1

You’re using a FULLTEXT index. The default minimum word length is 4. Three letter words are ignored. Here is the reference for changing defaults.