possible to rank output with access database?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Martin Williams
  • Start date Start date
M

Martin Williams

i have an assignment for school that requires me to create a web search page
and rank the results. however, we are to use an access database and not
SQL. we have to come up with a custom ranking system. are there any
examples of this anywhere? i'm not even sure how to start.
 
I guess what I'm trying to say is - is there an example out there of doing a
FREETEXTTABLE like query with access, that ranks output? Thanks.
 
That is kind of a poor assignment on your teacher's part. Microsoft Access
is not the proper tool for such an endeavor. You'd never write a
search engine in a database not suited for use in a web environment at a
real
job or you'd get laughed out of the office.

Not to mention Access isn't capable of applying sql search characteristics
to stored binaries such as .doc, .xls, .ppt, or other formats.

I'd have hoped your teachers were more concerned with your need
to learn applicable skills...

The proper tool for this in Microsoft Index Server.

I can't think of a better option off the top of my head to complete
your assignment short of LIKE clauses dynamically built from
each word of the search criteria (which opens you up to SQL
Injection attacks). Then, as you iterate through
the results, you'd do a total word count and attach it to the DataTable.
At the end, perform a .Select on the DataTable with an order by clause on
your total words found column.

I apologize for the weak response but I'm not used to being forced
to use the wrong tools to solve problems.
 
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