MySQL Fulltext search against column value?

Question

I need to do a Fulltext search for a whole bunch of values out of a column in another table. Since MATCH() requires a value in the AGAINST() part, a straightforward: "SELECT a.id FROM a,b WHERE MATCH(b.content) AGAINST(a.name)" fails with "Incorrect arguments to AGAINST".

Now, I know I could write a script to query for a list of names and then search for them, but I'd much rather work out a more complex query that can handle it all at once. It doesn't need to be speedy, either.

Ideas?

thanks

Answer 1

Unfortunately, http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.6/en/fulltext-search.html says:

The search string must be a string value that is constant during query evaluation. This rules out, for example, a table column because that can differ for each row.

Looks like you'll have to search for the patterns one at a time if you use MySQL's FULLTEXT index as your search solution.

The only alternative I can think of to allow searching for many patterns like you describe is an Inverted Index. Though this isn't as flexible or scalable as a true full-text search technology.

See my presentation http://www.slideshare.net/billkarwin/practical-full-text-search-with-my-sql