Programmers Resource - Hi-Lighting Key Words in Search Results

08-09-2004, 06:37 PM

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Join Date: May 2003

Posts: 116

Hi-Lighting Key Words in Search Results

A few things one should understand before attempting to understand this
code. An understanding of the Basic string functions would help out a bit.

This search uses a basic Access Database to query through. So lets begin the code.

Here is the basic form to submit to your search page:

Code:


<Form method="post" action="/template.asp">

Search our site and find the information you need!

Use and, or, and the space to search for multiple words.


<Input type="text" value="" name="keyword" size="30"><br>
<input type="Submit" value="Search the Site"><br>
<Input type="hidden" value="yes" name="srch">
</form>

This search will look for Boolean expressions like “and” and “or” as well as blanks like “visual basic”.

Now for the asp code to get the results from the search:

Code:


<%
if request("srch") = "yes" then
  dim count, nWord, spWord, andWord, orWord
  ‘ set up variables

  word=replace(trim(request("keyword")),"'", "''")
  ‘ trim spaces and replace the single quote

  if instr(word, "and") then
    ‘ check Boolean of and
    andW = true
    Word = split(word,"and")
    ‘now get all the words separated by and into an array

    for i = 0 to ubound(andWord)
      if i <> ubound(andWord) then
        kW = "'%" & andWord(i) & "%'"
        ‘set up sql statement
      elseif i = ubound(andWord) then
        ‘ when it hits the end
        kW = kW &"'%" & andWord(i) & "%' and "
        ‘ add the last sql statement
      end if
    next

  elseif instr(word,"or") then
    orW = true
    orWord = split(word,"or")
    for i = 0 to ubound(orWord)
      if i <> ubound(orWord) then
        kW = "'%" & orWord(i) & "%' and "
      elseif i = ubound(orWord) then
        kW = kW & "'%" & orWord(i) & "%'"
      end if
    next

  elseif instr(word," ") then
    spW = true
    spWord = split(word," ")
    for i = 0 to ubound(spWord)
      if i <> ubound(spWord) then
        kW = "'%" & spWord(i) & "%' or "
      elseif i = ubound(spWord) then
        kW = kW & "'%" & spWord(i) & "%'"
      end if
    next
  else
    ‘There is no Boolean value or Blank in the search word<br>
    kW = "'%" & word & "%'"
  end if

  set conn = server.createobject("adodb.connection")
  conn.open ("DRIVER={Microsoft Access Driver (*.mdb)}; DBQ=" & _
  Server.MapPath("\your.mdb"))

  set rs = server.createobject("adodb.recordset")
  sql = "select * from content where pageBody like " & kW

Now you have your connection set and sql built for the database search,
all that’s left is to open the recordset and highlight:

Code:


  with rs
    .open
    sql,conn,3,3

    if not .eof then
      do while not .eof
        pageBody = rs("pageBody")
        ‘ pass the field value to a local variable
        if andW then
          ‘this is from above when we checked for a Boolean value of AND
          for i = 0 to ubound(andWord)
            ‘go through the search word array
            pos = instr(pageBody,andWord(i)) 
            ‘find the position of the word in the field.
            strW = trim(left(andWord(i),pos))
            ‘ now pass the word found to local variable.
            newStr = "<strong>" & strW & "</strong>"
            ‘ and highlight the found word with bold html tags.
            pageBody = replace(pageBody, strW, newStr)
            ‘ now put back the word into pageBody variable.
            'If we didn’t pass the rs(“pageBody”) first it would overwrite 
            'the variable every time it goes through the loop.
          Next
        ‘Now just set up two more for loops for “OR” and for BLANKS
        ‘The last one will be no Boolean values or blanks.
      else
        pos = instr(pageBody, word)
        strW = trim(left(word, pos))
        newStr = "<strong>" & strW & "</strong>"
        pageBody = replace(pageBody, strW, newStr)
      end if
      ‘Now write out the results from the query with the highlighted 
      'words in there.
      response.write pageBody & "<hr><br>"
      .movenext
      loop
    else
      response.write "<br>No matching records<br>"
    end if
  end with
end if
%>

By Jeremy Ramos
www.deffacto.com