DB2 Text Search overview

DB2® Text Search allows you to search text columns stored in a DB2 table. By enabling text search support, you can use the CONTAINS, SCORE, and xmlcolumn-contains functions, which are built into the DB2 engine, to search text search indexes based on the search arguments that you specify.

DB2 Text Search works by collecting data from diverse sources and indexing it for subsequent fast retrieval. Furthermore, the search engine uses linguistic analysis to ensure that it returns only relevant search query results.

As shown in Figure 1, you install the DB2 Text Search server and DB2 servers on the same system, but the DB2 Text Search server runs in its own Java™ Virtual Machine (JVM). You explicitly start and stop the DB2 Text Search services after starting the DB2 instance. You can install DB2 Text Search and DB2 Net Search Extender on the same DB2 install copy.

Figure 1. Deployment diagram for the DB2 Text Search server

Starting with Version 9.7 Fix Pack 3 and later fix packs, DB2 DB2 Text Search and Net Search Extender text indexes can coexist on the same table column. You can now switch between either DB2 Text Search or Net Search Extender text indexes by simply toggling the index status.

DB2 Text Search does not have a graphical user interface. Instead, command-line tools are available for tasks such as configuring and administering the DB2 Text Search server, creating a synonym dictionary for a collection, and diagnosing problems. In addition, you can use a stored-procedure interface for some common administrative tasks.