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How do I register/install an IFilter with an instance of Sql Server?

Hello,

I am wanting to install Adobe's Pdf IFilter v6.0 for use with pdf files stored in the database and to use Full-Text searching on those files.

I have been unable to find documentation telling me where I need to install the files, and how I register the IFilter with an instance of Sql Server. I know I've seen demos showing how to do it, but I have not been able to find them again.

Thanks,
JoeM

[414 byte] By [JoeM] at [2008-2-7]

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# 1

Also,

I thought there was a way to find out what IFilters, word breakers, etc. are installed on a given instance but have found no documentation that is valid.

I saw references to the sp_help_fulltext_extenstions stored procedure, but I can't seem to get that working either. I get the error:
Could not find stored procedure 'sp_help_fulltext_extensions'.

JoeM at 2007-9-9 >

top of Msdn Tech,SQL Server,SQL Server Database Engine...

# 2

JoeM,
What is the exact version of the SQL Serve 2005 that you are using? Could you post the SELECT @@version info?

In regards to how to install a 3rd Party (non-trusted) IFilter to an instance of SQL Server 2005, you should use the following system stored procs:

use master
go
sp_fulltext_service 'load_os_resources',1
go
sp_fulltext_service 'verfiy_signature', 0
go
reconfigure with override

Setting load_os_resources to 1 enables the filter daemon to load filters installed on the system as well as those installed by sql server. It does not override the default set of filters installed by sql server, it just allows it to load more filters. Unless the filters being loaded by this mechanism are signed by microsoft (or another trusted source for which you have certificates installed) you will also need to change the setting "sp_fulltext_service 'verfiy_signature', 0". This will allow non-trusted binaries to be loaded by the filter. NOTE: You should be careful with these settings!

I get the same error for sp_help_fulltext_extensions and my @@version is SQL Server 2005 - 9.00.1187.07.

Regards,
John
SQL Full Text Search Blog
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jtkane/

JohnKane at 2007-9-9 >

# 3

John,

Here is the result of my SELECT @@VERSION:

Microsoft SQL Server 2005 - 9.00.1116 (Intel X86)
Apr 9 2005 20:56:37
Copyright (c) 1988-2004 Microsoft Corporation
Beta Edition on Windows NT 5.2 (Build 3790: Service Pack 1)

I did follow the steps you specified and it's working now. I did end up finding the article I'd found earlier and it also said to reset these properties after loading the 3rd party filters. I haven't tested whether or not the filters still work after resetting these properties.

Thanks,
JoeM

JoeM at 2007-9-9 >

# 4

Great news, Joe! Smile

I think your version is the April CTP as I have the June CTP installed and I have a higher build number than you do.

Let us know how the filters work after resetting the properties!

Thanks,
John
SQL Full Text Search Blog
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jtkane/

JohnKane at 2007-9-9 >

# 5

I don't want to use resources from the indexing service, I want to add my own to the sql server instance. The doc says that each instance has its own set of resources, but I can't find any info on how to register something of mine in there.

BensonMargulies at 2007-9-9 >

# 6

Ok... This thread is about adding IFilters to SQL Server 2005 and not the Indexing Service. Although, the IFilter API was initally developed for the Indexing Service, it is used in nearly all search related products from Microsoft.

Are you using an existing 3rd Party IFilter such as Adobe's PDF IFilter or have you developed your own IFilter for a unique file extension? In either case, the process is the same, you install either the 3rd Party IFilter &/or your own custom IFilter on the same server as SQL Server 2005 and then use the above steps to register the IFilter into the default or named instance of SQL Server 2005.

If this is not what you're trying to do can you be more specific?

Thanks,
John
SQL Full Text Search Blog
http://spaces.msn.com/members/jtkane/

JohnKane at 2007-9-9 >

# 7

can somebody give a step by step instruction to use full text search on pdf files using filters.

connect2sandeep at 2007-9-9 >

# 8

Hi John,

I have the same problem as listed above but I am using SPS 2003 and SQL 2005.

I ran your code for the master database.

use master
go
sp_fulltext_service 'load_os_resources',1
go
sp_fulltext_service 'verfiy_signature', 0
go
reconfigure with override

The full text search for pdfs still doesn't seem to work (the ifilter is all installed and I rebooted the server). Do I need to run this against any of the SharePoint databases as well?

thanks

StevePenfold at 2007-9-9 >

# 9

There is a typo in the code. The correct one should be as this:

use master
go
EXEC sp_fulltext_service 'load_os_resources',1
go
EXEC sp_fulltext_service 'verify_signature', 0
go
reconfigure with override

I had a similar problem with searching text from PDF. This works fine for me too.

Nian2000

Nian2000 at 2007-9-9 >

# 10

Thanks for the help.

I tried this and after I understood that I first have to run the spe and then rebuild the index, it works fine

RobertVabo at 2007-9-9 >

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