Changing Search Type to fulltext - no option

[sempire]

I am trying to achieve the 3 letter word search - I am starting a stock market forum so 3 letter searching kis quite important. Now I understand that you need to firstly activate fulltext searching via the Mysql database rather than the native VB DB. Unfortunately in my settings, under the Search Type, the only option is DB Search and nothing else.
I am running 4.0.8.

I tried just changing the minimum search to 3 letters for the VB DB search and then reindexed the search index, but nothing worked. It still won't let me search 3 letters.

Any ideas?

[Lynne]

There is only one search type by default for vB4. It is based on fulltext searching, so you need to modify the my.cnf to get 3 character searching to work.

[sempire]

Where is the my.cnf located? Do you just add the min search string to any line in there?

[Lynne]

It's a server file. If you have shared hosting, most likely you won't be allowed to change this. If you do not know where it is and you are allowed to modify it, then you should ask your host where it is located.

[sempire]

Nope, we've got dedicated server, so should be able to adjust it. Is it in the root directory? Thanks for the help so far. Have scoured the net trying to find a solution, but most are older solutions to previous versions.

[Lynne]

Make sure you make a backup copy. Try a search on your server for it and you should find it. Mine is in the /etc directory, but I know it doesn't always have to be in there.

[sempire]

Will try and will report back if I can't find it. Thanks a million

[onespot]

Could someone help me with this? I followed this to the letter and I can not search 3 letter words!
http://www.vbulletin.com/docs/html/options_search_minchars

I resolved this issue - I think it was just the host messed up because it worked shortly after without me doing anything... new issue now that i need to post.