sphinx search and 3 character search
 

Currently on a shared hosting package.

Need to be able to search 3 characters in search ie "the YNC", I contacted the host and they said 'no can do'. Is it possible that if I use sphinx search I will be able to get this functionality?

Pro's and con's?

You would set the min word length in the sphinx.conf file, I believe. However, if you don't have access to change your my.cnf file, then it's unlikely you are going to be able to install sphinx on your server. You need a dedicated server that you have shell access to in order to install sphinx.

Poo

When you want to search on characters smaller then 4 (3 and lower is excluded) then you need to use the "Words to be Included Despite Character Limit" this can be found in Settings>Options>Message Searching Options (vBulletin Internal Search) then add the words smaller then 4 in the box "Words to be Included Despite Character Limit". This way you can maintain the settings of search and still search for less then 4 characters.

The Sphinx addon you need at least SSH login and the ability to install on the server. This is usually not the case with normal web hosting, you need VPN hosting or VZ hosting to do that and even then you need to read what is allowed and what you may do with it.

Actually, the Message Searching Options is only to be used when using vBulletin Internal Search which is not an option in vB4. vB4 uses Full Text Search and the only way to change the min word length is by changing the mysql variable in my.cnf.

Why is that information given in another screen and not where you input the 3 chars it self a bit strange not to warn there.

What was wrong with the DB search of the 3.8 series?

It says it's for the Internal vBulletin Search. And if you check your search type under Settings > Search Type, it won't say Internal vBulletin Search. That being said, I have questioned why it is even shown now at all in vB4.
It doesn't allow for the contenttype search that they now do.

You mean the option on the "Message Searching Options (vBulletin Internal Search)" to put in 3 letter words. Now that you say that i wonder myself if you change the my.cnf file you can search 3 letter words so why maintain that option, thats a realy good one.

Is there even any documentation to that effect?