Textual Index

Introduction 

A textual index is a data structure used in database systems to facilitate efficient search and retrieval of text-based information. It is designed to handle large volumes of textual data and provide quick access to relevant documents or records based on specified search criteria.

When a search query is performed on a database with a textual index, the index is queried to identify relevant documents or records that match the search terms. The index provides information about the location and relevance of the documents, which enables the database system to retrieve and present the results in a timely manner.

Textual indexes play a crucial role in enabling efficient search and retrieval of textual information in databases, making them an essential component in applications that handle large volumes of textual data, such as search engines, content management systems, and document repositories.

Soffid incorporates the textual index from version 3.5 using the Apache Lucene library. 

Index  configuration

Soffid allows you to configure the objects you want to use in the textual index. To do this, you must select the proper object from the metadata page and enable the option "Use textual index". Once you enable this option, the textual index will be applied to the overall attributes of this object which have been included in the quick search

Example

1. Enable the "Use textual index" on the User object and save the changes.

2. Check the attributes includes in the quick search.

How does the user interface search work?

Once you have configured the textual index for a specific object, Soffid will apply it when you use Quick Search on this object.

Example

1. If you search for users using the text "frankin", then Soffid will display all the users whose userName, firstName, lastName, or middleName match with the typed text following the textual index rules.

2.1. If you include the attribute manager in the quick search:

2.1. And search for "frankin",  then Soffid will display all the users whose userName, firstName, lastName, middleName, or manager match with the typed text following the textual index rules.

How does SCIM interface search work?

Operation

The Lucene index information is stored in files arranged in a folder structure. This folder structure is replicated in every Soffid Console and every Sync Server and also is saved in the database.

When you update an object, marked as the textual index, a task will be created to be executed. The soffid agent will execute this task and the Sync Server will update the database tables related to the textual index.

Folder structure

The folder structure is the following:

• ../index/<TENANT>/<SOFFID_OBJECT>

Example

1. Here you are the folder structure for the Soffid Console

2. And the folder structure for the Sync Server

Database 

The database tables involved:

• SC_LUINPA
• SC_LUNIND

Example

1. The database structure