Searching sucks

Searching Sucks.
mapbutcher@mapbutcher.com

Having to search means you can’t find something easily

All good applications have a facility to search

Some are better than others….

Your whole application suffers if your users can’t find something easily.

So here are some of my tips on searching

In many cases we search for things on maps

…we’re searching to locate something.

Rule #1. Make the things on your maps searchable.

We often use textual information to perform these searches..

An address, place name, asset number, description, anything…

In many cases the information your users have is unstructured

Sometimes they don’t even know what they’re looking for!

Rule #2. Avoid structured search interfaces.

We don’t like waiting!

Google, once again, sets a certain expectation!

Rule #3. Slow searches just don’t cut the mustard.

It’s nice to get a helping hand while you search, tell me things I might want to find.

Rule #4. Predict & Sort

When there’s lots of information then help your users

Guide your users, use a type and group on the basis of this type

Rule #5. Cluster

If you normally provide a search facility in your application by writing a SQL statement then you may want to listen carefully to the next bit.

Full Text Searching can help.

In a full text search, the search engine examines all of the words in every stored document as it tries to match search words supplied by the user.

Enter Solr

You can’t talk about Solr before talking about Lucene

Lucene = Apache Open Source High Performance Text Search Engine

Lucene = 100% Java

Lucene = Incredibly Fast Indexing (This is where you might write some SQL)

Indexing = Stuffing the stuff you’re interested in, into documents that Lucene loves.

So what is Solr?

Sits on top of Lucene

Provides a RESTful interface over Lucene goodness

Why is Solr important for Spatial Applications?

Solr does all the things your application needs to do in terms of searching.

Here are just a few…

Full Text Search & Sorting

http://localhost:8080/Solr/select?q=Manly

Hit Highlighting

Faceting

http://localhost:8080/Solr/select?indent=on&version=2.2&q=great&facet=true&facet.field=poi_category

Database Integration

and….

Solr has some basic spatial goodness 

Points only at the moment

http://localhost:8080/Solr/select/?q=Camp&fq={!type=geofilt}&sfield=coords&pt=-45.56862830,167.61154830&d=53

Don’t make it hard for your users to find your data!thanks

Searching sucks

by mapbutcher on Apr 03, 2011

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