[Zope-dev] Comment on CVS change of default textindex search operator

[Casey Duncan]

"R. David Murray" wrote:
> 
> >To: zope-checkins@zope.org
> >Date: Mon, 19 Mar 2001 19:47:31 -0500 (EST)
> >From: chrism@digicool.com (Chris McDonough)
> >Subject: [Zope-Checkins] CVS: Zope2  - UnTextIndex.py:1.33.2.9
> >
> >Update of /cvs-repository/Zope2/lib/python/SearchIndex
> >In directory korak:/home/chrism/sandboxes/2_3Branch/lib/python/SearchIndex
> >
> >Modified Files:
> >      Tag: zope-2_3-branch
> >       UnTextIndex.py
> >Log Message:
> >Changed default query operator to 'AND' instead of 'OR' (way improved search results).
> 
> This strikes me as a Very Bad Thing.  Not the idea of having AND be the
> default query operator, but the fact of *changing* the default.  If I
> remember correctly the default is documented (insofar as it is documented)
> as being AND, but the default has been OR for so long that I'm sure there
> are many sites that will break if this change is committed to a release.
> Worse, the behavior of a site as seen by end users will change.  Finally,
> it is my experience that most search engines use OR as the default operator.
> I prefer AND myself, but OR appears to be something of a defacto standard.
> 
> I'm willing to be convinced, though <grin>.
> 
> A way to set the default would be cool, but might open up a can of worms.
> 
> --RDM
> 

I'm a little torn between being alarmed at this and agreeing with it. I
think if this is done there should be an TTW interface in ZCatalog to
switch between AND and OR as the default. That would be the best
solution IMHO. Also a _documented_ way to switch it in Catalog as well.

My $0.02

-- 
| Casey Duncan
| Kaivo, Inc.
| cduncan@kaivo.com
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