How to: Create Full-Text Indexes (Visual Database Tools)
Create a full-text index if you want to perform full-text searches on text-based columns in your database tables. A full-text index relies on a regular index, so you will need to create that first. The regular index must be created on a single, non-null column, and it is best to choose a column with small values rather than a column with large ones.
Note
To create a full-text index, you must first create a catalog using an external tool such as SQL Server Management Studio.
Tip
To allow the index to include the textual data from Microsoft Office files (.doc, .xls, and .ppt files), text files (.txt files), and HTML files (.htm files), store those files in a field with the data type "image." For more information, see Full-Text Search Concepts.
To create full-text indexes
In Object Explorer**,** right-click the table for which you want to create a full-text index and click Design (Modify in SP1 or earlier).
The table opens in Table Designer.
From the Table Designer menu, click Fulltext Index.
The Full-text Index dialog box opens.
Click Add.
Select the new index in the Selected Full-text Index list and set properties for the index in the grid to the right.
For more information on how to choose properties, see Full-Text Index Dialog Box (Visual Database Tools).
See Also
Other Resources
Working with Indexes (Visual Database Tools)
Full-Text Index Dialog Box (Visual Database Tools)
Full-Text Search Concepts