Why not simply use the mysql search engine the way it
is intended
to, feeding it the whole search string in one piece,...
With a newer version of mysql, we can even continue to use
boolean search ("IN BOOLEAN MODE"). Also, you generate fewer SQL
queries, and mysql create meaningful result scores. Furthermore, you
gain the ability to search for phrases, which we don't have currently.
(1) You are mistaken that I now use multiple queries; I parse the
search string for ANDs and ORs and pass them along as a single
query with the same boolean structure (well, actually two queries--
one for titles and one for text--but not a query per term). (2) When
MySQL 4.0 becomes a reliable product, of course we'll use its newer
search features.
That being said, if MySQL now produces more useful results in non-
boolean mode, I'm certainly open to letting it do that; but I was
under the impression that the booleans were really needed.
I'm also planning to build a special "advanced search" page where
it might be an option to do it either way.