Editing the Database Schema

A schema determines what information your search server maintains on each resource, and in what form. The design of your schema determines two factors that affect the usability of your index:

• The way users can search for resources

• The ways users view resource information

The schema is a master data structure for Resource Descriptions in the database. Depending on how you define and index the fields in that data structure, users have varying degrees of access to the resources.

The schema is closely tied to the structure of the files used by the search server and its robot. You should change only the data structure by using the schema tools in management console. Never edit the schema file directly.

You can edit the database schema of the search server to add a new schema attribute, to modify a schema attribute, or to delete attributes.

The schema includes the following attributes:

• Editable – If checked, this attribute indicates that the attribute appears in the Resource Description Editor, and you can change its values.

• Indexable – This attribute indicates that users can search for values in this particular field. An indexable fields may also appear in the pop-up menu in the Advanced Search screen.

• Description – This attribute is a text string to use to describe the schema. You can use it for comments or annotations.

• Aliases – This attribute allows you to define aliases to convert imported database schema names into your own schema.

• Score Multiplier – A weighting field for scoring a particular element. Any positive value is valid.

• Data Type – Defines the data type.