Some content is missing from the search results if a document or a list item uses a term that is one of multiple values that is selected in a column in Windows SharePoint Services (885653)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services
  • Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003

SYMPTOMS

When you search for content that is stored in a document library or in a list in a Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Web site, some items are missing from the search results. That is, when you search for content that contains a particular term and the term is one of multiple values that is selected in a column that stores multiple values, documents and list items that use that term are not returned in the search results.

The following is an example of a scenario where you experience these symptoms:
  1. You add a Choice column that uses the Checkboxes (allow multiple selections) option to a document library.
  2. You add three values for the column so that a user can select one or more values. For example, you add Red, Green, and Blue as values for the column.
  3. You upload a document to the document library, and then you select two values in the column. For example, you select Red and Green.
  4. You search for the document by using the name of one of the values that is selected in the column. For example, you search the Web site for content that contains the word Red.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs if all the following conditions are true:
  • You use Microsoft SQL Server on the back-end database server, and SQL Server is installed on a remote Microsoft Windows 2000-based computer.
  • The column in the document library or in the list contains two or more values that a user can select.
  • Two or more values are selected in the column for the document or list item.
When more than one value is selected in a column, each value is separated by a semicolon character (;). However, the wordbreaker in Windows 2000 does not recognize the semicolon character as a word delimiter unless the semicolon character is preceded by or followed by a space character. Therefore, Windows 2000 processes the values that are selected for the column as one word, and not as separate words. For example, Windows 2000 processes red;green as a single word. The individual values that are selected for the column are not added to the content index.

This behavior occurs if the database that is used by Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 or by Windows SharePoint Services is stored on a computer that is running Windows 2000. This issue does not occur if the database is stored on a computer that is running Microsoft Windows Server 2003.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior, use one of the following methods:
  • Use SQL Server on a Windows Server 2003-based computer.
  • Use columns that contain only one value that a user can select.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information about how to deploy, configure, and administer SharePoint Portal Server 2003, see the Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Administrator's Guide. The Microsoft Office SharePoint Portal Server 2003 Administrator's Guide (Administrator's Help.chm) is located in the Docs folder in the root folder of the SharePoint Portal Server 2003 CD.

For additional information about how to configure and administer Windows SharePoint Services, see the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Administrator's Guide. To obtain the Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services Administrator's Guide, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a637eff6-8224-4b19-a6a4-3e33fa13d230&displaylang=en

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/28/2006
Keywords:kbConfig kbprb kbtshoot KB885653 kbAudITPRO
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