Thunderstone Support Forums

I want to find references of "central database w/2" where the word "central" occurs first. Using

>>central database w/2

returns no documents when I know some exist and can find them without the >> operator.

What is the proper construct to do this?

>> is a rex operator. If you want the phrase "central database" put quotes around it in the query. If you're using likep and turn up likeporder it will rank items with the words in order higher.

there may be words in between central and database which would not render the hit irrelevant, which is why I am using a proximity of w/2. So having central side by side with database is not an option. We are using the like operator and I have no ability to change it becuase I am performing the search through an application. Using rex is ok, as long as I get correct results. From my testing, it seems I am not specifying the phrase correctly. What else do you suggest?

If you can use rex and don't mind the linear search (no index) you might use a query something like this:
/>>central=!database{1,20}database