Well, I'll use mySQL as an example (state your DB type as inferred . . . ) Front end form:
<input type="radio" name="match_type" id="match_type_any" value="0" checked> <label for="match_type_any">Anywhere</label>
<input type="radio" name="match_type" id="match_type_exact" value="1"> <label for="match_type_exact">Exact</label>
<input type="radio" name="match_type" id="match_type_start" value="2"> <label for="match_type_start">Starts With</label>
<input type="radio" name="match_type" id="match_type_end" value="3"> <label for="match_type_end">Ends With</label>
Then in your search script, set the "comparator" based on what's submitted (perl example shown, convert as required . . . of course filter data before you get to this point.)
$search_type=$data{'match_type'};
if ($search_type == 1) {
$comparator = '=';
$value = $data{'search_term'};
}
elsif ($search_type == 2) {
$comparator = ' like ';
$value = qq(%$data{'search_term'});
}
if ($search_type == 3) {
$comparator = ' like ';
$value = qq($data{'search_term'}%);
}
## Zero or null
else {
$comparator = ' like ';
$value = qq(%$data{'search_term'}%);
}
$select = qq(select * from table where field $comparator '$value';);
Which gives you one of four:
1, exact
select * from table where field = 'search term';
2, starts with
select * from table where field like '%search term';
3, ends with
select * from table where field like 'search term%';
0 or null, anywhere
select * from table where field like '%search term%';
I used a specific field, you could use match against or any variation of allowing user-selected fields.
