Site Search Large Site - Need Help!

[greeneagle]

I need to add "Site Search" to a client's Professional Site containing many scientific products. It must be small profile and without advertisements. Don't want "Web Search" included.

Doesn't have to be free but that would be nice.

Please make suggestions on best method, software, downloads etc..

Thanks,
Ken

[mikmik]

greeneagle, I hope I am not the only one to answer you, but I have seen three scripting methods of adding a site search, all free - no advertising on some.
There are 2 server side options: PHP and cgi/PERL. This can mean using a data base to store the index - PHP uses SQL and ODBC that I know of, and probably ASP as well. Some scripts just create .txt or .dat files for their index and are probably less involved.
There is a client side approach as well that involves using javascript. It runs on the clients computer and I would definetly not recommend this for any large site.

Here is a perl script system: http://perlfect.com/freescripts/search/

Here is a PHP system: http://sourceforge.net/projects/autoindex/

Both of these are GPL (Gnu Public Licence) and will not have advertising.
Neither needs a database server component, and they both look to have great support and are highly configureable.

I am just getting to the point in the next week of installing one (or more! if necessary) of these to my site.
THEREFORE, I have NO experience using these search scripts whatsoever, but I do find installing most PHP and PERL to be relatively straightforward - that is why I chose these. They look like I can handle them!

I do not feel comfortable making very many recommendations in this area (of serverside scripts), but it is a start and hopefully someone with some brains, like ronniethedodger will come to the rescue.
I should also butter up redcircle and paulhiles as ones I think are quite knowledgeable and helpful as well. LOL

[mikmik]

This looks simple, it is javascript but generates a text index to use :http://www.searchmakerpro.com/