Developers create full-text indexes when they want to make full-text searches on text-based columns in their database tables. A full-text index is based on a regular index, so they should create that first. The regular index must be created on a single, non-null column, and it is best to choose a column with small values rather than a column with large ones. Developers must first create a catalog using an external tool such as SQL Server Management Studio, before create a full-text index. If Developers want to include the textual data from Microsoft Office files (.doc, .xls, and .ppt files), text files (.txt files), and HTML files (.htm files), they should store those files in a field with the data type “image.” When Developers working with SQL Server “Denali”, MS SQL Server 2008 R2 and MS SQL Server 2005 want to create a full-text index, they should follow the next steps:
1. In Object Explorer, right-click the table for which you want to create a full-text index and click Design (Modify in SP1 or earlier).
The table opens in Table Designer.
2. From the Table Designer menu, click Fulltext Index.
The Full-text Index dialog box opens.
3. Click Add.
4. Select the new index in the Selected Full-text Index list and set properties for the index in the grid to the right.