Search system

Archive portal extension to include an Internet search function with PHP and MySQL

On behalf of the Thuringian Main State Archive in Weimar, eWorks has expanded the Thuringia archive portal to include a high-performance Internet search function based on the open source products PHP and MySQL.

eWorks has expanded the archive portal with so-called "online indexes" to enable experienced users to conveniently search the holdings online from anywhere. An intuitive, "Google-like" full-text search was individually implemented for searching the approximately 10,000 archive records in order to answer the search queries of virtual archive visitors in real time. The hierarchically structured visualization of the hit list proved to be a particular technical challenge in order to be able to clearly display the up to 9 classification levels (archive types, archives, tectonics, holdings, classifications, archive items) of the archive portal database. eWorks developed a customized search function for the archive portal based on PHP and MySQL, which allows portal visitors to quickly search the entire database and presents the search results in an appealing way.

Based on the documentary XML standard EAD, eWorks created an XML import interface for the connection to the client's AUGIAS system in order to be able to securely export and import online record books and search them in the web frontend at the touch of a button.

The Thuringia archive portal was expanded iteratively and in close cooperation with the client and made available to the public as planned at the beginning of 2010.

The archive portal has since been relaunched by eWorks. Here are the implementation details.