searchParser: Class to parse search term strings. version 0.5.0

Marty Vance 15 Oct 2010

License: GNU GPL v2: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/old-licenses/gpl-2.0.html

This is a search string parser I started writing because I couldn't find one with the features I wanted. It's not complete yet: see TODO below.

Features: Support for unary operators (+/-). Plus is always assumed if - is not present.

Localized support for boolean operators (AND/OR).

Support for field identifiers (title:foo).

Localized support for quote and apostrophe characters.

Constructor args: $q: array of quote characters $a: array of apostrophe characters $n: array of boolean AND operator strings $o: array of boolean OR operator strings

Public methods: __get($name): returns the value of a member variable

setString($string): takes a string as an arg. Returns bool true if the arg is a string of > 0 length after parsing it, or returns false.

dumpPhrases(): returns a formatted string of the elements found in the previously given search string.

getWhere($fields): takes an array of database field identifiers and returns an SQL where clause suitable for use in queries.

TODO:

• Finish private function construct(): this is where the flat list of pieces assembled in parse() get nested into a structure more representavive of the user's intent.
• Error/exception handling.
• Support for unmatched (left/right) quote characters.
• Default constructor arg values suitable for English (?).
• Support for parethetical grouping.

Version history:

• 0.5.0: initial release.