What does MERGE INDEX do [in contrast to the normal indexing that is done when a resource is downloaded]?
When you download a new resource a Supplemental Index is created so you don't have to build a new one from scratch. The only time you see the supplemental index's presence is in a Basic Search which has a "New Resources" subsection with Ranked results in it. If you are viewing the results by the book in the main section hits are present from the supplemental index. If you are looking at ranked results you will want to check both sections.
When you Merge the indexes it incorporates the Supplemental Index in with the Main index. This process is faster than simply rebuilding the index.
While you can trigger a Merge it is not necessary. When the Supplemental index gets big enough Logos will automatically Merge indexes for you. So, unless you need a single index for viewing Ranked results, don't worry about using the Merge command.
In addition to what Kevin said; back when the merge index command was reintroduced to the software someone said that once the supplimental reaches a certain size, the program will initiate a merge when the next resource is added. I looked for that post, but it was quite a while back and I could not find it.
nce the supplimental reaches a certain size, the program will initiate a merge when the next resource is added.
This is true, and after enough merges (I forget how many, I thing Dave Hooton knows) a complete rebuild will take place.
I think (based on something Dave said!) that a complete rebuild takes place when the supplemental index reaches between 20-25% of the main index.
Graham
Graham, they were talking about merges, not rebuilds in that thread.
Sorry Kevin - I don't understand.
I thought that thread and this one were talking about merges.
What am I missing?
Sorry Kevin - I don't understand. I thought that thread and this one were talking about merges. What am I missing? Graham
I think what Kevin is saying (and what I meant to say) is that the indexes automatically merge rather than completely rebuild. At that time there was a little confusion about what the merge index command did and was supposed to do.
I think it will now initiate a merge at that 20-25% mark. The Bible Index is automatically merged by the Indexer because it is so much smaller than the Library Index ie. there is no permanent 'Supplemental'.
Sorry Kevin - I don't understand. I thought that thread and this one were talking about merges. What am I missing? Graham I think what Kevin is saying (and what I meant to say) is that the indexes automatically merge rather than completely rebuild. At that time there was a little confusion about what the merge index command did and was supposed to do.
Exactly, merge and rebuild are not the same thing. I was just trying to insert some more precision in the terminology.
Merge = incorporate the supplemental index into the main index
Rebuild = toss out the old index and build one from scratch.
Many moons ago in one series of betas, the Merge command would corrupt the index. Logos made a temporary fix of causing the Merge command to rebuild the index. After the corruption problem was corrected, the commands were restored as they have been describes by others.
The other advantage of completing a "merge" manually, is that is is completed when I want it to, rather than on a schedule that may interfere with the work I am trying to complete.
I will often be sure that all merging is done at the beginning of the week. If an automatic merge begins late in the week, it may slow down other operations I want to complete.
Thanks for the clarification, guys
