Changing default location for FTDATA folder

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GMG - 23 Nov 2005 01:16 GMT

When I restore a database it will place the catalogs in the default location
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\FTDATA", how can I change this
default location so that when I restore a new database, the full text
catalogs are stored elsewhere ?

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Hilary Cotter - 23 Nov 2005 03:36 GMT

Changing the location of the catalog is only an option in SQL 2005.
Basically the full text catalog is in a different file group so you have an
option of exactly where you want to park it.

For SQL 200 I suggest you follow the instructions in
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;240867

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> When I restore a database it will place the catalogs in the default
> location
> "C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL\FTDATA", how can I change
> this
> default location so that when I restore a new database, the full text
> catalogs are stored elsewhere ?

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GMG - 23 Nov 2005 04:05 GMT

I am aware of this document and have found it very complicated and with a
lot of registry updates which makes me uneasy. I have finally opted for
dropping the catalog and then recreating it in a different location,
followed by full population.

Despite this when the documentation for sp_help_fulltext_catalogs states:
"NULL indicates the default directory determined during installation", my
question is how do I change this default directory ?

> Changing the location of the catalog is only an option in SQL 2005.
> Basically the full text catalog is in a different file group so you have an
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> > default location so that when I restore a new database, the full text
> > catalogs are stored elsewhere ?

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Hilary Cotter - 25 Nov 2005 13:04 GMT

Try this key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL
Server\SQL2000\MSSQLServer

And set it using this entry FullTextDefaultPath

Note that my instance name is SQL2000, so it could be

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\MSSQLServer\MSSQLServer for you

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Hilary Cotter
Looking for a SQL Server replication book?
http://www.nwsu.com/0974973602.html

Looking for a FAQ on Indexing Services/SQL FTS
http://www.indexserverfaq.com

>I am aware of this document and have found it very complicated and with a
> lot of registry updates which makes me uneasy. I have finally opted for
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
>> > default location so that when I restore a new database, the full text
>> > catalogs are stored elsewhere ?

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