Forcing a Scan

To reinventory a virtual root (virtual directory), you need to force Index Server to scan it. You should rescan after making certain global changes. For example:

• Changing the size of characterization.
• Adding or removing a filter.
• Changing the filtering of unrecognized extensions.
• Adding a new word breaker.

1. In the left pane of MMC, under the catalog where the virtual directory resides, double-click Directories.
2. In the right frame, right-click the directory you want to scan.
3. Select Rescan.
4. In the Full Rescan dialog box, click Yes for a full rescan, or click No for an incremental rescan.

For details about scanning, see Scanning.

If you prefer, you can force scans through an .ida file.

1. Specify CiAdminOperation=ScanRoots in the .ida file.
2. Send two special variables in the HTTP GET command.

The special variables are PROOT_virtual root and SCAN_virtual root. If the root is a news root, these variables are PROOT_NNTP_virtual root and INDEX_NNTP_virtual root.

A variable with the name PROOT_virtual root identifies the current mapping between virtual and physical root. The virtual root is the variable name after the string PROOT_ and the corresponding physical path is the value of the variable. For example, a root directory pointing to E:\Wwwroot would be described by: PROOT_/ = e:\wwwroot.

If the second special variable, SCAN_virtual root exists and set to one of IncrementalScan or FullScan, then Index Server will do the specified scan of the virtual directory. If this variable does not exist or set to NoScan, then no scanning will be done.

The sample Scan.htx file lists all the virtual roots that are indexed and by default sets the SCAN_virtual root to NoScan. See the Scanning page for more details on the sample ForceScan administration operation.

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