How to search my whole database not just table?

you cannot search, with sql, in a full database. you can only search for every table individually.
also, you cannot search for all columns at one, but you have to repeat the condition (LIKE) for every column.

normally, you would implement this by doing
1) a UNION on all relevant tables to be searched for
2) putting a full text index on all relevant columns (for all tables involved) to make sure your query returns in a reasonable time
3) change the LIKE into a MATCH .. .AGAINST syntax to use the full-text index

hope this helps

ok, I just wrote this:

	$query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets"; 
	$query .= "UNION SELECT * FROM necklaces"; 
	$query .= "UNION SELECT * FROM earrings"; 
	$query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '%$find%' "; 
	$result = mysql_query($query, $conn);

Select allOpen in new window

Am I on the right track here?  (bracelets, necklaces, and earrings are the tables I want to be searched)

you need to repeat the WHERE condition for every table:

$query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets"; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '%$find%' "; 
        $query .= "UNION SELECT * FROM necklaces"; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '%$find%' "; 
        $query .= "UNION SELECT * FROM earrings"; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '%$find%' "; 
        $result = mysql_query($query, $conn);

Select allOpen in new window

It doesn't like the necklaces apparently lol

Query failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '* AGAINST '%BLUE%' UNION SELECT * FROM necklaces WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '%BLUE%' ' at line 1

I do have a table called products which has the names of all those tables.

I changed my code to this:

        $query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '$find' "; 
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '$find' "; 
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM earrings "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH * AGAINST '$find' "; 

Select allOpen in new window

But I got this error message: (I searched for blue)

Query failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near '* AGAINST 'BLUE' UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces WHERE MATCH * AGAINST 'BLUE' ' at line 1

Ok, I changed it:

		$query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' "; 
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' "; 
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM earrings "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' "; 

Select allOpen in new window

but its still screaming at me:

Query failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ''BLUE' UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAI' at line 1

Ok, I finally got a different error message:

Query failed: Can't find FULLTEXT index matching the column list

I searched just one table for simplicity:

$query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets "; 
 $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST ('$find') "; 

Select allOpen in new window

How do make my fields FULL TEXT indexes??

>How do make my fields FULL TEXT indexes??
by creating a full text index on the table(s)
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/refman/5.0/en/create-index.html

I am still getting the same error message even though I altered my table columns

ALTER TABLE bracelets ADD FULLTEXT (name)

Even in my phpmyadmin it lists them as FULL TEXT columns:

content       FULLTEXT       
color       FULLTEXT       
name       FULLTEXT

What else can I do?

checklist:
* full text index added on all 3 tables, each containing the 3 columns
* the query syntax is validated to run on each table individually
* you post the most recent SQL you tried, along with the error message you get
 ...

Well, I am just searching the bracelet table for now.  I commented the rest outl

	$query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST ('$find') "; 
        /*$query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' "; 
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM earrings "; 
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' "; */
        $result = mysql_query($query, $conn);	$result = mysql_query($query, $conn);
	confirm_query($result);

Select allOpen in new window

Error message:

Query failed: Can't find FULLTEXT index matching the column list

http://www.auroriella.com/results.php

Oh, well maybe I don't have that.

How do I create one full text index with 3 columns??

something like this:

ALTER TABLE bracelets ADD FULLTEXT (name, content, color)

you might want to find the syntax in the above link I posted ...

Ok, I fixed it and it works when I search one or two tables, but once I search all three it sends an error message.  Can I use UNION ALL more than once?

      $query = "SELECT * FROM bracelets ";
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST ('$find') ";
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM necklaces ";
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST ('$find') ";
        $query .= "UNION ALL SELECT * FROM earrings ";
        $query .= "WHERE MATCH (name, content, color) AGAINST '$find' ";

Query failed: You have an error in your SQL syntax; check the manual that corresponds to your MySQL server version for the right syntax to use near ''PURPLE'' at line 1

Nope, it was syntax error not the UNION ALL.  Thanks for all of your help!!