Full Text Search is installed, but not enabled to see at table-level
It was long time ago I have used FULL-TEXT within our environment, recently I have been given a task to manage a full text SQL instance. Well to refresh my tasks I have installed Full Text Search component on Windows 2003 Server for SQL server 2000 instance. I've ensured to install relevant FULLTEXT component but surprisingly unable to see this feature is enabled on the tables that we require.
Even checked with database property function:
select DATABASEPROPERTYEX('dbname', 'IsFulltextEnabled')
This came back as NULL result, unable to understand what could be the reason. After few minutes realised my mistake and enabled the FULLTEXT on that database by using:
EXEC sp_fulltext_database 'enable'
Just to give you extra information using SP_FULLTEXT_DATABASE statement will be removed in future version as per BOL entry:
This feature will be removed in a future version of Microsoft SQL Server. Avoid using this feature in new development work, and plan to modify applications that currently use this feature. Use Management Studio instead. For more information, see How to: Enable a Database for Full-Text Indexing (SQL Server Management Studio).