Text Indexer & Query Tool

A command-line utility built in C++ that creates a searchable index from a collection of text files.

This project reads multiple source files, processes the text to build an in-memory inverse index, and then allows a user to interactively search for words to find a list of all the documents where they appear.

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Features

• Multi-File Indexing: Processes any number of specified text files.
• Text Normalization: Cleans words by converting them to lowercase and removing all punctuation to ensure accurate matching.
• Efficient Indexing: Uses std::map to build an efficient inverse index, mapping each unique word to a std::set of the files it appears in.
• Interactive Query Mode: After building the index, the program enters a loop where the user can perform multiple searches.

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Core C++ Concepts Practiced

• STL Containers: Extensive use of std::vector, std::map, and std::set to manage data.
• File I/O: Reading and processing multiple files using std::ifstream.
• String Manipulation: Parsing text, cleaning words, and using helper functions with std::string.
• Modern C++: Use of range-based for loops, the auto keyword, and lambda functions in helper algorithms.

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How to Build and Run

Prerequisites

• A C++ compiler that supports C++11 or newer (e.g., g++, Clang, MSVC).

Steps

1. Create Sample Files: Before running, create a few text files (e.g., doc1.txt, doc2.txt) in the same directory and add some text to them. Make sure the filenames match those in the main.cpp file.

2. Compile the Program: Open a terminal in the project directory and compile the source code:

   g++ main.cpp -o indexer

3. Run the Program: Execute the compiled program:

   ./indexer

4. Search: The program will build its index and then prompt you to enter a word to search for. Follow the on-screen instructions to perform queries.