File search function - whats the best way?

[realWasabi]

Hi

 

I'm trying to write a script that searches through files in a folder and return the filenames matching the search criterias. It needs only read the filenames, and not the file contents (.pdf files).

 

All the files are formatted like this:

street name,housenumber,cust name,casetype,casenumber,archivedate.pdf

(notice that the streetname+custname may contain spaces.)

 

I need to be able to search freely on one or more criterias - while also using * as a wildcard (fx. searching for street* instead of full streatname)

 

So far I have been using if statements to return search results, but as more and more files are being added (700+ at the moment), along with the large number of criterias, this does not seem like the most efficient way to do this - nor does it seem like the "correct" way.

 

What would be the best way to go about this?

[mac_gyver]

the best way would be to read, parse, and store the information in a database. you can then let the database engine do the work of finding information. all you need to do is form and run the database query statements.

[jcbones]

If you HAVE to use the files, you could try glob().