I am a teacher in a high school. I would like to create a search
engine for my students to access past year exams questions, which are
in pdf format. Ideally, they should be able to search for the
questions by keyword, topic, year, etc. 

I believe that the search engine have to reside in a server, where the
question in pdf format are also parked. I have only basic computer
knowledge, but I will be able to get my students who are more computer
knowledgeable to help create the programme. 

I have 2 related questions here:
a) What are the possible common softwares and their differences and
problems that I will face (in point form) that I can use and will face
when creating this search engine?
b) Among these software, which is the easiest one to create the search
engine? (because I have limited computer knowledge)

   I will give a tip if the answer has been very helpful to me. Thank
you in advance.

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Clarification of Question by pkuanko-ga on 19 Dec 2004 21:42 PST

I am looking for the easiest method (it could be a software) to create
a search engine to allow students to search for past year exam
questions which are in pdf format, based on keywords, topics, year of
exam, etc.

Could there be existing softwares in the market which could do this
job, and which is the easiest software for me to programme it to do
the job?

Alternatively, I've heard that it may be possible to modify Google
search to search the pdf files based on keywords. Can anybody provide
any help or comments about how to go about it?

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Request for Question Clarification by sgtcory-ga on 20 Dec 2004 06:25 PST

Hello,

I've posted a clarification request on this question. (See the
duplicate post) I think I may be able to assist -

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=444963

Thanks,

SgtCory

Creating a search engine is a big job.  If your goal is just to make
the material accessible, rather than to provide an educational
challenge for your students, it will be much easier to use a software
product that someone else has already created.

Do you have any idea what existing software can do this job?

How about Google desktop search?