Full-text index rebuilder

This script provides a utility to rebuild the Virtuoso full-text index, which is essential for optimal querying of RDF object values using the bif:contains function in SPARQL queries. The implementation is based on the official OpenLink Software documentation.

Why rebuild the full-text index?

In some cases, the Full-Text index may need to be recreated if unexpected results are returned when using the bif:contains Full-Text index search function in SPARQL queries. The Virtuoso RDF Quad store supports optional Full-Text indexing of RDF object values, providing much better performance compared to the SPARQL regex feature, which is very inefficient in most cases.

Backup required

Always ensure you have a full backup of your database before running this script, as it involves dropping and recreating database tables.

What the script does

1. Drops the existing full-text index tables
2. Recreates the index structure
3. Refills the index with data

Restart required

After this process completes, the Virtuoso database MUST be restarted for the index rebuild to take effect.

Basic usage

# With pipx (global installation)
virtuoso-rebuild-index --password <your_virtuoso_password>

# With uv (development)
uv run python virtuoso_utilities/rebuild_fulltext_index.py --password <your_virtuoso_password>

Usage with Docker

# With pipx (global installation)
virtuoso-rebuild-index \
    --password <your_virtuoso_password> \
    --docker-container my-virtuoso

# With uv (development)
uv run python virtuoso_utilities/rebuild_fulltext_index.py \
    --password <your_virtuoso_password> \
    --docker-container my-virtuoso

Arguments

Use virtuoso-rebuild-index --help to see all available options:

Connection parameters

Argument	Description	Default
--host	Virtuoso host	localhost
--port	Virtuoso ISQL port	1111
--user	Virtuoso username	dba
--password	Virtuoso password	dba

Docker parameters

Argument	Description	Default
--docker-container	Name or ID of the running Virtuoso Docker container. If specified, isql commands are run via docker exec	-
--restart-container	Restart Docker container after rebuilding the index. Only applicable when using --docker-container	false
--docker-path	Path to docker executable	docker
--docker-isql-path	Path to isql inside container	isql
--isql-path	Path to isql executable on host	isql