Full text search installed or not

Question

I have instaled SQL server 2008 R2 and when I run this SQL in SQL server management studio:

SELECT FULLTEXTSERVICEPROPERTY('IsFullTextInstalled')

I get 0

But If I run this:

SELECT * FROM sys.fulltext_catalogs

I get one row. I want to know If fulltext search is installed on my sql server or do I need to reinstall SQL server with advance options.

Please suggest.

user_8954773 · Answer

Easy way

SELECT 
CASE FULLTEXTSERVICEPROPERTY('IsFullTextInstalled')
    WHEN 1 THEN 'Full-Text installed.' 
    ELSE 'Full-Text is NOT installed.' 
END;

user_3887442 · Answer

I just made the test on a new SQL Server 2016 Express installation without fulltext feature (did not used the "Advanced Services" setup).

I can confirm you can perfectly create fulltext catalogs on databases even if fulltext feature is not intalled.

But if you try to create a fulltext index, you'll get a clear error message stating the feature is missing :

Executing :

CREATE FULLTEXT INDEX ON dbo.tbltxt(coltext)  
   KEY INDEX ui_tbltxt   
   WITH STOPLIST = SYSTEM;  
GO

...will throws error :

Msg 7609, Level 17, State 5, Line 87 Full-Text Search is not installed, or a full-text component cannot be loaded.