Describe index "item type"

+1 I'm trying to understand how to use search_api and a good explanation of what 'Search index' and 'Search server' item types are would have saved me a lot of time (e.g. here: http://drupal.org/node/1254414). I still don't know what they are, but I've discovered enough to know what that they are not what I'm looking for.

Hello,

I am currently working on analysis on the use of Search API.

I see the issue is old but maybe that still could help.

The server and the index definitions are managed through entities: "Search server" and "Search index".
So they are themselves declared in "hook_entity_info" implementation.

The "item type" select box lists ALL entity types declared through hook_entity_info(). That is why we see them in the list.

IMO, the interface should filter them as I do not know what kind of search based on such a index is useful for a site.
If I am wrong, I am positively interested to have use cases where it is needed to define an index on these item types.

Concerning your primary question, @john.a.sat, the answer is yes but you have "Multiple types" item type to define an index implying different entity types.
Did you consider to use it eventually?

Thanks for the great explanation, jyraya, but I think we can just close here, since the issue is over five years old.

I totally agree! :-)

Concerning my remark about filtering these values, do you think that deserves the creation of a new issue?

Concerning my remark about filtering these values, do you think that deserves the creation of a new issue?

If you want to, sure. You're probably right that it confuses more people than actually want to use it. But since we can't guarantee that there aren't any of the latter kind, I'd say we need some mechanism (e.g., a hidden variable) to get those options back if desired.