Sphins Regexp maps to only single words - sphinx

Question

I am trying to map regexp so when a user enters a specific word I force them to choose a specific other term in the table.
For instance I have as simple example fields:
Bob
Bob Smith
Bob Jones
Sally
Sally Smith
Sally Jones
If I do
regexp_filter=Bob>Bob Smith to make sure when a user simply enters Bob I push Bob Smith instead and then do a sphinql search:
Select * from Index where MATCH('Bob')
I still get all the Bob records (in other words it did not interpret as Bob Smith
However if I dod
regexp_filter=Bob=>Sally
Then Select * from Index where MATCH('Bob') returns all the Sally records.
I am "simply" trying to force the index to return the Bob Jones record should a user simply search on Bob.
FYI I did try
Select * from Index where MATCH('^Bob$')
and that returned NULL

Answer 1

I still get all the Bob records (in other words it did not interpret as Bob Smith
Because the regex is applied to BOTH the query text and document text during indexing. So becomes MATCH('Bob Smith'), but your documents also become
Bob Smith
Bob Smith Smith
Bob Smith Jones
... so your query, matches all three documents, same if didnt have the regex!
I am "simply" trying to force the index to return the Bob Jones record should a user simply search on Bob.
Wonder if you meaning should NOT return ?
... in which case can use MATCH('^Bob$') but rememeber to remove the regex. Or could perhaps use MATCH('"^Bob$"') an extra set of quotes to use phrase mode.
Try also MATCH('^Bob$ ') with a space! some versions of sphinx has a bug unless a space after the $!