Ampersand "&" effecting search results

[Jdohl69]

Apache 2.2.22

Php 5.17

MySQL 5.1.65

PS VS: 1.4.8.2

site: www.dggunshop.net

 

Search settings: Ajax=ON, Instant Search=OFF, minimum length=3

 

search term= s&w, or s & w

 

It appears to me that once the ampersand is typed in, the minimum length is reset back to "0". The reason that I believe this to be true is that you can increase the search term by one letter at a time, and once you get three characters past the &, you get results.

Example:

s&we results in "0"

s&wes results in 470 items

 

My customer is more than upset. These search terms are natural to the people that would be visiting this site.

 

I have tried Aliases and that has not worked. I have tried weighting the search results and that has not worked.

 

I am graciously awaiting any feedback.

[Paulito]

Good Morning,

 

I have just tried your problem on one of my sites.

 

I do not think that using the Ampersand (&) resets the minimum length to zero, the search system just ignores the Ampersand (&)

 

Have you tried reducing the minimum amount of characters required and or Blacklisting the Ampersand (&)

 

Paul