title: Searching Across Multiple Indexes using Solr Search Server
body: <p>We have setup a Solr search server containing multiple indexes. The front end contains a filter dropdown, allowing the user to select the entity to search. Search options are (Buildings, Offices, Computers).. but I need to add an "All" option.</p>
  
  <p>I currently have a separate index for buildings, offices, and computers. This works great, but what is the best solution for searching across all entities??</p>
  
  <p>My initial thought was to create an index for "All" that contains the fields I would like to search. This seems it would be messy since it would require many fields combined, and many duplicates since a building can contain many offices and computers.</p>
  
  <p>Web front end: 
  ASP.NET / Backbone.js</p>
  
  <p>Database: 
  SQL Server 2008</p>
  
  <p>Search Server: 
  Solr using DataImportHandler to communicate with SQL Server
  Have three separate indexes (Buildings, Offices, Computers).</p>
  
  <p>Please let me know what the best practice is for searching across multiple entities in Solr when the entities are hierarchical. If these entities had a simple one-to-one relationship, I would create an index and combine the fields, however my entities contain a one-to-many relationship. Maybe this doesn't matter? Please advise... </p>
  
  <p>Thanks!!</p>