Can you explain the new search feature in 7.3? Specifically,

1. Is the keywords field searchable?

2. Is there more flexibility for human error (i.e. someone searches for [Last Name], [First Name], when the name shows up as [First Name] [Last Name]? Is the search feature intuitive enough for that? Is it smart enough even when a user uses the standard search rather than going into the advanced search?

3. Does the search need to be exact? (i.e. if someone adds a couple extra words to a search, does it display products with relevance, or just none at all?

4. Do categories in which the keyword searched appears, show up in the results (i.e. if someone was simply searching for books on a particular subject, it would be nice if it would suggest looking in a specific category)?

5. Can we customize how the standard search feature operates (i.e. make it look for all items with ANY keyword that the user types in, instead of exact strings), and then sorts by relevance?

I am performing a monthly product update and it would be helpful to know these things so I can modify my feed accordingly.

Thanks.

The search will allow you to define similar search options. So if someone were to search for soccer, you could insert a rule that when soccer is searched for it will bring back everything that has to do with soccer and also futbol. This will allow you to specify which different search keywords to display for the terms that are frequently being searched. This will allow search terms to not have to be exact as you can suggest other more relevant terms if needed which will appear on the page.

The search will display categories for each item to allow your customers to narrow down the search by specific category, if needed (it also will do this for manufacturer).

Finally you can specify which values you would like the search to look into. So if you do not want it to search for product long description but you do want it to search for short description, that is easily done through the check of a box.

Hope this helps with your understanding. It is a pretty slick feature if you ask me.

-Eddie

Sounds good...I'm excited to check it out.

Also, what about the keywords field being searchable? This is a big thing that will help. Please let me know.

Meta keywords for both category and products are searchable. Just make sure that the checkbox is checked under Operations >> Search Options after the update which is scheduled to begin anytime now.

How can I get the "manufacturers" taken out of the "narrow" list when someone searches? I definitely don't want customers seeing the manufacturers. Thanks,

David

Looks like if you go here: Home > Operations > Search Options

You can un check Manufacturer Name - Manufacturer Part Number

I did that, but it didn't make a difference...I think that only stops the manufacturer part number and name from being searched. But those categories are still allowed for sorting.

Curious, why do you have manufacturers defined if you don't want customers seeing manufacturers?

It has been awhile now, and I am not seeing the new search on my site yet. It looks like it is still indexing everything (we have about 99,000 products). Do you know how long this should take?

Also, I assume an "Advanced Search" link will appear after this indexing is complete? I didn't see this as a column module option in the mcp.

Time-wise, I have no idea. You can go to the search options page and follow the progress, it appears to be complete now.

There is no concept of an "advanced search" in the sense that there was in the past, it is more intelligent than in the past where you selected an option for how to search. Your clients can now use "AND", "OR" and "NOT" in their search phrase to include or exclude search terms, and if they don't enter these terms at all then we assume they want to return searches will all terms.

Andy, that really doesn't answer my question. The reason I have manufacturers defined is because I use them to sort products. The fact that I need them defined internally doesn't mean I want my customer's calling the manufacturers to buy direct! How can I get rid of this?

The answer to the question is that there is no option to hide manufacturers individually without some, you have to hide the entire section with CSS or use Javascript to hide that particular section.

You could put this in your CSS to hide the search filters completely:



Manufacturers were designed and implemented as a public-facing piece of information rather than a way to organize products. I'll see about putting in a way to hide just that section in the next maintenance release.

Ok, that did work, but it still displays categories to search/look in. I don't want this displayed either as I have custom HTML categories. Can I also remove them?

Just uncheck all Category Search Fields under the Search Options screen to remove the list of matching categories.

Thanks!

Eddie, is there a way to add the search bar (like in the columns) to a page on our website?
I've looked through many posts and can't seem to find one that works.
Thank you
andrew@brandnewengines.com



Andy,
is there a way to add the search bar (like in the columns) to a page on our website?
I've looked through many posts and can't seem to find one that works.
Thank you
andrew@brandnewengines.com

I assume you mean an HTML page that you uploaded. Here is a post showing how to do such a thing:

http://forums.networksolutions.com/coding-...-page-t701.html

Andy,
is there a way to add the search bar (like in the columns) to a page on our website?
I've looked through many posts and can't seem to find one that works.
Thank you
andrew@brandnewengines.com

Hi andrewlary,

Check the post that Andy just posted, that tells you how.

Joe