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Version: 3.1.X

Search Configuration & Ranking

The ABCD OPAC allows fine-tuning of how search results are retrieved and ranked.

Facets allow users to narrow down large result sets.

  1. Select the database.
  2. Add Facet: Choose a field to become a filter (e.g., Field 100 for "Authors").
  3. Display Name: Label it (e.g., "Filter by Author").
  4. Extraction PFT: Define how to extract the term (usually v100^a).

2. Relevance Ranking (Metasearch)​

Access: OPAC Configuration > Search > Relevance

By default, search results might appear in MFN order (insertion order). You can configure the system to rank results based on where the search term appears.

You can assign numerical weights to fields.

  • Higher Weight: Matches in these fields push the record to the top.
  • Lower Weight: Matches appear lower in the list.

Example Strategy:

  • Title (Tag 245): Weight 100 (Most important).
  • Subject (Tag 650): Weight 80.
  • Abstract (Tag 520): Weight 50.
  • Full Text: Weight 10 (Least important).

If a user searches for "Energy", a book with "Energy" in the Title will appear before a book that just mentions "Energy" in a footnote.

3. "Did You Mean?" (Spell Checking)​

The OPAC includes a mechanism to assist users when a search returns zero results.

  • Concept: It compares the search term against the index dictionary (terms that actually exist in your database).
  • Mechanism: It looks for terms with similar phonetic sounds (using algorithms like Metaphone) or similar spelling (Levenshtein distance).
  • Result: Displays a message: "No results for 'Enrgy'. Did you mean: Energy?"
Configuration

This feature relies on the index.php logic and requires that the database dictionary (Inverted File) is up to date.