Replacements

The replacement function is designed to improve search results by modifying the default search output. This is achieved by replacing a user-entered search term (A) with a more relevant term (B) based on specific settings.

Replacements can involve:

• Substituting one word with another.
• Restricting the search to specific categories to avoid incorrect results.
• Managing ambiguous terms in shops with a wide range of products.

Multiple settings can be combined to fine-tune search behavior.

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Configuration Options

Search Term

• The term for which the replacement should apply.
• Can be a single word or multiple words.
• Umlauts (ä, ö, ü) should be entered correctly instead of using “ae”, “oe”, or “ue”.

Replacement

• Defines the actual term that should be searched instead.
• Used when a search term does not exist in product data, ensuring users find relevant results.

Example:

Search Term	Replacement
Garden Lamp	Outdoor Light

If the replacement includes a category or product group, the search will be restricted to that category.

Example:

Search Term	Replacement	Category
Ski Jacket	Ski Jacket (Same Term)	Ski Clothing

This ensures that only ski jackets are shown within the Ski Clothing category, instead of displaying all products in that category.

Note

Although the replacement term is identical to the original search term, it’s still considered a replacement because it overrides the default search results with a predefined result set. This replacement may include custom filters or category constraints, effectively substituting the result, not the query.

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Special Settings

Blacklist Entry

• Prevents any search from being executed for the given term.
• Forces a zero-result page.
• Used when a term could lead to misleading or unwanted results.

Example:

If a brand named “Power Training” exists, searching for it may also return generic fitness devices due to the words “Power” and “Training” appearing in other products. To prevent this, “Power Training” can be blacklisted, ensuring no unintended results appear.

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Strict Mode

Enables precise control over when a replacement is triggered.

Setting	Behavior
Enabled	The replacement applies only when the exact search term is used.
Disabled	The replacement applies even if the term is part of a longer search query.

Note

The main purpose of Strict Mode is to narrow down the conditions under which a replacement is activated, helping prevent unintended matches. Supporting multiple replacements for the same term is a side benefit, not the primary function.

Examples

Search Term	Strict Mode?	Search Query	Replacement Applied?
Shirt	✅ Yes	red shirt	❌ No
red shirt	❌ No	red shirt men	✅ Yes

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Whole Word Matching

Determines whether the replacement applies only to full words or also within compound words.

This feature is relevant primarily for languages with compound words, such as German or Dutch. In English, this setting typically has no effect.

Setting	Behavior
Enabled	Applies only if the exact word is found.
Disabled	Applies even inside compound words.

Note

Example (German): A replacement is defined for Damen → filter targetgroup=female.
With Whole Word Matching = Disabled, a search for Damenhose (women’s pants) triggers the replacement, and results are filtered by targetgroup=female.
With Whole Word Matching = Enabled, the same query is ignored, because Damen is not matched as a standalone word.

Note

English Example: This configuration is not useful in English since word fragments like Laptop in Laptop Case do not follow compound logic as in German.

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No Stemming

Determines whether word stems are considered.

Setting	Behavior
Enabled	Replacement applies only to exact word matches.
Disabled	Replacement applies even if word stems match (e.g., singular/plural).

Examples

Search Term	No Stemming?	Search Query	Replacement Applied?
Wheel	✅ Yes	Bicycle 21 wheels	❌ No
Bed	❌ No	Beds	✅ Yes

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Replacement Types

Type	Behavior
replace	A is completely replaced by B.
add	B is added to A. Sorting is done across both results.
addAndPrefer	B is added, but results from B appear first.
prefer	A remains unchanged, but products also found in B are ranked higher.
preferWithSort	Like “prefer”, but results from B maintain their own sorting.
penalize	A remains unchanged, but products also found in B are ranked lower.
delete	A remains unchanged, but products from B are completely removed.

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Filters

Filters refine search results before applying a replacement.

Note

By default, only one filter value can be selected. Activating expanded view allows multiple values via CTRL + Click.

Example:

Expanded filter selection:

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Specific Filter Options

Filter	Behavior
Search Color	Limits results to items with a selected color.
Size	Limits results to items with a selected size.
Target Audience (“for whom?”)	Limits results to specific groups (e.g., men, women, children).
Category	Restricts search to specific categories (separated by pipes `	`). There is the possibility to have unlimited categories, but this will make the search slower. In extreme cases, this could lead to a timeout. This is why it is preferred to limit the categories, or even choose an upper category.
Brand	Limits results to selected brands.
Price (Min)	Shows only products above a set price (±1 EUR tolerance).
Price (Max)	Shows only products below a set price.
Discounted Items	Allows filtering only discounted or only non-discounted products.
CutOff Limit (Min/Max)	Adjusts minimum or maximum search result relevance thresholds. More information about the CutOff limit
Product Group	Restricts search to selected product groups (separated by pipes `	`).

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Size Recognition

To correctly interpret sizes in search queries, additional settings can be configured.

Size Type	Examples
Surface Measurement (100x200 cm)	Bedding, Furniture
Length Measurement (160 cm / 22 inches)	Curtain Rods, Bicycles
TV Size (cm & inches)	TVs, Monitors
Surface Measurement in Two Filters	Products with height & width (e.g., rugs)

Two-Size Filter Handling

• Enabled (“true”): Searching for “Bedding 155 cm” will find both “155x200 cm” and “155x220 cm”.
• Disabled (“false”): Searching for “Bedding 155 cm” treats “155” as a single number, not a size.

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Testing and Saving Replacements

Action	Description
Save	Saves all current settings. A comment dialog opens to document the change. Comments help ensure adjustments remain traceable over time.
Cancel	Discards new or modified settings.
Test	Opens a new tab with the search result for the current configuration and query. Does not trigger a save.

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Multi-Tenant Support

If multiple tenants (shops) are configured on the search server, replacements can be applied to one or more tenants simultaneously.

After creation, the selection can be modified as needed.