Keywords/Synonyms in SharePoint 2010 Enterprise Search (not FAST)

Question

Hi, 

I have an enterprise installation of SharePoint 2010. I'm currently having difficulties getting synonyms to work in search. I've added my synonyms into the keyword page in my site collection root. I assume that after a full crawl these synonyms should work, but no joy. Best bets entered for my keywords are working as expected. This issue occurs in both my live environment and a fresh dev install. I've used the synonym feature in MOSS without any issues; wondering what has changed in 2010. If anyone has any advice, it would be appreciated. I had considered adding the synonyms in via powershell, but have only been able to find instructions relating to doing this in FAST search. Also thinking about perhaps a timer job that isn't firing may be causing the issue, but not sure where to look. 

Many thanks for reading.  

Answer 1

Try this: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd361734.aspx

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-- With Regards Shailen Sukul Entrepreneur/Software Architect/Developer/Consultant/Trainer (BSc | Mct | Mcpd (.Net 2/3.5/SharePoint2010) | Mcts (Sharepoint 2010/MOSS/WSS), Biztalk, Web, Win, Dist Apps) | Mcitp(SharePoint) | Mcsd.NET | Mcsd | Mcad) MSN | Skype | GTalk Id: shailensukul Twitter: http://twitter.com/shailensukul Ph: [phone] Website: http://sukul.org Blog: http://shailen.sukul.org/ http://www.linkedin.com/in/shailensukul

Answer 2

Thanks for the info Shailen. I've also tried the thesaurus approach without any success. I don't understand why the Keywords/Synonyms method doesn't work for me; I’ve followed instructions carefully with both approaches. Very frustrating. Has anyone else had issues like this?

Thanks again.

 

Answer 3

This seems to be bug with SharePoint Server not FAST. I cannot get this to work in MSS either. You may want to open a support ticket with Microsoft.

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Answer 4

Thanks Steve. Good to hear that it's not just my enviroment. Will contact MS.

Answer 5

Not sure if I'm having the problem (SP2010 Enterprise Search - not FAST). An example -

• I've created a keyword - weather
• I've set up a best bet as a link to an external website (bbc.co.uk's weather page)
• I've set up synonyms for weather - forecast; climate; rain; sun;
• In a library, I've created a document called weather.doc with the word weather typed within it
• ---
• If I search for weather, bbc comes up as a best bet, as does weather.doc
• If I search for rain or sun, bbc comes up as a best bet, but not weather.doc

So -

1. best bets seem to be working for my synonyms
2. but searching using the synonyms doesn't return documents using the Keyword they're defined as synonyms of

Are you experiencing this, or are you not even getting best bets working for synonyms?

And am I right in thinking that I should be getting point 2 above to work (ie. weather.doc should be returned when I search using rain or sun?

 

Answer 6

Hi,

had exactly the same issue.

>> What thesaurus directory are you using?

Please check the used directory! The directory %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office Servers\14.0\Data\Office Server\Config is only a repository for new created Search Applications.

MSDN:
"When a search administrator creates a Search service application, the search system automatically copies the thesaurus files from the installation location (including any thesaurus files there that an administrator has edited) to %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office Servers\14.0\Data\Applications\GUID\Config, where GUID is the GUID of the new Search service application."

If you already have an existing search application use:

%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office Servers\14.0\Data\Office Server\Applications\<CUSTOM SEARCH APPLICATION ID>\Config

Then restart the OSEARCH14 service.

Regards

Benjamin

 

 

Answer 7

Having the exact same issue as you adc_highland. Best bets are working as expected for keywords and synonymns entered. However, searching for fully crawled content using synonymns doesn't provide any results.

I'd be interested to hear whether the thesaurus appoach works for you? Have you tried this adc_highland?

Answer 8

Hi Benjamin,

I've already updated thesaurus files in the location you pointed out (followed by a OSEARCH14 service reset); this unfortunatley didn't work. As the same thesaurus files seem to sit in lots of random locations, I went ahead and updated them in all locations (US english, UK english, and neutral). Still not working. Thanks for your contribution non-the-less.

Answer 9

Haven't tried the thesaurus approach yet. Will give it a go, if I get a chance.

Please keep us informed if Microsoft have anything to say on the matter.

Answer 10

Is there already a solution proposed by Microsoft about this issue? I am expiriencing exact the same issue.

Answer 11

Hi all,

I just tested in my env. The thesaurus approach works fine.

You need to edit the thesaurus file by using administrative credentials in following location:

%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office Servers\14.0\Data\Office Server\Applications\GUID-query-0\Config, where GUID is the GUID of the new Search service application

Please make note: By default the thesaurus file is commented out , so dont forget to remove the comment part.

Expansion set is where you make use of synonyms.

So for example you have crawled an item called 'internet explorer'.

In the thesaurus file you define expansion set as follows:

<expansion>
            _{Internet Explorer}
            _IE
            _IE5
        </expansion>
        <replacement>

Now when you search for IE or IE5 you will get the item 'Internet Explorer' in your search results.

Imp: After editing the thesaurus file the search service has to be restarted on the server for changes to take effect.

Additionally refer article:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dd361734.aspx#section3

Thanks!

Regards,

Shruti

Answer 12

Yes, please let us know if there was a bug in SharePoint 2010 or if there was something you figured out after contacting Microsoft.

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-JH