Product search on keywords

No one had implemented this, who's willing to help out?

Hello Worldofrugs, you would need some experience modifying asp code.  What you need to do is copy the existing keyword search code in "showsearchresults.asp" (search results) and "inc_srcPrdQuery.asp" (pre-search counter) and then modify that code to search the field "pcProd_MetaKeywords".  Its not going to be a major project, but its more than I can copy and paste into this thread. I hope that helps.

Thank you for the suggestion, Hamish.

I had thought that Google's site search would search only static pages. But no, it displays results from all my dynamic pages and database product pages. However, it seems to search its own index rather than my database in real time. I just need to investigate further what the implications to that are. For example, it will probably not return results for products added or modified between Google's site crawlings.

I'll post any findings here.

L

I guess I that would accomplish part of what I'm trying to address. Good workaround suggestion. Thanks, Matt.

But what I'm really getting at is both more powerful and more complex and automated (therefore expensive for the time being. I know one hosted cart solution in the market that offers it.)

Exact match search engines will be replaced with intelligent matching search engines. Google is a good EXAMPEL. (Did I mean: "EXAMPLE") The two in-site options I mentioned above are not as intelligent as Google but are far more intelligent than the exact matches found in all licensed carts I have reviewed and used.

I'm developing a site where many of the 20,000 products contain proper names and most of the customers are English speaking. Exact search search matches is a recipe for lost revenue because English language speakers are widely known for variations in spelling because we write as we speak (or sound). All the bells and whistles of drilling down and filtering serve a purpose ONLY if there is a meaningful search match FIRST.

Many developers and designers do not address this issue because it is a usability issue and not a programming issue or a design issue per se. Usability comes first in priority and coding and design are there to serve usability which, in turn, is there to serve the client's bottom line. Those who are responsible for delivering web sites to their clients can only go so far with exact match searches. This must/will change.

I could go on... But the fact is that there is a need and a hole in the market for intelligent IN-SITE searching. Who will step in and fill it?

If any of you know other options besides the ones I'm considering I'd love to hear.

Thanks for your comments and suggestions.

L

Do you mean having these features automated - or a facility to provide them as alternative words to use in matching searches?  I'm certain there's no plan for any kind of auto calculation of mis-spellings etc in the wings. That's pretty complex stuff (which is why they charge so much for it I guess) and not built-in to any cart that I'm aware of.