How to: Use synonym lists to modify search results

By modifying the thesaur.xml-file, Index Manager will return hits containing synonyms to the specified search words.
 
Say, for example, that you want to search for fast food, and want your search results to also find more specific kinds of fast food, such as pizza, hamburgers and french fries. Included with every installation of Index Manager is a file called Sample-THESAUR.XML, which can be modified to achieve this. To make your own synonym list, and enable them for search, follow these steps:
 

1. Rename Sample-THESAUR.XML to THESAUR.XML
2. Edit it to include the synonyms you want
3. Re-index the index or indexes in question

 
For Windows Server 2003, the file is found here:
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\FotoWare\Index Manager\Index Control
 
For Windows Server 2008, the file is found here:
C:\ProgramData\FotoWare\Index Manager\Index Control
 
When searching in an index that has synonyms set up, you must enable use of Synonym lists. In FotoStation, this means that you must use advanced search, go to Search Options and enable the setting, like so:
 

 
In FotoWeb, is means that you must go to the Settings tab of the FotoStation site, and enable the Use synonym lists option there, like so:

 
Caveat lector: I used to work with support at FotoWare. This blog is my own space, I am not paid to write it. I write about FotoWare and FotoWare products because I believe in them.