Multiple items in one search string

[clarkgray]

I'm not sure if I'm using the proper terminology here...sorry.

I have created several custom properties which need to be searchable (in Business). I have figured out how to make each property searchable but some of the fields need to have multiple entries for a given property. Here is an example:
A person needs to find a fuel injector for a Porsche. I want them to be able to search by year and model. In other words, seach on "1992 Model 911" and get all of the items that match those years. However, one part can match MANY years and models.

If I create a property called "Year" and a property called "Model" and then try to add multiple years and multiple models in the properties of the product, I get an error saying I can't use duplicate property names. I don't want to create a property for each year (I don't think) and I don't want to separate them by a comma or then each set becomes a searchable item of its own.

Anyone know how to create a search under these conditions?

Thanks,
Clark

[cdicken]

You can do it by creating an attribute called 'Year' and then create choices within that for each year that the item is available. You can then search on the value of choices in the same way you can search on the value of custom properties.

You will get a 'Year' drop-down list appearing in the HTML for the product as a result of this. What you do about this depends on whether you have got drop-down lists appearing for any other products that you want to keep. Let me know, and then I'll come up with some suggestions.

[clarkgray]

Search criteria

Hey Chris,

Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think that will help. The reason is because we need certain items to be the searchable criteria. We're replacing the following search page and catalog with Actinic:
https://secure2.advwebsys.com/zimcgi...e=psearch.html

These few search criteria need to be THE main search criteria and this is the main interface for finding the parts (instead of using the drill down method). I will use attributes for other options (ie. color) but those only show up if someone searches on that string of text or when they find the product.

Thanks,
Clark

[cdicken]

OK

Just try this with one product and see how you get on. For 'Parts Category', 'Model' and 'BodyStyle' create custom properties in 'Advanced | Custom Properties'.

Then for one product, assign relevant values to the three custom properties within the 'Properties' tab and ensure that 'Searchable' is selected for all the custom properties.

Then go to 'View | Search Settings | Searchable Properties', add three new rows to the grid and select your custom properties in the 'Property' column. Make sure the 'HTML Representation' for all three is 'List'.

You may have done this already. I'm just covering my bases.

Next, go to the product you edited earlier and create an attribute called 'Year'. Ensure the 'Type' of the attribute is set to 'Integer'. Enter choices within it for all the years that this product is available for.

Then go back to 'View | Search Settings | Searchable Properties', add a new row to the grid and select 'Year'. Lay it out as a list as well.

It will appear like the others list boxes. The difference is that you can assign multiple values (choices) to this searchable property for a product (unlike the others).