Develop > Controller layer > Application developer > Catalog subsystem > Catalog search methods
Search method comparison
Refer to the table in this section for a list of available search methods. The Features, Usage, and Scope columns describe each search method's features and limitations.
Search Method Features Usage Scope Simple search
- A lightweight search feature
- Usable on any JSP file
- No set up required out of box
- Searches performed on base tables
- Single term search input
- Boolean support
- Searches the catgroup, catgrpdesc, catenty,catentdesc table (the basic properties of a category and catalog entry) and the (descriptive or defining) attributes defined for the catalog entries such as the attributes and attribute values table.
- Customizable with both new attributes and new tables
Advanced search
- General search feature
- Usable on any JSP file
- No set up required out of box
- Searches performed on base tables
- Enhanced order search criteria
- Multiple term search input
- Boolean support
- Most flexible option which expresses inputs and control over output
- Searches the catgroup, catgrpdesc, catenty,catentdesc table (the basic properties of a category and catalog entry) and the the (descriptive or defining) attributes defined for the catalog entries such as the attributes and attribute values table.
- Broadest selection of attributes and tables
- Broad range of search controls
- Customizable with both new attributes and new tables
Advanced Product Advisor search tool with base schema support
- Catalog exploration tool with 3 views on products: an Exploration tool, a Comparison tool, and a Q&A dialog tool
- Requires setup of exploration parameters
- Base table support
- Interactive and iterative tool for selecting search term inputs
- Requires a category to seed start of search
- No Boolean support
- Searches vertical schema with predefined horizontal schema support
- Searches are limited to a single category
Advanced Product Advisor search tool with separate schema support
- Catalog exploration tool with 3 views on products: an Exploration tool, a Comparison tool, and a Q&A dialog tool
- Requires setup of exploration parameters
- Requires custom schema setup
- Highest performance rated search method
- Interactive and iterative tool for selecting search term inputs
- Requires a category to seed start of search
- No Boolean support
- Searches vertical schema with predefined horizontal schema support
- Searches are limited to a single category
- Limited ability to include additional columns from the horizontal schema
WebSphere Commerce Accelerator Catalog Search Methods
- Complementary general search feature for the Campaigns, Product Management, and Customer Service tools
- Augments merchant tasks while using WebSphere Commerce Accelerator tools
- Searches the catgroup, catgrpdesc, catenty,catentdesc table (the basic properties of a category and catalog entry).
Related concepts
Related tasks
Add catalog search to the site
Related reference