Thesaurus
In this article we can explore the Thesaurus and its configuration in a SharePoint 2013 Search.
What a Thesaurus is
The words Thesaurus and Synonym mean the same thing.
Purpose of a Thesaurus
Users might have difficulty in typing lengthy search texts like:
1. Human Resource
Instead, they can use a pre-configured Thesaurus like:
- HR
- HRA
How to specify a Thesaurus for SharePoint 2013 to Search
First we need to create a comma-separated Thesaurus CSV file like the following.
Key, Synonym, Language
HR, Human Resources, en
HRA, Human Resources
The language parameter is optional.
How to configure a Thesaurus
We need to use PowerShell scripts to configure a Thesaurus.
Practical
Let us try to configure Thesauruses as an exercise.
Step 1: Initial Empty Search
Try searching for HRA and ensure you are receiving no results.
This confirms there are no content matching the text HRA.
Step 2: Create Thesaurus file
Create a CSV file with the following content.
Key,Synonym,Language
HR,Human Resources
HRA,Human Resources
Save the file.
Step 3: Install the Thesaurus file
Run the following PowerShell script to install the Thesaurus file.
- # Add PowerShell Snapin
- if ((Get-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell" -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue) -eq $null)
- {
- Add-PSSnapin "Microsoft.SharePoint.PowerShell"
- }
- $searchApp = Get-SPEnterpriseSearchServiceApplication
- Import-SPEnterpriseSearchThesaurus -SearchApplication $searchApp -Filename "\\server\c$\temp\file.CSV"
The path should be in UNC format. Please change the server and file names appropriately.
If the installation succeeded, you will get the following message.
Step 4: Test the Search
Back in SharePoint, repeat the search using the text HRA. You should receive the following results.
This confirms the successful configuration of the Thesaurus. Please note that the results are immediate.