High Performance Search
Datastore includes a high-performance search engine which is permanently synchronised with the records in your database.
The built-in search engine means that you can take advantage of any structure associated with your Datastore information to provide your users with everything from simple search through to advanced parametric search. Search forms are easily constructed using drop down menus, combo boxes and tabs etc. so that your users do not need to be search experts to find relevant information easily and precisely.
Simple search box
The simple search box embedded in your web pages will be the starting point for many visitors. So ensuring that the search engine is tuned to deliver the best possible results to your users should not be left to chance. Datastore search enables you to shape and manage your search results so that users are sign-posted efficiently through your site, to key pages and start points for a succesful and relevant outcome.
Control rankings and boost resources
The search engine is completely open for you to control and manage the ranking of search results if you wish. Information resources can be boosted or down-weighted according to your priorities, in order to provide a guided search experience.
Pre-filtered Results and Parametric Search
Datastore search provides the ability to pre-filter results and also to perform parametric search. So in a single search it is easy to focus results according to any general or personalised criteria (such as 'events', 'during the month of March', 'within 20 miles of Lincoln', for 'families' featuring 'any sport').
Location/Geospatial Search
Datastore search can limit results based upon the users geographical location (for example by specifying their postcode or town, users can limit results to only those that are of direct relevance to their area). Results from the geospatial search can also be represented dynamically on maps, for example form your own GIS system or using one of the map services available on the open internet.
Recommended Links
You can easily set 'recommended links' within the Datastore. These sign-post users to key links and are triggered by the use of certain keywords or phrases in a user's search (in the same way as ad-words work on generalised web search engines).
Tag Clouds and Suggestions
The Datastore search can also automatically generate tag clouds of common search terms or user-generated search suggestions, to provide new users with easy ways into your information set.
Federated Search
Datastore Search incorporates a universal query engine which provides a standard means to issue requests and receive results from all types of search engine, database system and applications derived from them. It provides API and webservice interfaces to allow third party applications and solutions to interact and take advantage of its standard query layer. The Datastore Search query kernel has a light footprint and will run on any operating system. It provides synchronisation and sequencing of query returns to enable the development of highly interactive search and query presentation layers. The configuration classes enable authorised sign on and pass through to all types of security and login mechanisms, so results can be matched to users' credentials.
