Solving the Enigma: Magento 2 and Smile_Elasticsuite Search for Substring Not Working

Are you tired of wrestling with Magento 2’s search functionality, only to find that Smile_Elasticsuite’s substring search isn’t working as expected? You’re not alone! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into the world of Elasticsearch and Magento 2 to uncover the secrets behind this perplexing issue. Buckle up, because we’re about to embark on a journey to solve this mystery once and for all!

Understanding the Problem: What’s Going On?

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s take a step back and understand the problem at hand. When you search for a substring in Magento 2 using Smile_Elasticsuite, you expect the results to include products with matching partial keywords. However, more often than not, the search results are incomplete or inaccurate, leaving you wondering what’s going wrong.

What’s Elasticsearch Got to Do with It?

Elasticsearch, the search engine powerhouse behind Smile_Elasticsuite, is designed to handle complex search queries with ease. However, its default settings can sometimes lead to unexpected results. In Magento 2, Elasticsearch is responsible for indexing and searching product data. When you search for a substring, Elasticsearch uses its built-in analyzers to tokenize the search query and match it against the indexed data.

The Culprit: Default Analyzer Settings

The root of the problem lies in the default analyzer settings used by Elasticsearch. By default, the `standard` analyzer is used, which tokenizes text using the following rules:

• Tokenizes text into individual words
• Removes punctuation and special characters
• Converts text to lowercase

This means that when you search for a substring, Elasticsearch is only matching whole words, not partial keywords. This is where the `ngram` analyzer comes into play.

Solution 1: Configuring the Ngram Analyzer

To enable substring search, you need to configure the `ngram` analyzer in your Elasticsearch settings. The `ngram` analyzer breaks down text into smaller chunks, allowing for more accurate matching of partial keywords.

{
  "analysis": {
    "analyzer": {
      "ngram_analyzer": {
        "type": "custom",
        "tokenizer": "standard",
        "filter": ["lowercase", "ngram_filter"]
      },
      "ngram_filter": {
        "type": "ngram",
        "min_gram": 2,
        "max_gram": 20
      }
    }
  }
}

In this example, we’re defining a custom `ngram_analyzer` with the following settings:

• `tokenizer`: Using the `standard` tokenizer to break down text into individual words
• `filter`: Applying the `lowercase` filter to convert text to lowercase and the `ngram_filter` to break down words into smaller chunks

The `ngram_filter` settings control the minimum and maximum length of the ngrams. In this example, we’re using a minimum of 2 characters and a maximum of 20 characters.

Applying the Ngram Analyzer to Your Magento 2 Store

To apply the `ngram_analyzer` to your Magento 2 store, you’ll need to update your Elasticsearch configuration. You can do this by creating a custom `elastic_search_config.json` file in your Magento 2 root directory.

{
  "index": {
    "analysis": {
      "analyzer": {
        "ngram_analyzer": {
          "type": "custom",
          "tokenizer": "standard",
          "filter": ["lowercase", "ngram_filter"]
        },
        "ngram_filter": {
          "type": "ngram",
          "min_gram": 2,
          "max_gram": 20
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

Make sure to update your Elasticsearch configuration by running the following command in your terminal:

php bin/magento elastic_search:config:apply

Solution 2: Using the EdgeNGram Token Filter

Another approach to enabling substring search is to use the `edgeNGram` token filter. This filter allows you to match substrings at the beginning, middle, or end of a word.

{
  "analysis": {
    "analyzer": {
      "edge_ngram_analyzer": {
        "type": "custom",
        "tokenizer": "standard",
        "filter": ["lowercase", "edge_ngram_filter"]
      },
      "edge_ngram_filter": {
        "type": "edgeNGram",
        "min_gram": 2,
        "max_gram": 20,
        "side": "front"
      }
    }
  }
}

In this example, we’re defining a custom `edge_ngram_analyzer` with the following settings:

• `tokenizer`: Using the `standard` tokenizer to break down text into individual words
• `filter`: Applying the `lowercase` filter to convert text to lowercase and the `edge_ngram_filter` to match substrings

The `edge_ngram_filter` settings control the minimum and maximum length of the ngrams, as well as the `side` parameter, which specifies whether to match substrings at the beginning (`front`), end (`back`), or anywhere (`both`) in the word.

Configuring the EdgeNGram Token Filter in Magento 2

To apply the `edge_ngram_analyzer` to your Magento 2 store, follow the same steps as before:

{
  "index": {
    "analysis": {
      "analyzer": {
        "edge_ngram_analyzer": {
          "type": "custom",
          "tokenizer": "standard",
          "filter": ["lowercase", "edge_ngram_filter"]
        },
        "edge_ngram_filter": {
          "type": "edgeNGram",
          "min_gram": 2,
          "max_gram": 20,
          "side": "front"
        }
      }
    }
  }
}

php bin/magento elastic_search:config:apply

Conclusion: The Search for Substring Nirvana

In conclusion, the search for substring nirvana in Magento 2 and Smile_Elasticsuite is a journey that requires patience, persistence, and a deep understanding of Elasticsearch’s inner workings. By configuring the `ngram` analyzer or `edgeNGram` token filter, you can unlock the full potential of your search functionality and provide your customers with an unparalleled search experience.

Key Takeaways

• Understand the default analyzer settings in Elasticsearch and how they affect search results
• Configure the `ngram` analyzer or `edgeNGram` token filter to enable substring search
• Apply the custom analyzer to your Magento 2 store using the `elastic_search_config.json` file
• Test and refine your search functionality to ensure optimal performance

Analyzer/Filter	Description
ngram_analyzer	Breaks down text into smaller chunks for more accurate matching of partial keywords
edgeNGram token filter	Matches substrings at the beginning, middle, or end of a word

By following these steps and understanding the intricacies of Elasticsearch, you’ll be well on your way to solving the enigma of substring search in Magento 2 and Smile_Elasticsuite. Happy searching!

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