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Opening Synonym Files

You can make improvements to your output so that, in the future, users are able to find the search results they need. One way to enhance your output is to create synonyms for search phrases. This way, even if a user enters a search term that is not included anywhere in the project, that person will still be able to find the appropriate information.

The first step to creating synonyms for enhanced search is to add a synonym file to the Flare project. After a synonym file is created, you can open it at any time to make adjustments to it.

How to open a synonym file

Make sure the Project Organizer is open. By default, the Project Organizer is located on the left side of the interface in an accordion structure with the Content Explorer, unless you have previously moved it and saved the new layout. You may have to click the Project Organizer bar to bring it into view.
Double-click the Advanced folder.
Double-click the synonym file.

The Synonyms Editor opens to the right.

Note: You can create synonyms within the Flare project or within the external Feedback Explorer (which is used with MadCap Feedback). It is not mandatory that you have MadCap Feedback in order to use synonyms in Flare output, but using MadCap Feedback makes it much easier to determine which words require synonyms based on the search results of your users. Using the external Feedback Explorer to create synonyms is appealing because the synonyms become immediately available for users searching in your output (without needing to republish the output). Be aware, however, that creating synonyms in the external Feedback Explorer works for the Feedback output as long as you continue to publish output to the same server. If you create synonyms in the external Feedback Explorer, it is recommended that you also create those synonyms at the source (i.e., within the Flare project), in case you ever publish to a different server. The easiest way to do this is to export the synonym file from the Feedback Explorer to the Project\Advanced folder in the Flare project. See the Feedback Explorer online Help for more information and steps on how to export synonym files. For more information, see About MadCap Feedback and the online Help provided with the external Feedback Explorer.

Note: If you merge projects, synonym files will remain separate in each project. For example, if you create synonyms in Project A but not in project B, only the topics from Project A will use the synonyms when users perform searches in the output.

Note: This feature is available if you are generating DotNet Help, WebHelp, WebHelp Plus, or WebHelp AIR output formats only. It is not available for HTML Help output.

WHAT'S NEXT?

After you open a synonym file, you can create directional synonyms and synonym groups within it. See Creating Synonyms to Enhance Search Results.