# Preprocessor

#### **Summary**

The **Preprocessor** lets you set up entries to replace search terms internally, so that FactFinder searches for the replacement term rather than the term originally entered by the customer.

The preprocessor lets you:

* replace multi-word terms ("dirt bike" → "dirtbike")
* use wildcards and a specialist search syntax (operators)

For example, search terms can be separated in order to increase search similarity, by `*` symbol. So an entry Mens\* -> Mens \* would ensure that instead of searching for `menswear` the system would search for `mens wear` instead.

> The Preprocessor has a greater effect on performance, and a large number of Preprocessor entries may slow down the search function. Poor search results should be attempted to be improved by usage of [Thesaurus](https://docs.fact-finder.com/docs/discovery/search-term-rules/thesaurus) entries first.

**Preprocessor** is represented as an individual page tab for **Search term rules** page.

![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-70a645d8c72337abbcb69e169e3476a1e8ce024d%2Fpreprocessor.png?alt=media)

#### **Adding Preprocessor entry**

After entering **Source word** ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d6ef73369d8b6bd3c60991407ff7a93dc15afc93%2FB1-2025x25.png?alt=media) and **Target Word** ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-201fae191795364f088545807a1ef929d772dfcc%2FB4-20-2025x25-1.png?alt=media), adding optional **Comment** ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-d744db53a7fe2e10bd9c7fe0f3f5963ac5f7e742%2FB3-2025x25.png?alt=media), new Preprocessor entry can be added by clicking **Add Entry** button ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-201fae191795364f088545807a1ef929d772dfcc%2FB4-20-2025x25-1.png?alt=media).

Preprocessor entries can be combined into **Groups** ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-6f8ab95c0e762d2dd7f746a15c0c8b843a92d28a%2FB5-20-2025x25.png?alt=media) to not be enabled at the same time:

* If a Preprocessor entry in a given group is found to apply, all further rules in the group are ignored.
* The Preprocessor attempts to apply the entries and groups in the sequence in which they are listed in the editor. This sequence can be changed by dragging and dropping.

#### **Managing Preprocessor entries**

All created Preprocessor entries are listed in the grid together with their attributes.

The grid lets you **filter** entries:

* hide/show entries deleted in this transaction ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-68ed05afcdd68fe55dc634789676d411b31733ee%2Fimage-264.png?alt=media)
* search for a specific entry ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-bd600d1211c31edeb1164b9a9bc0dc5b50f6129e%2Fimage-265.png?alt=media)

The following **operations** are available for transactions in the grid:

* edit ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-1a90f8f0823b33712b9532162f606882d7dd7f44%2Fimage-267.png?alt=media)
* clone to another channel ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-8b4cfd4e65c660ebbb88b2cdb01d9c466b995841%2Fimage-268.png?alt=media)
* delete ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-ca3c6fadc935a23f72aa10a442403e760c771b26%2Fimage-269.png?alt=media)
* bulk clone and delete operations are available for multiple selected (by ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-f12d9e5a693422ccb16860ba771998e87d0d7f3b%2Fimage-266.png?alt=media)) entries

> Any creation or change to an entry will mark it as locked ![](https://883583471-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FTV1CIVFU3DJKhWzkqLAG%2Fuploads%2Fgit-blob-3b3e79817ff623abdaa344cbb476af321941c921%2Fimage-270.png?alt=media) and require [saving the transaction](https://docs.fact-finder.com/docs/user-interface/editing-configurations-managing-transactions).

**Transliterations setting** can be activated to consider common transliterations for the matching, e.g entry “tür” → “tor” would also be triggered for the input “Tuer”.