Basic Configuration

3. Basic Configuration

After installing and activating the WP Fast Total Search (WPFTS) plugin, you can configure its main parameters on the settings page. To access the settings page, go to “Settings” -> “Fast Total Search” in the WordPress admin panel.

The WPFTS settings page is divided into several tabs:

  • Main Configuration: On this tab, you can enable or disable the plugin, configure automatic re-indexing, select which search types (admin panel, frontend, Gutenberg blocks) should use WPFTS, and enable or disable optimization for MariaDB.

  • Indexing Engine Settings: Here you can configure indexing rules, exclude specific post types, post statuses, post IDs, and slugs from the index, and configure the handling of shortcodes, HTML tags, and scripts during indexing.

  • Search & Output: On this tab, you can configure search parameters (word processing logic, search depth), as well as output parameters (Smart Excerpts, relevance display, file size, etc.).

  • Sandbox Area: This tab is designed for testing indexing and search. You can index a single post and perform a search query with various parameters to see how WPFTS works with your content.

  • Analytics: On this tab, you can view the search query log and configure logging parameters. Analytics helps understand what users are searching for on your website and optimize content accordingly.

  • Support & Docs: Here you will find links to the documentation, support forum, and developer contact information.

Description of Main Settings

  • Enabled: Enables or disables the WPFTS plugin.

  • Autocomplete Indexing: Enables or disables automatic re-indexing of content when posts are published or updated.

  • Use indexed search in WordPress Admin: Enables or disables WPFTS search in the WordPress admin panel.

  • Use indexed search in WordPress Blocks (front-end only): Enables or disables WPFTS search in WordPress blocks on the frontend.

  • MariaDB Fix: Enables special optimization for MariaDB.

  • Further Indexing Engine Settings: Allows you to configure which post types, statuses, IDs, and slugs to exclude from the index, as well as configure the handling of shortcodes and HTML tags.

  • Query Preprocessing: Settings related to search query processing, such as using stemming and selecting the language for stemming.

  • Find Records: Settings that define the search logic, such as the operator used to combine words in the query (AND or OR), and the search depth.

  • Calculate Relevance: Settings related to calculating the relevance of search results, including cluster weights.

  • Sort Results: Settings for sorting search results (by relevance, date, name, etc.).

  • Show Results: Settings related to displaying search results, such as using Smart Excerpts, displaying relevance, displaying file size for attachments, etc.

  • Query Log Settings: Settings for logging search queries, including the maximum log size and other parameters.

Configuring Indexing Rules

On the “Indexing Engine Settings” tab, you can configure indexing rules that determine what data will be indexed and how it will be processed. You can create your own rules or use predefined ones.

Configuring the Live Search Widget

WPFTS includes a Live Search widget that provides autocomplete when entering a search query. You can add this widget to your site through the “Widgets” section in the admin panel. Widget settings allow you to change its title, placeholder, button text, and other parameters.

More detailed information about each setting and its impact on the plugin’s operation is provided in the relevant sections of the documentation.

Installation and ActivationFAQ - Frequently Asked Questions