Feature Pack 5 or later

Resetting searchable attributes

When an attribute is specified as searchable in the storefront, links are created for the attribute throughout the WebSphere Commerce database and search index. Once an attribute is set as searchable, the business user cannot change the attribute to not be searchable. As an IT administrator, you can reset attribute dictionary attributes that are marked as searchable.

A business user can directly make an attribute searchable or they can implicitly make the attribute searchable by selecting to use the attribute in faceted navigation. When an attribute is selected for use in faceted navigation, the attribute is automatically set as searchable in the storefront. Business users cannot remove an attribute from being searchable or from being used in faceted navigation by clearing the attribute property in the Catalogs tool. When a business user clears the check box for the property in the Catalogs tool, the search links remain for the attribute in the database and search index.

Feature Pack 5 or laterBusiness users can no longer clear the check box for the attribute property in the Catalogs tool for making an attribute searchable.

To remove an attribute from being searchable or from being used in faceted navigation, you must manually update the WebSphere Commerce database to remove the records that make the attribute searchable or for use in faceted navigation.

Feature Pack 5 or laterNote: If you apply the interim fix for APAR JR47273, business users can remove an attribute from being used in faceted navigation by clearing the check box for the attribute property in the Catalogs tool. When a business user removes an attribute from being a faceted navigation attribute, the attribute no longer displays in the storefront list of facets after a delta index. You do not need to manually update the database to remove an attribute as a faceted navigation attribute.

Feature Pack 6 or laterThe interim fix is no longer required before business users can remove an attribute from being used in faceted navigation by clearing the check box for the attribute property.

Procedure

  1. Identify the internal attribute ID of the searchable attribute.

    For example, attributeId from the ATTR table.

  2. Run the following SQL statements:
    1. Feature Pack 6 or laterUPDATE ATTR SET searchable=0, facetable=0, merchandisable=0 WHERE attr_id IN (list_of_attribute_IDs)
    2. Feature Pack 5UPDATE ATTR SET searchable=0, facetable=0 WHERE attr_id IN (list_of_attribute_IDs)
    3. Feature Pack 4Feature Pack 2Feature Pack 3UPDATE attr SET searchable=0 WHERE attr_id IN (list_of_attribute_IDs)
  3. Remove the corresponding entry from the ATTRDICTSRCHCONF table with the following SQL statement:
    DELETE FROM ATTRDICTSRCHCONF WHERE ATTR_ID = attributeId
  4. Remove corresponding entries from the relevant database tables:
    • Feature Pack 4Feature Pack 2Feature Pack 3You must clean the SRCHATTR and SRCHATTRPROP tables.
    • Feature Pack 5 or laterYou must clean the SRCHATTR table. Run the following cascade delete SQL statement on the SRCHATTR and SRCHATTRPROP tables:
      
DELETE FROM SRCHATTR WHERE SRCHATTR.SRCHATTR_ID IN (SELECT SRCHATTR_ID FROM FACET WHERE ATTR_ID IN (list_of_attribute_IDs))
  5. Feature Pack 5 or laterRemove the corresponding entry from the FACET table. Run the following cascade delete SQL statement on the FACET, FACETCATGRP, and FACETDESC tables:
    
DELETE FROM FACET WHERE ATTR_ID = (attributeId)
  6. Perform a full re-indexing against all master catalogs that are affected by the attribute.