# Synonyms {% hint style="warning" %} Synonyms **only work with Custom Post Type** results: Posts, Pages, Products, Media Attachments etc... Taxonomy terms, user and other type of results are currently not supported! {% endhint %} ## Prerequisites To use synonyms, the index table engine is required. Before you start with this tutorial, I highly suggest reading up the [introduction to the index table](https://documentation.ajaxsearchpro.com/index-table). The synonyms interface can be accessed on the **Index Table** submenu, under the *Synonyms* panel. ![Synonyms menu access](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQ8aLsmzXHoMVMWvj7%2F-LBQAGf31cC8ar7_ayXj%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=47dc8c07-c9b2-42e9-8302-a38771d106b9) ## Managing Synonyms {% hint style="info" %} **After** making changes (adding/removing) to the synonyms, the index table must be re-created, by clicking on the **Create new index** option, otherwise it has no effect. {% endhint %} ![Make sure to create a new index, after adding/changing the synonyms](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQbc29CxlfpkBUnLdR%2F-LBQg_AL0tZAMfMzyy0W%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=e8795cef-da02-44b1-89d5-1071595d5d16) ### Adding new synonym To add a new synonym, simply click on the **+Add new** button on the top of the panel. Enter the desired original word and the synonyms (max. 15), then hit the **Save** button. ![Synonym editor window](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQbc29CxlfpkBUnLdR%2F-LBQdEnj0j87DVkEeUIP%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=702341c4-9c14-49d2-9719-96fdf8d1845b) {% hint style="info" %} For multi-language environments using **WPML** or **Polylang** plugins, you can choose the synonym language as well. Otherwise this option is set to Default (empty). {% endhint %} ### Editing a synonym To edit a synonym row, click on the **Edit** button on the right side of the row. The same editor will appear, that is used to add a new synonym. ![To open the synonym editor](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQbc29CxlfpkBUnLdR%2F-LBQeWtR3gSGB4tFXqug%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=8942fd5a-7ffc-44fe-8bc2-0b442f822a6c) ![Synonym editor](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQbc29CxlfpkBUnLdR%2F-LBQenlpOs0fKV1Mtgta%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=84186ac4-73da-4edf-8458-591255b59370) ### Deleting a synonym or deleting all synonyms To delete an individual synonym row, click on the **Delete** button. Alternatively, you can delete all synonyms by clicking the **Delete all** button on the top right side of the panel. ![Delete a synonym or delete all synonyms](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQbc29CxlfpkBUnLdR%2F-LBQfZar-6FDPVRI8-8_%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=55930897-a7ec-4949-9ba7-1aa659eda04d) ### Synonyms as keywords option {% hint style="warning" %} This option can be very resource-heavy, when using lots of synonyms (100s of definitions). Make sure to avoid using it, unless it is indeed useful in your case. {% endhint %} ![Synonyms as keywords option](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-L_vnmAF7WM4JZb7guMR%2F-L_voHCnfZp9Jym5BMOf%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=f5a1e240-4918-44e2-8f6f-3337d93204c3) This option comes in handy, when the defined original => synonyms pairs should be used as synonyms => original as well. For example, if there is a definition of keywords and synonyms as: `original => synonym1, synonym2` ..then, if this option is enabled, the plugin will also generate these additional definitions during indexing: ``` synonym1 => original, synonym2 synonym2 => original, synonym1 ``` In other words, the plugin will also look for keywords *synonym1* and *synonym2* and index the original keyword and the rest of the synonyms with them. ## Export and Import Export and import feature lets you export the content of the synonyms database, and import it on a different installation, or for simply back-up purposes. ### Export Click on the **Export** button on the top right side of the panel. ![The export button](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQiS_0DW6rOqv24rYe%2F-LBQj-gkFn6WBGn6xhNL%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=57601bfe-fddc-4937-98a8-1893b9ac4847) A pop-up window will open. Click the **Generate New** button, to generate a new export file. ![Click the Generate new button](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQiS_0DW6rOqv24rYe%2F-LBQjL0aLQj4XymKSZwT%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=59c0c850-ad2e-4534-bf57-6062c0d8cc3a) After a short time, a link will appear. Click on it to save the export file on your computer. ![Click on the link to download the latest export file](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQiS_0DW6rOqv24rYe%2F-LBQjeVcU9NOVBLxR44J%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=586b359b-8333-42c3-8189-e9983eb04d3e) The exported file is a .txt file, please do not change the file type. ### Import {% hint style="info" %} Duplicate items within the database and the import file are **ignored**, and not overwritten {% endhint %} To import previously exported synonyms, click on the **Import** button on the top right side of the panel. ![Import button location](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQjqHXzP45WI5Sgj5Z%2F-LBQk7QxswW5uU3UXqnm%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3e1706d7-240f-4b9c-a054-170b48cc5374) A pop-up window will open. Click on the upload button to upload the import file via the media library uploader, and select it. ![Click the upload button to open the media library uploader](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQjqHXzP45WI5Sgj5Z%2F-LBQkWmYdnfdCc6M3BgG%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=3f32406b-cdf0-49b4-bc98-4920a1b367b4) After selecting the file, click the **Import** button. After a short time, the success message should appear, with the number of imported items. ![Importing the items](https://1706764988-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-legacy-files/o/assets%2F-L9jkFgNo4lpUof35gvS%2F-LBQjqHXzP45WI5Sgj5Z%2F-LBQlFC30_5mzLJ7CLU2%2Fimage.png?alt=media\&token=fe5a1a1f-538d-4759-ba53-775c2ff539ab)