Proxy Component 25.4
Proxy Component Help

# Use Multipliers to Boost Relevance

You can add multipliers to individual query terms to boost the relevance of results that match these terms accordingly.

To apply a multiplier to a query term, use this format:

    queryTerm[*N]

where:

`queryTerm` | is the query term whose weight to multiply.
`N` | is the factor to multiply the specified query term weight by. This weight can be any positive number.

For example:

    http://ContentHost:port/action=Query&Text=bread[*2.5]+brown+loaf

This action multiplies the weight of the query term `bread` by 2.5. The weight of the query terms `brown` and `loaf` does not change.

When results return for the query, the relevance of documents that contain the term `bread` is boosted relative to those that do not.

    http://ContentHost:port/action=Query&Text=SOUNDEX(bred)+bred[*4]

In this example, a supermarket wants to ensure that an online search for `bread` returns appropriate results. The supermarket has found that customers tend to misspell bread as bred. If a customer queries for `bread`, appropriate results return as usual. If a customer queries for `bred`, the term is submitted twice; once as a Soundex keyword search, and once with a multiplier. This ensures that if results exist that match bred (for example, a new CD by a band called bred), they return with a higher relevance than results that match bred phonetically.

Similarly, you can use multipliers to reduce the influence of individual query terms. For example:

    http://ContentHost:port/action=Query&Text=cat[*0.5]+dog

In this example, the weight of the query term `cat` is halved by multiplying it by 0.5. The weight of the query term `dog` does not change.

When you return results for the query, the relevance of documents that contain the term `cat` is reduced relative to those that do not.

Related Topics

- Soundex Keyword Search

Copyright 2025 Open Text
Version 25.4 | Last updated October 2025

Send documentation feedback

Close

Send documentation feedback

To send feedback using your default email client, open an email window.

Otherwise, send your feedback and the information below to MFI-swpdl.idoldocsfeedback@opentext.com.

We appreciate your feedback!

Product: Knowledge Discovery Proxy Component 25.4

Topic Title: Use Multipliers to Boost Relevance