Smart search: typos, article numbers, live suggestions, and query reports for 1C-Bitrix

What this solution does

The standard 1C-Bitrix search often returns a 'nothing found' result due to minor input errors. A buyer might type 'kampressor' instead of 'compressor', enter a partial article code '80TL' instead of the full 'RD-C80TL', make a typo caused by a keyboard layout switch resulting in 'lrfkm' instead of 'tool', or misspell a brand name by writing 'devolt' instead of DeWalt. In each case, the user interprets the lack of results as the item being out of stock and leaves the site. The module eliminates these errors by automatically correcting queries and showing the site owner exactly what users were searching for.

Installation requires no programmer, which is a key difference from similar solutions that take about an hour to set up and require modifying search component templates. This module integrates via core events: it enriches the standard search index, corrects the query before the component processes it, and connects live suggestions to the search form already present on the site. It works with any template, including Aspro, Sotbit, and 'Sites24'. Setup takes about five minutes, template files remain untouched, and subsequent template updates do not break the module.

The module corrects search queries based on words found in your product catalog titles. Typos are fixed using the catalog dictionary: the input kampressor is converted to kompressor if the latter appears in your assortment. The system automatically recognizes incorrect keyboard layouts: the sequence lrfkm is interpreted as drel. Bidirectional transliteration is supported: the query devolt finds the brand DeWalt, while makita finds Makita. Users can define rules for synonyms and professional jargon as a list where each line contains a rule for converting input into the target term: after configuration, the word bolgarka begins to find angle grinders. Upon successful query correction, the page displays a notification stating that results are shown for the corrected query, with an option to return to the original input.

The module extends the standard 1C-Bitrix search index to solve the problem of lost manufacturer article numbers. The default indexing splits strings by hyphens and slashes and applies morphology, causing the query 6210 to fail to find the item with article 6210/C3, and 80TL to fail to find RD-C80TL. The module automatically adds service tokens to the product search record: the article number without separators, its individual parts, transliteration of the name, and user-defined synonyms. These data are written at the moment the system core forms the index, so they persist after editing the product, exchanging data with 1C, and performing a full re-indexing. The module has no separate index, so it does not need to be rebuilt when settings are changed.

Live suggestions feature. A dropdown list appears below the standard search form on the site, containing products with images, prices, and availability, relevant catalog sections, and popular queries from other visitors. Suggestions and the results page use the same query processing algorithm, which eliminates discrepancies in the output. The list parameters are configurable: the number of displayed products, visibility of prices, and visibility of sections.

Filtering search suggestions. Inactive products, items outside their active period, entries without a price or image, elements from service sections, and entire information blocks can be excluded from the dropdown list using checkboxes. This prevents the system from offering items that cannot be purchased. It is important to note that the results page is generated by the standard Bitrix search mechanism, and these checkboxes do not affect its output. To exclude a product from the standard search results, it must be unpublished or the corresponding section must be closed. If a custom order and specific rules are required for the results page, the package includes a dedicated component for that page.

Handling empty results. The standard search page displays only the single line "nothing found," ending the interaction with the customer. The module adds a help block to this screen, suggesting alternative search terms, relevant catalog sections, and queries used by other users. All information is derived from your site's data without requiring any template modifications. The original "nothing found" message remains in place, and external markup is not touched. The help block can be disabled using a checkbox.

The module generates a report titled 'Searched but not found', logging each search query, the number of repetitions, and the count of times no results were returned. This helps identify products that customers are looking for and words missing from the synonym dictionary. Synonyms can be added to the database with a single click directly from the report row. The log does not store personal data: it records only the query text and counters, excluding IP addresses and visitor identifiers.

Catalog reindexing completes successfully. After installation, a one-time reindexing is required to ensure service tokens are added to existing records. Unlike the standard reindexing process, which often times out and restarts on catalogs containing tens of thousands of items, this mechanism processes data in batches via the browser. The process includes a progress bar, counters, and a 'Stop' button. If interrupted, the operation can be resumed from the exact point where it stopped.

The module does not support voice input, image search, or a proprietary search daemon. It operates on the standard Bitrix index; for catalogs exceeding 300,000 items, Manticore is recommended. Prioritizing search results by availability, images, or specific sections requires adding a single line to the section template, as the standard component manages relevance independently and cannot be overridden without replacement. The architecture uses the D7 API: data reading is performed via ORM, while administrative AJAX requests pass through a controller with session signature, POST method, and module permission verification. A separate public controller provides live suggestions without authentication, performing read-only operations with limits on query length, word count, and response rows. Settings are located on the standard module page with an access rights tab. The system does not transmit telemetry, use external dictionaries, or employ neural networks. Upon installation, it creates two tables: a catalog word dictionary and a query log. During removal, the system prompts to confirm whether to retain this data.

The module requires PHP 8.0 with the mbstring extension enabled, UTF-8 encoding, and search indexing activated. The installer automatically verifies core version compatibility.

General iT can take care of implementing “Smart search: typos, article numbers, live suggestions, and query reports for 1C-Bitrix”, including installation, configuration and result verification.