= SIMPLIX =

    -----------------------------------------------------------------
    Keywords Have a New Format

    In an effort to make keyword matching easier and more user friendly Simplix is changing how keywords are entered. You will not need to change what you currently have. We will make those changes for you. Any changes you make after Sunday, 9 September 2000, will need to be done in the new manner. Existing keyword lists will be converted when the new system goes into effect.

    Each keyword (or key phrase) will still go onto a line by itself.

    Case will continue to be irrelevant. CAT or cat will match CaT and caT etc.

    Wildcard matching will now be done.

    Keyword processing now recognizes two special "wildcard" characters:

      ? matches zero or one character.

      * matches a string of zero or more characters up to the end of a word.

    For example:
    Keyword
    		 What It Matches
    bat will match the word bat and nothing else.
    It will be deliminated by spaces, punctuation, new lines etc.
    bat? will match bat or bats,
    but not batch.
    bat?? will match bat, bats, or batch,
    but not batteries
    bat* will match bat, bats, batch, batteries, etc.
    In other words, any single word beginning with the letters b-a-t.
    *bate will match rebate, abate, probate, etc.
    In other words, any single word ending with the letters b-a-t-e.
    *bat?? will match rebate and rebates.

    Specifying Effective Keywords

    What are good keywords? The answer depends on what goods and services your company offers. You may want to use:

    • Your company name, product name, or cage code
    • The company name and/or the cage code of your suppliers
    • The name and/or cage code of your competitors
    • A manufacturer name and/or cage code
    • A particular model number
    • Specific industry terms

    You can test your keywords using the Simplix Search option on your client account home page. (Note that the Simplix Search does not currently support wildcard characters.)

    There are two sets of keywords. It is important that you understand that keywords match all listings. There is no limitation by federal supply class or by geographic location. It is also important to understand that there are two distinct sets of keywords.

    • Keywords for RFQs - These keywords will match electronically biddable items. Here you will probably want more specific terms. National Stock Numbers (NSNs), CAGE codes, product names, etc.

    • Keywords for CBD and other text opportunities - Including Commerce Business Daily, state and local opportunities, FedBizOpps (formerly EPS), Canadian opportunities (MERX) and others. These keywords match text-based opportunities that are not biddable via normal EDI channels. You will probably want a more general term here.

    To see the maximum number of opportunities you need to use keywords for both lists.

    Case is irrelevant -- do not concern yourself about upper and lowercase. However 0 (zero) and O (oh) are different as are 1 (one) and l (el).


    Examples of Good Keywords
    Item
    		 Keyword
    Example
    		 Comments
    CAGE code 0W489 Just the CAGE code and nothing else.

    ?W489 If you are concerned that someone will type an O instead of a 0, you can use the ? wildcard in its place. This will match 0W489 and oW489, but will also match FW489 and 9W489.
    National Stock Number
    (NSN)    		 123?45?678?9012 This will match any of the following:

      123-45-678-9012
      123456789012
      123 45 678 9012
      123.45.678.9012
      123x45y678z9012
      12345.6789012
    Partial word matches tre* This will match tree and tread.

    *tre* This will match tree, tread, distress, etc.
    Multiple word matches fresh fruit* This will match any of the following:

      fresh fruit
      fresh fruits
      fresh fruitcake

    but will not match:

      fresh green fruit

    fruit??cake This will match any of the following:

      fruitcake
      fruit cake
      fruit, cake

    but will not match:

      fruit!! cake
      fruit-flavored cake


    Examples of BAD Keywords
    Item
    		 Keyword
    Example
    		 Comments
    Lists of words frog, cat, dog, This will only work if the entire phrase is found in the message. In other words, it will not find:

      frog
      cat
      dog
      cat, dog
      frog, cat
      frog, cat, dog?
    The only thing it will find is:

      frog, cat, dog,
    Be sure to put each keyword (or key phrase) on a line by itself.

    Quoted words "frog" This will only work if the word or phrase is appears surrounded by double qoutes in the message. In other words, it will not find:

      frog
      'frog'
      (frog)
    The only thing it will find is:

      "frog"
    Do not put special character in the keywork (or key phrase) unless you want to look for those specific special characters.

    Limitations

    We will ignore keywords that do not contain at least 2 alphanumeric characters or 4 numbers.

    A maximum of 2016 keywords may be entered for each set of keywords (Keyword by RFQ and Keyword by CBD).

    FSC matches will not be duplicated by keyword matches. If you are using FSC and the keyword is contained in that message you will only receive one copy of the message.

    --//-------------------------------------------------------------
    Simplix - Information and Imagination in Action / Contact us . . .
    Copyright © 2000-2004 by Simplix