Try Semantic Search¶

Learn how to find documents by meaning using Archivus's powerful semantic search in the web interface.

What is Semantic Search?¶

Semantic search finds documents by meaning, not just keywords. It understands what you're looking for even if the exact words don't appear in the document.

How to Search¶

Quick Search (Command Palette)¶

1. Press Cmd+K (or Ctrl+K on Windows/Linux)
2. Type your search query
3. Results appear instantly
4. Click a result to open the document

Search Page (Advanced)¶

1. Click "Search" in the sidebar
2. Or go to /search page
3. Full search interface with filters and options

Search Modes¶

Semantic Search (Default)¶

Finds documents by meaning:

1. Select "Semantic" mode (default)
2. Type natural language query
3. Results ranked by relevance

Keyword Search¶

Finds exact word matches:

1. Select "Text" or "Keyword" mode
2. Type exact keywords
3. Results with exact matches

Auto Mode (Recommended)¶

Automatically chooses best mode:

1. Select "Auto" mode
2. Archivus decides semantic vs keyword
3. Best of both worlds

Using Filters¶

Filter by Folder¶

1. Click "Filter" in search page
2. Select a folder
3. Search only in that folder

Use case: "Find contracts in Legal folder"

Filter by Tag¶

1. Click "Filter"
2. Select a tag
3. Search only tagged documents

Use case: "Find all documents tagged 'Q4-2025'"

Filter by Date¶

1. Click "Filter"
2. Select date range
3. Search documents from that period

Use case: "Find documents from last quarter"

Filter by Type¶

1. Click "Filter"
2. Select file type (PDF, Word, etc.)
3. Search only that type

Use case: "Find all PDF contracts"

Understanding Results¶

Relevance Score¶

Each result shows a relevance score (0.0 to 1.0):

Result Information¶

Each result shows:

• Document name - Click to open
• AI summary - Quick overview
• Relevance score - How well it matches
• Highlights - Matching text snippets
• Metadata - Date, size, tags

Search Tips¶

Use Natural Language¶

Be Specific¶

Combine with Filters¶

Example:

1. Filter: Legal folder
2. Query: "contracts expiring soon"
3. Result: Only contracts in Legal folder expiring soon

Example Searches¶

Finding Expiring Contracts¶

Query: "contracts expiring soon"

Filters:

• Folder: Contracts
• Date: Next 90 days

Result: All contracts expiring in the next 90 days

Finding Related Documents¶

Query: "documents similar to this contract"

How:

1. Open a contract document
2. Search for "similar contracts" or "related documents"
3. Archivus finds documents with similar content

Finding by Concept¶

Query: "employee health insurance benefits"

Finds:

• Health insurance plans
• Benefit summaries
• Coverage documents
• Enrollment forms
• Policy documents

Even if they don't contain exact words!

Advanced Search Features¶

Saved Searches¶

1. Perform a search
2. Click "Save Search"
3. Name your search
4. Access anytime from saved searches

Use case: "Q4 Contracts" saved search

Search History¶

• Recent searches shown in dropdown
• Click to rerun previous searches
• Clear history if needed

Search Suggestions¶

As you type, Archivus suggests:

• Recent searches
• Popular searches
• Auto-complete suggestions

Troubleshooting¶

No Results Found¶

If search returns no results:

1. Check spelling - Verify query spelling
2. Try broader terms - Use more general words
3. Remove filters - Filters might be too restrictive
4. Check document processing - Documents must be processed
5. Try semantic mode - If using keyword, try semantic

Too Many Results¶

If too many results:

1. Add filters - Filter by folder, tag, or date
2. Be more specific - Narrow your query
3. Use date filters - Limit to specific time period
4. Filter by type - Search specific file types

Results Not Relevant¶

If results aren't what you want:

1. Rephrase query - Try different wording
2. Use filters - Narrow the search scope
3. Check relevance scores - Focus on high-scoring results
4. Try keyword mode - If semantic isn't working

Best Practices¶

Before Searching¶

• Organize documents - Folders and tags help
• Let AI process - Wait for documents to be fully processed
• Use descriptive names - Better filenames = better search

While Searching¶

• Start broad - Then narrow with filters
• Use natural language - Ask like you're talking
• Try different queries - If first doesn't work, rephrase
• Check highlights - See why documents matched

After Searching¶

• Save useful searches - For quick access later
• Review results - Check relevance scores
• Refine if needed - Adjust query and filters
• Open documents - Click to view full document

Next Steps¶

• Chat with Documents - Ask questions about search results
• Search Guide - Advanced search features
• Semantic Search Guide - Deep dive into semantic search
• Open Archivus - Try searching now!