Overview
The AI search mode feature in Fess allows you to search for information through natural conversational interaction, in addition to traditional keyword search. When you enter a question, the AI assistant analyzes the search results and generates easy-to-understand answers.
Features of AI Search Mode
Conversational Search
Instead of thinking of keywords, you can ask questions as you would in normal conversation.
Examples:
“How do I install Fess?”
“How can I crawl files?”
“What should I do if search results don’t appear?”
Context-Aware Answers
The AI assistant understands the intent of your questions and compiles related information into answers. It extracts and organizes necessary information from multiple search results.
Source Citation
AI responses clearly cite the sources (reference documents). When you want to verify the accuracy of an answer, you can directly refer to the original documents.
Conversation Continuation
You’re not limited to a single question; you can continue the conversation. You can ask additional questions based on the context of previous questions and answers.
How to Use Chat Search
Starting a Chat
Access the Fess search screen
Click the chat icon at the bottom right of the screen
The chat panel will be displayed
Entering a Question
Enter your question in the text box
Click the send button or press Enter
The AI assistant will generate an answer
Note
Generating an answer may take a few seconds. During processing, the current phase (searching, analyzing, etc.) is displayed.
Reviewing the Answer
The AI assistant’s answer will be displayed. Answers include the following information:
Answer Body: Detailed answer to your question
Sources: Links to the source documents (in the format [1], [2], etc.)
Click on source links to view the original documents.
Continuing the Conversation
If you have additional questions, you can continue to ask:
“Please tell me more details”
“Are there other methods?”
“More about [topic]”
The AI assistant will respond considering the context of the previous conversation.
Starting a New Conversation
If you want to ask about a different topic, click the “New Chat” button. This clears the conversation history and starts a new conversation.
Tips for Effective Questions
Be Specific
Specific questions yield more appropriate answers than vague ones.
| Vague Question | Specific Question |
|---|---|
| How do I configure it? | How do I change memory settings in Fess? |
| I’m getting an error | I’m getting an “index not found” error when searching |
| About crawling | How do I set up exclusions when crawling websites? |
Include Background Information
Including context and purpose helps get more appropriate answers.
Good examples:
“I’m running Fess in a Docker environment. How do I change the log storage location?”
“I’m using Fess for the first time. What should I do first?”
Ask Step by Step
Complex issues become easier to understand when asked step by step.
“Can Fess crawl file shares?”
“How do I connect using the SMB protocol?”
“What should I do for shared folders that require authentication?”
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: The chat feature doesn’t appear
A: The chat feature may not be enabled. Please check with your system administrator whether the AI mode feature is enabled.
Q: It takes a long time for answers to appear
A: Since the AI analyzes search results and generates answers, it may take a few to several seconds. During processing, the current phase (“Searching”, “Analyzing”, “Generating response”, etc.) is displayed.
Q: The answer sources seem incorrect
A: Click the source link to check the original document. While the AI generates answers based on search results, interpretations may sometimes be incorrect. For important information, we recommend verifying with the original documents.
Q: It seems to have forgotten the previous conversation
A: The session may have timed out. After a certain period of inactivity, the conversation history is cleared. Please start a new conversation.
Q: I can’t get an answer for a specific question
A: The following possibilities exist:
There is no related information in the documents being searched
The question is too vague to search properly
Rate limits have been reached
Try rephrasing your question or wait a moment before trying again.
Q: Can I ask questions in languages other than English?
A: Yes, depending on the configuration, you can often ask questions in other languages. The AI recognizes the language of the question and attempts to respond in the same language.
Notes
About AI Responses
AI responses are generated based on search results
Accuracy of responses is not guaranteed
For important decisions, always verify with the original documents
Check official documentation for the latest information
About Privacy
Your questions are used for search and AI processing
Conversation history is deleted after the session ends
Logs may be recorded depending on system configuration
References
AND Search - How to Use AND Search
NOT Search - How to Use NOT Search
Field-Specified Search - How to Use Field Search
Advanced Search - Advanced Search Features