Configure Descriptive Flexfields for Adaptive Search

Adaptive Search supports selected descriptive flexfields (DFFs) for searching, filtering, and creating saved searches similar to the way you use standard attributes when performing a search. Global DFFs and context sensitive DFFs are supported but extensible and key flexfields aren't searchable.

A global DFF is a field that's always visible and supports the Format Only, Subset, and Dependent value sets. A context sensitive DFF is a field that's conditionally displayed based on context. For example, you define multiple contexts and associate segments to them. The segment displayed is based on the selected context.

Descriptive flexfields are available for the following Adaptive Search objects. The names of corresponding DFF child objects are also listed:

Object	DFF child object
Account	Organization Dynamic Flexfields
Contract	Contract Header Additional Information
Subscription	Subscription Additional Inform

Here are the steps to configure descriptive flexfields for Adaptive Search:

1. Define the supported DFFs in your target object (for example, Accounts). See Overview of Flexfields for more information.
2. Select Deploy Flexfield to deploy the DFFs changes.
3. After the flexfield deployment is complete, go to the Configure Adaptive Search task.

   Your deployed descriptive flexfields will display under the DFF child object for the selected object. Global segments appear as fields while context-sensitive segments appear as child objects.

4. Select the fields you want to add to Adaptive Search so you can search and filter on them.
5. Save your changes and run a full or partial Publish in Adaptive Search.

   You can change the UI configuration for the selected fields. For example, you can adjust visibility, define groups for choice list and date fields, and enable Group By and so on.

   Changes made to DFF values are reflected in search results after the Publish job completes successfully.

6. Go to the object list page (for example, the Accounts list page) and add the recently created descriptive flexfields as filters to filter the data. Just like any other standard or custom fields, you can also add these flexfields as columns so their values appear on the list.