Parametric search allows customers to select a few key product attributes and quickly obtain a list of compatible products.

Parametric search is particularly valuable for knowledgeable customers who can set filters based on a range of values to find the products that best meet their needs. Keywords can be entered to narrow a search.

Advanced search capabilities all but eliminate the prospect of a "sorry, no match" result. If no products match all the parameters specified by the customer, the search returns a table of products that meet a subset of the parameters. The customer can then check if any of these near-matches will work for this application.

For example, if no product meets all five parameters specified on a search, there may be a product that meets four of the parameters. Other products may meet a different set of four parameters or meet three parameters. Side-by-side comparisons can be displayed of the products returned by a search.

Any number of product attributes can be defined and associated with a product. These attributes can store the kind of feature criteria typically used for parametric searches, e.g. color, size and speed.

Product attributes can also contain non-feature content such as cross-selling information and promotional dates. Using non-feature attributes, parametric searches can guide customers to products that are on sale or in stock.

ContentStudio makes it simple to manage product attributes. Selecting attributes to display on search forms and in comparison tables is as simple as clicking on check boxes.

Attributes can be grouped into attribute sets, e.g a "motor" attribute set might include horsepower, torque and gear ratio attributes. Any number of attribute sets can be associated with a product.

Attributes and attribute sets can be "inherited" across entire product lines. For example, if a manufacturer adds a new pump to the product database, the motor attribute set can be automatically associated with the new product.