Enable indexing of referenced table fields for an AI Search indexed source

  • Release version: Yokohama
  • Updated July 28, 2025
  • 2 minutes to read
  • Configure an indexed source to index field values from tables referenced by fields in the source table. You can index these field values for use in filters and EVAM search result configurations, index them for search, or both.

    Before you begin

    You must have an indexed source configured for the source table. For details on creating an indexed source for a table, see Create an indexed source.

    Role required: ais_admin

    About this task

    When an indexed source table includes a reference field, AI Search defaults to indexing values for the reference field but not for other fields on the table that it references. To index values from these referenced table fields, you can create dot_walk_fields and searchable_dot_walk_fields field settings on your indexed source table.
    • To use field values from referenced tables in search source filters, facet filters, and EVAM search result configurations, create a dot_walk_fields field setting.
    • To make field values from referenced tables searchable, create a searchable_dot_walk_fields field setting.

    As the value for either of these field settings, list the names of the referenced table fields you want to index, separated by commas. For example, to index the name and city fields from the table referenced by the company field on the indexed source table, select the company field and enter value name,city.

    To dot-walk across multiple tables, you can enter field name values with dot-separated reference field prefixes. For example, enter value company.contact.name to index the name field in the table referenced by the contact field on the table referenced by the indexed source table's company reference field.
    Note:
    Each dot-walk reference level imposes a performance impact on indexing. Avoid using multi-level references unless necessary.

    You can create both dot_walk_fields and searchable_dot_walk_fields field settings for the same reference field.

    Procedure

    1. Navigate to All > AI Search > AI Search Index > Indexed Sources.
    2. In the Field Settings & Mapping related list, select New.
    3. On the Field Setting form, enter the field values shown for your use-case.
      • To index field values from referenced tables for use in search source filters, facet filters, and EVAM search result configurations, enter the following field values.
        Field Value
        Attribute dot_walk_fields
        Field <name of indexed source table reference field that you want to use to dot-walk to another table>
        Value <comma-separated list of names for fields that you want to index from the referenced table>
      • To index field values from referenced tables as searchable text, enter the following field values.
        Field Value
        Attribute searchable_dot_walk_fields
        Field <name of indexed source table reference field that you want to use to dot-walk to another table>
        Value <comma-separated list of names for fields that you want to index from the referenced table>
      Note:
      If the dot_walk_fields and searchable_dot_walk_fields attributes don't appear in the Attribute selection list, ensure that your Field selection is a reference field.
    4. Select Submit.
      The attribute and value appear in the Field Settings & Mapping related list.