--- title: Exclude rules for search slug: o5se0329 canonical_url: https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5se0329/ collection: coveo-merchandising-hub source_format: adoc --- # Exclude rules for search In the [Search manager](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p63f0210/) of the [Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH)](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5290573/), merchandisers can define _exclude_ filter rules to hide specific products from the search results. Exclude filter rules can apply to all [queries](https://docs.coveo.com/en/231/) or to one or more specific queries. They can also be scheduled for a specific time, letting merchandisers plan and execute their strategies more effectively. ![Exclude rule for search | Coveo](https://docs.coveo.com/en/assets/images/coveo-for-commerce/images/cmh/cmh-search-exclude-rule.png) ## Use case examples Exclude filter rules can be used to address a variety of use cases. Here are a few examples: * For a specific query, you want to ensure that products from a specific category or with specific attributes are excluded from the search results. For example, when a [visitor](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) searches for "Kayak," you want to ensure that products from the `canoe` category are excluded from the search results. * You want to hide products that are out of stock from the search results. * When your [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) search for a specific brand, you want to hide products from a competitor brand. ## Prerequisites Before you create rules in the [Coveo Merchandising Hub (CMH)](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o5290573/): * In the [Coveo Administration Console](https://docs.coveo.com/en/183/), [map](https://docs.coveo.com/en/217/) the [metadata](https://docs.coveo.com/en/218/) that you want to use as attributes in rules to the corresponding [fields](https://docs.coveo.com/en/200/). These [fields](https://docs.coveo.com/en/200/) must have the **Facet** or **Multi-value facet** option enabled. For example, to use the `color` [metadata](https://docs.coveo.com/en/218/) as an attribute in a rule, [map](https://docs.coveo.com/en/217/) it to a [field](https://docs.coveo.com/en/200/) with the **Facet** or **Multi-value facet** option enabled. * [Create query pipelines](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o48e0216#storefront-associations-and-query-pipelines). * [Choose the correct property](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o6lb0453#property-and-locale-selectors) to ensure that your changes affect the intended queries. ## Create exclude rules To create exclude rules . In the CMH, access the **Search** manager. . From the navigation tabs, select **filter rules** and then click **Create filter rule**. . Under **This rule will apply to**, define the scope of the rule. .. **Locale**: Select the [locale](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4tf0351/) that the exclude rule applies to. By default, a rule applies to all available [locales](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4tf0351/). .. **Audiences**: Select the audience that the exclude rule will target. You can choose between predefined audience profiles or create custom profiles. You can only select one audience profile per rule. > **Important** > > The **Audience** option is currently in early access. > Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) to enable this option. *** **All visitors**: By default, the rule applies to all [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/). *** **Device & technology**: Target [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) visiting a [storefront](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p33g0410/) using a specific device type. The device type is determined by the information sent by the [visitor](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/)'s browser, not by the device's screen size. Available options are: **** **Desktop**: Encompasses desktop computers and laptops. **** **Mobile**: Encompasses all mobile phones. **** **Tablet**: Encompasses all tablets. *** **Visitor type**: Target the [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) who are logged into the [storefront](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p33g0410/) or those who aren't. *** **Your audiences**: Create a custom audience profile that you can reuse in other rules sharing the same [property](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/). After a custom audience profile is created, it can't be changed once the rule is published. If all rules containing a custom audience profile are deleted, the custom audience profile will no longer be available as an option when creating new rules. **** **Visitor URL**: Target [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) based on the URL of the [storefront](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p33g0410/) page they're on. **** **Referrer URL**: Target [visitors](https://docs.coveo.com/en/nbub9475/) based on the URL they came from before landing on the [storefront](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p33g0410/). .. [.initial]**query**: Choose whether the exclude rule applies to all queries or to one or more specific queries. *** To apply the exclude rule to all queries: .... Select **All queries**. You won't be able to select an operator or any specific queries. .... Click **Done**. *** To apply the exclude rule to specific queries: .... Select **Specific queries**. .... Select an **Operator**. ***** `Is`: This operator identifies queries that exactly match the specified value. For example, you can use it to create a rule that only targets the query `accessories`. ***** `Contains`: This operator identifies [queries](https://docs.coveo.com/en/231/) where the specified value is found within the full value of the [query](https://docs.coveo.com/en/231/). For example, you can use it to create a rule that targets all [queries](https://docs.coveo.com/en/231/) containing the term `accessories`, including `Surf accessories` and `Parts & accessories`. .... Select one or more [.initial]**queries** that the exclude rule applies to. .... Click **Done**. . Under **Choose an action**, select [.initial]**exclude**. . Under **Attribute**, select the attribute on which you want to apply the exclude rule. For example, to exclude products based on their brand, select `ec_brand`. . Under **Operator**, select the [operator](https://docs.coveo.com/en/o2gc0008/) that you want to use. . Under **Value**, select one or more attribute values that you want to use to filter products. For example, to exclude products based on the `ec_brand` attribute, enter the brand value that you want to use as a filter, such as **Barca Sports**. . (Optional) To add more attribute-value pairs to the exclude rule, click **Add attribute** and repeat the process. . Click **Next: Review and publish**. . Review your rule configuration. > **Leading practices** > > Use the panel on the right to preview how the rule affects > the search results for a given [locale](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4tf0351/). > > The preview is an approximate simulation that won't cover every scenario encountered in a live environment. . Click **Next: Publish**. . Under **Rule name**, enter a meaningful name for your rule. . Under **Choose when to publish**, select one of the following: ** To apply the rule immediately, select **Publish now**. ** To set a schedule for the rule, select **Set a schedule**, and then select the time frame in which the rule should apply. . Click **Publish now**. The rule now applies or will apply as scheduled. ## Modify exclude rules To modify exclude rules . In the CMH, access the **Search** manager. . From the navigation tabs, select **filter rules**. . Locate the rule that you want to modify. . Click [dots], and then click **Modify**. . You can modify the rule's scope (**Locale**, **Audiences**, or [.initial]**query**) or its configuration by clicking **Edit** on the relevant card. These are the same settings covered in the [rule creation](#create-exclude-rules) section. > **Important** > > The **Audience** option is currently in early access. > Contact your Customer Success Manager (CSM) to enable this option. . When you've finished editing the rule, or to modify its publishing settings, click **Next: Publish**. . Update the publishing settings, if applicable, and then click **Publish now**. The modified rule now applies, or will apply as scheduled. ## Copy exclude rules To copy exclude rules . In the CMH, access the **Search** manager. . From the navigation tabs, select **filter rules**. . Locate the rule that you want to copy. . Click [dots], and then click **Copy to...**. . In the **Copy rule** modal that opens, you can choose whether to copy the rule to other [properties](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/) or queries. If the rule applies to all queries, you won't see the option to copy the rule to other queries. ** To copy the rule to other [properties](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/): ... Select **Property** and click **Next**. ... Use the dropdown menu to select one or more [properties](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/). > **Important** > > If the rule is scoped to one or more queries that > don't exist in the target [property](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/), you'll see an error message and be unable to proceed with the copy. > > The error message will list the queries that are missing from the destination [property](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/). ... Click **Confirm copy**. ** To copy the rule to other queries (if applicable): ... Select [.initial]**query** and click **Next**. ... Use the dropdown menu to select one or more queries. ... Click **Confirm copy**. The rule is copied to the target [properties](https://docs.coveo.com/en/p4ue0547/) or queries. ## Delete exclude rules To delete exclude rules . In the CMH, access the **Search** manager. . From the navigation tabs, select **filter rules**. . Locate the rule that you want to delete. . Click [dots], and then click **Delete**. . Click **Delete** again to confirm. The rule is deleted.