---
title: "How do I configure the refine search?"
date: "2025-01-09T14:22:50+00:00"
summary:
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type: "page"
url: "/acquia-dam/how-do-i-configure-refine-search"
id: "e2527dbb-4c83-42e1-86ac-fb075b2ac495"
---

This article explains how to configure refine search in classic search. [Acquia DAM's redesigned search experience](/acquia-dam/what-redesigned-asset-search-experience "What is the redesigned asset search experience?") offers even more refine search options. 

As an Acquia DAM admin, you can choose the fields that appear and the order they appear in for your users in the [Refine Search](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-refine-searches "How do I refine searches?") area. For instance, if metadata is most important for helping them quickly find the assets they need, metadata filtering options can be shown before any other filtering options. Or if file types are a preferred searching method, that filtering option can be shown before other options. It's really up to you and what works best for your site and your users.  
  
You can also choose to not have refine search filters display. If searching document text or for assets with attached documents isn't done at all, you can choose to have those fields not display in the Refine Search area.  
  
Here are the fields that can be reordered and shown (or not):

*   Animation: Find [animated GIF](/acquia-dam/what-are-animated-gifs "What are animated GIFs?") files.
*   Asset status: Find released, unreleased, and expired assets.
*   Attached documents: Find assets with attached documents, such as release forms and licenses.
*   Categories: Find assets by relevant child [categories](How-do-I-add-assets-to-categories).
*   Comments: Find assets with public [comments](Tell-me-more-about-comments).
*   Document search: [Search document text](/acquia-dam/how-document-text-searched "How is document text searched?") for search terms entered in the [quick search](How-do-I-search-for-assets). If you choose to display it, the search document text filter can only appear at the top or bottom of the refine search area.
*   File types: Find PDFs, videos, documents, images, and compressed archives.
*   Metadata: Find assets with specific [metadata](What-is-metadata). Metadata fields can be further [filtered](/acquia-dam/how-do-i-create-edit-or-remove-metadata-fields "How do I create, edit, or remove metadata fields?") in refine searches.
*   Orientation: Find assets by horizontal, vertical, or square layouts.
*   Ratings: Find assets that have been [rated](How-do-I-rate-assets) from one to five stars.
*   Spinsets: Find [360° images](Is-360-degree-photography-supported-in-the-Collective).

You must have the Administrate Refine Search [permission](What-does-each-permission-mean) to update the refine search display.  
  
The refine search can be configured from the Admin app by selecting Search Settings in the left navigation, then Refine Search. Drag and drop the filters into the order you want or click the arrows to move them up and down into a preferred order.

![refine search filters in the admin app](https://acquia.widen.net/content/375069f9-a253-40c1-bb2a-f5e7ee02b625/web/ka0Pb0000006qK500N6g00000WDN1a0EM6g000005LvRG.png)

Sort child categories and metadata
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You can also choose to have child categories and metadata sorted in the refine search.  
  
Sort child categories by the highest number of results (child categories with the most assets included display before those with fewer assets) or child category order (alphabetically).  
  
Metadata fields (e.g. color) will always be sorted alphabetically in refine search. Metadata values (e.g. blue, green) can be sorted by asset count (metadata values with the most assets display before those with the least) or by admin order (values display in the order an admin selected when setting up this field).