# Decompose Compound Words

You can configure the IDOL Content component to automatically separate a compound word into root words at both index and query time. For example, the German word for bicycle pump is a single word Fahrradpumpe that can be divided into Fahrrad and Pumpe.

To specify decomposition

1. Create a text file. Use the following format:

       [UTF8]
       rollercoaster roller coaster
       hemidemisemiquaver hemi demi semi quaver

   Each line defines the decomposition for one word. The first word on a line is broken into the remaining words on the line.

2. Store the text file in the `langfiles` directory of your IDOL Content component installation.

3. Open the IDOL Content component configuration file in a text editor.

4. For each language that the decomposition file applies to, specify the file name in the `DecompositionFile` configuration parameter. For example:

       [German]
       DecompositionFile=german_decomp.txt

NOTE: Each of the terms in the output from the decomposition is also stemmed.

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