# Expand Exact Phrase Searches

QMS does not apply synonym rules to exact phrase searches unless you set the parameter `ExpandPhrases` to `TRUE`. For example, with the default configuration, if a user searches for `"software development kit"` (including the quotation marks), QMS does not modify the query.

To change the default behavior and apply synonym rules to exact phrase searches, set `ExpandPhrases=TRUE` in the `[Server]` section of the configuration file. The default setting can also be overidden for specific actions by setting the `ExpandPhrases` action parameter.

For example, you might create the following synonym rule:

    #DREREFERENCE sdk_synonyms
    #DRETITLE sdk synonyms
    #DREDBNAME ACTIVATED
    #DREFIELD QMSTYPE="4"
    #DREFIELD QMSAGENTBOOL="SDK software development kit"
    #DREFIELD KEYWORDS="SDK,software development kit"
    #DREFIELD CONCEPT="SYNONYM(SDK "software development kit")"
    #DREFIELD DATABASERESTRICTION=""
    #DRECONTENT
    SDK software development kit
    #DREENDDOC

You can then send queries to QMS:

- The following action demonstrates the default behavior:

      /action=ExpandText&Text="software development kit"&ExpandPhrases=FALSE

  QMS returns the following (unmodified) query:

      "software development kit"

- The following action demonstrates `ExpandPhrases=TRUE`.

      /action=ExpandText&Text="software development kit"&ExpandPhrases=TRUE

  QMS uses your synonym rule to expand the exact phrase and returns the following (expanded) query:

      SYNONYM(SDK "software development kit")

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