The Similar Entity Search tool enables Uncountable users to quickly identify and compare entities based on shared properties. Common use cases include:
- Searching for similar ingredients based on shared attributes (e.g. molecular weight)
- Searching for similar experiments based on inputs/outputs (e.g. ingredient amounts or test results)
What makes this tool especially powerful is that users define the criteria by which similarity is measured. By adding filters and columns in the Similar Entity Search table you control which attributes drive the comparison.
Accessing Similar Entity Search
You can access Similar Entity Search from any listing within the platform by selecting List → Views → Similar Entity Search. You can also always use “Command + K” or the Quick Actions toolbar option and search for “Similar Entity Search”.
Similar Entity Search for Ingredients
The Similar Entity Search tool allows you to identify similar ingredients based on their ingredients attributes. Learn more about ingredient attributes.
For example, you could use Similar Entity Search to identify similar ingredients with a lower cost or lower toxicity. Or, you might simply need to find a suitable alternative for an ingredient that is no longer available.
Step 1: Select a Target Entity
Start by setting the Entity Type to “Ingredient” and then select your Target Entity (e.g. PMMA).
Step 2: Add Filters and Columns
Filters and columns are used to define the search criteria. To add filters, click the Filters ****button. For example, you may want to filter to a specific material family or ingredient category.
To add columns, click List → Set Columns. In the modal, add attribute columns (e.g. molecular weight).
Step 3: Choose Search Columns
Before running a search, use the Search Columns sections to include or exclude a column as search criteria.
Step 4: Add a Name
Optionally update the auto-generated name in the Name field.
Step 5: Run a Search
Once ready, click the blue Start search button.
Step 6: Interpret Results
The results table ranks ingredients by similarity. Use the Score column to compare similarity scores. A low score = high similarity, while a high score = low similarity.
Note: If any cell is empty, it’s not treated as zero. Instead, an average value (based on all entities in view) is substituted. Click the yellow icon in the Search completed notification to see those values. For example, Urea Formaldehyde and Phenol Formaldehyde Resin, both missing MW values, receive the average value of 122.3.
Step 7: Save Results
Click List → Save to Notebook to save the results to a new or existing notebook.
Step 8: Run Additional Searches
Click Copy Search to adjust filters or columns and rerun the search. Save results to a notebook for side-by-side comparisons.
Similar Entity Search for Experiments
You can also use Similar Entity Search to compare experiments across a schema, based on select experiment inputs and/or outputs. This tool offers a more flexible alternative to the legacy Compare Similar tool, since it allows Uncountable users to specify the criteria for similarity.
Step 1: Select a Target Experiment
Start by setting the Entity Type to “Experiment” and then select your Target Entity (e.g. Exp 2952).
Step 2: Add Filters and Columns
Filters and columns are used to define the search criteria. To add filters, click the Filters ****button. For example, you may want to filter to a specific project (e.g. Josh’s Rubber Demo).
To add columns, click List → Set Columns. In the modal, add columns such as Experiment Ingredient columns (e.g. Polymers A and B) or Experiment Output columns (e.g. Viscosity or Specific Gravity).
When including ingredient columns, you may also specify Quantity Basis or Calculations.
When adding output columns, you have the ability to add specific output conditions.
Step 3: Choose Search Columns
Before running a search, use the Search Columns sections to include or exclude a column as search criteria.
Step 4: Name Your Search
Edit the automatically generated search name, if desired.
Step 5: Start the Search
Click the Start search button to run your first search.
Step 6: Interpret the Results
The results table ranks experiments by similarity. Use the Score column to compare similarity scores. A low score = high similarity, while a high score = low similarity.
Note: As with ingredients, missing values are replaced with the column’s average value. To view the average value used, click the yellow icon in the Search completed notification.
Step 7: Save to a Notebook
Save results using List → Save to Notebook. Choose or create a notebook to store the results.
Step 8: Run More Searches
To iterate with different criteria, click Copy Search, adjust filters and columns, then rerun. All searches can be saved to the Notebook for later review and comparison.
