Site-Wide Search

A local (site-wide) search is a standard UBCMS feature, common on larger or more complex sites.  

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Last reviewed: May 3, 2023

To host a local site-wide search on your UBCMS website, you will first need a 'Search Results' page. Not all site templates have this page, so it may not have been included when your site was first created.

Does Your Site Have a Search Results Page?

In the SItes Console, look in your websites folder (e.g. /content/www/your-site) for a page called 'Search Results' (/content/www/your-site/searchresults).

If your site does not have this page, one can easily be added.

People like to search, but not every site needs one—it all depends on how much content you are providing, and how easy it is for your visitors to find the information they are seeking within your site.

If your site does not have a 'Search Results' page, your Unit Web Leader or Site Manager can request it through by contacting the DCT Help Team.

Our search engtine cannot index secure pages. If you wish to add a search to a password protected area, consider building shared content pages and using a Dynamic List Search.

1- Configure Your Search Results Page

Once your site has a Search Results page, any author can configure it for you. 

The page comes with a Search component preinstalled, which is configured in the same way as the standard Search component.

2- Edit Your Site's Header

Once you have a Search Results page, and it is configured, you are ready to adjust the search box in the site's header.

Only a specialist can edit site configuration files.
For assistance, contact the DCT Help Team

  1. In the Sites Console, navigate to your site's Site-Wide Configuration folder (for example, /content/www/your-site/config/).
  2. Select the Header page and click Edit in the Command Menu that appears at the top of the window.
  3. Select the Search section in the header then click the Configure wrench icon.
    • Search results page - Enter the location of your Search Results page;
      for example, "/content/www/your-site/searchresults"
    • Leave the other two fields blank.

Use the Finder tool to enter the correct location of the Search Results page. A bad path can 'break' your site.

3- Activate Your Search

This assumes your website has been launched and all pages you wish to be indexed are activated. If that is not the case, hold off on activating your search until you are ready to launch your website.

  1. Navigate to your site's Site-Wide Configuration folder (e.g. /content/www/your-site/config/).
    • Publish the Header page.
  2. Navigate to your site's main folder (e.g. /content/www/your-site/).
    • Select your search results page (e.g. /content/www/your-site/searchresults).
    • Publish your search results page from the COmmand Menu.

Please note, a new, 'soft-launched' site is often hidden from search engines so it does not unexpectedly show up in search returns until it has cleared final accessibility and optimization tests and been formally launched. You may need to This is done in the Properties' Advanced tab under Site Visibility. ('No index' should be 'search engines can index site'.)

See an Example

Search Suggestions and Tips for Users

Search Suggestions

The standard UBCMS search box offers 'suggestions' as people type in their search query.  These suggestions are based on actual search queries entered by visitors to ALL of our websites that use our custom search appliance.  

These suggestions cannot be adjusted, but they can be turned off on a site by site basis. Contact the DCT Help Team if you wish to turn them off.

Additional Considerations & Concerns

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