The
Content Search Web Part or CSWP is basically a web part that has been
introduced in the latest version of the advanced web application
development platform, SharePoint 2013. The web part makes use of the
different modes and options of styling for the purpose of displaying
content of varying dimensions on the SP pages.
A Quick Overview of Content Search Web Part
The
good thing about CSWP is that it displays the search results in a
typical manner, allowing users to format the same rather easily. Now,
each of it is associated with a particular search query and it is the
results of this search query that the feature displays. On the other
hand, if you want to change the way in which the results appear on the
pages, you have the option of using the display templates. The display
templates are basically snippets of HTML and JavaScript that are
responsible for rendering information that is returned by SP. The
information awaiting display is inserted in the JSON format into the
page.
When To Use CSWP and CQWP?
CSWP
is capable of returning any content from the search index. This can be
used on the SP 2013 sites at the time of connecting to a search service
and getting back to the already indexed search results in the pages. The
freshness of the content is determined by the number of crawls. Instant
content or the fresh versions of the same can be displayed by means of
using the Content Query Web Part (CQWP) instead of CSWP. This feature
can also be used for displaying the minor versions of the content, which
is otherwise, not facilitated by the search crawls. Yet another
advantage of the feature is that it offers to display results from sites
that are marked to be non- indexed by the site collection
administrators.
How to Use the Feature?
Organizations,
trying to make the most of this new feature in SP 2013, must follow the
required steps in using the CSWP. Here is a brief overview:
- To begin with, the 'my community site' needs to be edited and the CSWP needs to be added. The latter is found in the Content Rollup category.
- Configuration of the feature can be done by means of clicking anywhere in the same and following this, choosing the tab, from which the feature’s Properties needs to be clicked.
- A query has to be setup and for this, one should click on the Change Query from the properties box.
- A Query dialog box consisting of four tabs namely the Basics, Refiners, Settings and Test, will open up. The Basics tab will offer you with the chance to see the Switch to Advanced Mode and eventually, click on the Switch to Quick Mode. The query will begin from the Quick mode.
- Reaching the Select a Query menu, one can either choose items that match a tag or pictures. Querying documents or items that suit a particular content type is also facilitated.
- With the Restrict by app option, one can query the current site, current site collection, specific URL or go for the Don't restrict results by app option. The Restrict on this tag option should be chosen.
- Additional filters can be added here or the advanced mode can be checked out for other options. The Refiners tab, on the other hand, allows further filtering of the queries.
- The Settings tab has additional options in the form of the Query rules while the Test tab offers the final query text for the purpose of testing. On finishing, one needs to click OK at the bottom of the Build Your Query dialog box.
- Setting up the way in which the results will be displayed is the final step in the process.
Knowing
about the ways in which the CSWP works helps in making the best
implementation of this beneficial feature of SharePoint 2013. You can hire developers from top SharePoint development companies in India who can help you build products within allocated budgets and time schedules.
We provide sharepoint porting services. If you would like to hire sharepoint programmers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.
