I'm not typically one to pass along links but...:
http://www.corasworks.net/learning/events/MSD2DJanDownload.html This FREE Web Part from
CorasWorks is a very generous gesture to the SharePoint community. CorasWorks is a
Mindsharp partner too.
Straight from the CorasWorks docs:
The out-of-the-box SharePoint WSS Search performs a full text search through all of the list items and document libraries (including attachments) in the current WSS site. This search box is found in the upper right corner of a WSS SharePoint web page. Searches via the WSS Search box are limited to the current site. Sub-sites cannot be searched without first going into the sub-site.
The WSS Cross-Site Search Web Part performs the same type of search, except it searches through sub-sites as well. In addition, the starting URL for the search can be customized. As a result, a WSS Cross-Site Search web part placed on one site can search for results within another.
The WSS Cross-Site Search Web Part looks something like this (sorry for the gradation in the GIF):
This Web Part can search Lists and Libraries or both (All is the default) for just the current site (just like OOB WSS Search), or include all child sites at a fixed number of levels deep, or even starting at another WSS site. Search results are returned in-situ rather than on a separate results page:
This Web Part is shown grouping by Site Title. I've expanded both sites, they were collapsed when first returned. You cannot choose to have them expanded.
It would be nice if you could choose to specify a results page that looked something like the OOB WSS Search Result page (/_layouts/1033/searchresults.aspx); but you can't. I suppose that CorasWorks didn't want to get involved in messing with the underlying Site Definitions of their clients when the Web Part could handle it all. That said, I can think of some creative ways to use the WSS Cross-Site Search Web Part with other Web Parts on a single page.
Lots of interesting features in the properties:
Web Part Tool Part:
The Tool Pane starts with all the power of the Standard Web Part Tool Part.
Just show search results:
Instead of the user choosing the search criteria, you specify the criteria and they only see the results. Just unselect Show Search Bar.
Specify the URL to start searching from:
It can be different than the current site. That is really cool.
Set the number of levels down to search:
Zero (0) is the default. That means by default, this search will behave very much like the built-in WSS Search. Not sure I understand that choice, but its easy to change. I'd like a flag to search all children regardless of the number of levels deep.
Grouping of the search results:
Results can be grouped by Site URL, Site Title, Title, List Name, Size, Modified By, Date Last Modified, URL. Not sure why this isn't a dropdown list. I really liked this option but the results were returned.
Other nice display properties:
These can be used for advanced grouping, headers, footers, etc.
Limit number of results:
Relatively simple pagination (Next and Previous) then begins. I didn't see a way to limit the total number of results.
No results message:
This text can be specified.
Advanced filtering options:
There are two uses for this property but it will take some practice to make it useful. |
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CorasWorks has even included an FAQ document and a Web Part help link with the Web Part:
http://download.corasworks.net/wpsupport/wsssearch/
Writing a Cross-Site Search Web Part like this has been on my “To Do” list for over a year now. I'm thrilled that CorasWorks did the work and then made their Web Part available to the community. Check out the other Web Parts that they sell commercially:
http://www.CorasWorks.net/Products/
All in all, this is a great Web Part to add to your growing library!