Working with Searchable Property Groups

All searchable properties must be part of exactly one group, though a simple solution might include just one group. At run time, the search form is created by an Search & Preview Search Dialog Web Part, which provides input fields for each property that belongs to one or more selected groups. You might, therefore, group your searchable properties to limit the properties displayed in some situations or to use different types of presentation for each of several groups. On the Searchable Properties page, property groups are shown in left-justified bold type; the properties belonging to each group are shown in standard type, indented below their group name.

Creating a New Property Group

You are not able to create a new, empty property group. Instead, you must create or edit an existing property and then use controls on the property-configuration page to create the new group, thereby adding the selected property to that group at the same time. To do this:

1. Go to the Searchable Properties page for the site level and tab for which you want to create the new property group as described in “The Searchable Properties Page”.

2. Create a new property using the toolbar or edit an existing property using the actions menu, also as described in “The Searchable Properties Page”. You should now be on the Edit/Add/Overwrite Searchable Property page.

3. Click on the New Group link in the Property Group section to open a pop-up dialog for defining the new group.

Make the following settings:

 ID: Enter an ID code for the group. This is only used internally. It must be unique among all property groups and must not include any spaces. Note that if you enter the ID of a group that is already defined further down in the site hierarchy, then that group will be promoted to the current level and marked as inherited at its original level.
 Name: Enter a name for the group as it should be presented on the Searchable Properties page.
 Description: Enter a short description for the group. This will help remind yourself and other administrators about the intended purpose of the group.

4. Click OK to close the new-group window. The new group is now created your selected property has become a member of that group.

Editing Property Groups

A property group’s settings include its ID, name, and description. Once a group is created, you can no longer change its ID, but you can edit its name and description at any site level as follows:

1. Go to the Searchable Properties page for the site level and tab for which you want to create the new property group as described in “The Searchable Properties Page”.

2. Click on the target group name and select Edit Property Group from the action menu.

3. You should now be on the Edit Search Properties Group page.

Make the following settings:

 Name: Enter a name for the group as it should be presented on the Searchable Properties page at the current level and below.
 Description: Enter a short description for the group. This will help remind yourself and other administrators about the intended purpose of the group.

4. Click OK to close the Edit Search Properties Group page and store your settings.

Deleting Property Groups

To delete a property group, you must work using the Searchable Properties page for the site level at which you defined the group—you cannot delete groups inherited from a higher level. When you delete the group, all properties that belong to that group and are defined at the same site level will also be deleted. However, if new properties were added to the group at a child site level, then the group will remain available at that level and the properties defined at that level and below will remain. To delete a property group:

1. Go to the Searchable Properties page for the site level and tab for which you want to create the new property group as described in “The Searchable Properties Page”.

2. Click on the target group name and select Delete Group from the action menu.

Populating Property Groups

Whenever you create a new searchable property you must select the property group to which it belongs. Similarly, you can move properties between groups by editing each property ‘s configuration. See “Creating and Configuring Searchable Properties” for details about how to make these settings.

See “The Searchable Properties Page” for details about how to position properties within a group and how to position groups relative to each other.