XML indexing lets site visitors search XML information collected from Smart Forms and view the results. The results appear as a list of topic titles, optionally followed by the content summary. The Ektron Windows Service manages the background processing that creates XML indexes. See Also: Ektron Windows Service.
There are 2 ways that XML indexing can make XML content available to your site visitors.
You can choose the XML fields to index with the Data Designer. You can also validate those fields to be numbers, dates, Boolean, or string values. After you identify fields to be indexed, a search dialog is created. Where appropriate, the dialog automatically populates drop-down lists from the indexed data.
To create a search:
IMPORTANT: If a Smart Form configuration field's xpath exceeds 64 characters, Microsoft Search Server 2010 cannot search it. So, if you need to index such a field, reduce the length of its xpath to less than 64 characters.
To see a configuration's XPaths, click the Display Information tab.
NOTE: To select more than one value on the search screen, the user holds down the <Ctrl> key while selecting additional options.
If you choose NoSelection in a search field, the search disregards that field when compiling results. However, you must select a value (or range of values) in at least one field to get results.
NOTE: The IndexSearch server control has been deprecated. Use the XML Search server controls to display a Smart Form’s search screen on a Web form. For information on the IndexSearch server control, refer to the Ektron Reference version 8.0 or earlier at www.ektron.com/Resources/Product-Documentation/.
Validation ensures that the user completing an XML form enters the right type of data. You can decide if the user’s input should be a number, boolean, date, string, zip code, and so on. If you do not specify type attributes using validation data, the field is a string.
Validation is especially important when users search XML data, because it helps the search find the correct information. For example, if a field collects a zip code but you set its type to plain text, a user completing the form can insert anything into the field. If the user inserts the letter “o” instead of the number zero (0), the field accepts that input but the search will not find that record. On the other hand, if you set validation to zip code, the user can only insert 5 or 9 digits—any other entry is rejected.
There are 2 ways that XML Indexing can make XML content available to your site visitors.
NOTE: The Ektron Windows Service manages the background processing that creates XML indexes. See Also: Ektron Windows Service.
Ektron content has a Content Searchable check box, which must be checked if you want the Index Search to find Smart Form content. See Also: Ensuring Your Content is Searchable
To set up a developer-defined search, which defines both the criteria and the results page, use the SearchParmXML
property of IndexSearch Server Control. For more information, see Searching XML Information.
XML Indexing allows multi-dimensional searches on all types of XML data.
NOTE: Choices field values can consist of single letter.
alt
or src
attribute valuehref
attribute valueFor every search field, NoSelection is a value. If this is chosen, the search disregards that field when compiling results. However, the user must select a value (or range of values) in at least one field to get results.
WARNING! Do not insert a calendar field into a Smart Form that allows multiple entries (using the Allow more than One option on the dialog). If you do, you cannot search the Smart Form using that field.
For Smart Form fields to searchable, they must be stored as elements not attributes. If you are upgrading to version 7.5 or higher, inspect your Smart Forms and change field properties as needed so they are stored as elements not attributes.
XML indexing allows multi-dimensional searches on all types of XML data.
alt
or src
attribute valuehref
attribute valueIf a Smart Form configuration field's xpath exceeds 64 characters, Microsoft Search Server 2010 cannot search it. So, if you need to index such a field, reduce the length of its xpath to less than 64 characters. To see a configuration's XPaths, click the Display Information tab.
Validation ensures that the user completing an XML form enters the right type of data. You can decide if the user’s input should be a number, boolean, date, string, zip code, and so on. If you do not specify type attributes using validation data, the field is a string.
Validation is especially important when users search XML data, because it helps the search find the correct information. For example, if a field collects a zip code but you set its type to plain text, a user completing the form can insert anything into the field. If the user inserts the letter “o” instead of the number zero (0), the field accepts that input but the search will not find that record. On the other hand, if you set validation to zip code, the user can only insert 5 or 9 digits—any other entry is rejected.