Modify an In Focus web part to use Microsoft Search (Atlas 5.1+)

Currently the default configuration for In Focus web parts uses SharePoint Search, but from Atlas 5.1 onwards you can switch to Microsoft Search on a per-web part basis to take advantage of new features.

The main features to consider are spelling suggestions (spellcheck), automatic spelling correction, connectivity to external data sources and the ability to query information not only within SharePoint but also across user emails, calendars and more.

In this article we will explain how to transfer your existing SharePoint Search configuration for an In Focus web part to Microsoft Search allowing you to take advantage of the new features.

Some changes have been made since release, so please note that this article is based on the experience in Atlas 5.3+. If you need to do this on an earlier version the steps should be similar, but if you're having issues please raise a support ticket.

In this article:

• Ensure you are using the new In Focus web part
• Determine the approach
  • Not Using Verticals
  • Using Verticals
• Still need help?
  
  

Ensure you are using the new In Focus web part

Depending on your original Atlas version you may be using "legacy" In Focus web parts. You can see this when you edit the web part - legacy web parts show a message at the top of the configuration panel:

If you see this message you need to replace this web part with a new In Focus and apply any required configuration outside of the defaults before changing to Microsoft Search.

Determine the approach

To swap your web part to use Microsoft Search should be fairly straightforward, but the exact steps required depend on whether or not you are currently using Verticals with the web part in question.

Not Using Verticals

The simplest situation is that you are not using Verticals with your web part. In this case, simply edit the In Focus web part and under the SharePoint Search section check the query template. If you have anything in there beside {searchTerms} and * you should copy the whole query and paste it into notepad or similar so we can paste it back later. So anything custom added in this box:

Next, check the Result Source being used and make a note of that too:

Now you have those saved, scroll up a bit to the Data Source section and choose Microsoft Search:

Open the newly visible Microsoft Search section and paste your query template, keep the Entity type as "SharePoint Items" and change the Result Source to the same one you had before:

This should be all you need to do in this scenario. The last thing you may want to check is slightly further down in the same section (Microsoft Search) you can turn off the new features if you wish, but by default they are turned on:

 

Using Verticals

If you are using Verticals you will need to make similar changes as above, but you'll need to change the Verticals configuration rather than the In Focus configuration.

Start by editing your Verticals web part, and clicking the Configure search button:

This will bring up the configuration panel for your Verticals. Assuming you have been using it up to now the Verticals will have their data source set to SharePoint Search. First make sure you note the Result Source for each one, then change the data source for each to Microsoft Search and re-select the same Result Source:

Further right in the panel you should not need to make any changes - the query should be retained as well as the other settings.

Because the Verticals are controlling the In Focus (results) web part you do not need to make any changes to the In Focus itself.

Still need help?

If you're having issues getting this working please raise a support ticket and provide details and screenshots of your configuration.