Creating a portlet that executes a predefined query

Using the Custom Search portlet, you can create a portlet that performs a predefined search query and automatically displays the results when the portlet is displayed.

For example, you can create a portlet that searches for a list of items that belong to a selected category and that have been modified in the last 7 days. Or, a search portlet that lists items created by a particular user, by defining the author attribute to be #USER#.

You must be the administrator, a page builder or have the appropriate privileges to edit the default settings of the Custom Search portlet.

To create a portlet with a predefined search query:

Navigate to the page that contains the Custom Search portlet.
Click Edit Page to switch to Edit mode.
Click (Actions) beside the portlet.
Click Edit Defaults.

Note: All the options for the Custom Search portlet are described in the online Help. Click to display context sensitive Help for a particular screen.
On the Portlet Type tab:
1. To specify that this portlet is to execute a predefined query, select Automatically display search results.
  
  With this option, users are not able to enter search submission criteria. Instead, the search results appear when this portlet is displayed.
2. To cache the results from the automatic query, enter the length of time in minutes that the portlet content is cached. The default is 10 minutes.
  
  Select Do not cache the search results to disable caching.
3. Change the Portlet Header Title if you wish.
Click the What to Search tab to choose which page groups and content type to search:
1. For What type of content should be searched?, choose whether to search for items, pages, categories, perspectives or any of these.
2. For Which page groups should be searched?, choose all, or select a subset of page groups.
For more information see Restricting portal content from a custom search.
Click the Search Criteria tab to define a set of conditions for your search:
1. In Search For, enter a search term for the automatic query if required.
2. Select an operator for the query, such as contain all of the terms, contain any of the terms, contain these terms exactly.
3. Choose which (if any) of the search submission attributes are needed to define your search query.
4. Enter a Restriction and Value for each selected attribute as required.
  
  If a search term is not specified (see step 7.1), at least one attribute must have a value.
Click the Results Display tab to define how the results are displayed:
1. For Order search results by, choose the order in which the results are displayed.
  
  This option is only valid if Oracle Text is not enabled.
2. Customize how your search results are displayed, as required. See Creating a custom search results page
Click OK.

When this custom search portlet is displayed, it executes the search query you have specified and automatically displays the results.