SharePoint 2013 - How to Promote a Result Using Query Rules

In this article we can work on a real-life scenario of putting a document at the top of the results in a search.

Search Scenario

In the HR department, there are dozens of documents containing text handbooks. When the user searches for a handbook, he/she will get many results.

Now the HR Manager has designated a specific document as the most appropriate handbook. The interesting factor is that the document title does not contain the term handbook.

How to put this document at the top of the results in the search?

Solution

Using Query Rules we can do this.

Document URL

From your SharePoint site, find a Document URL using the copy shortcut option.

http://corp/Docs/HowTo.docx

Steps

Open site settings then search settings section.



Click on the "Query Rules" link as highlighted above.



In the page that appears, choose the result source as Local SharePoint Results (System) as shown below:



Now click on "New Query Rule".



In the page that appears, enter the rule name and phrase as handbook.



Please note that we are specifying the Query Matches option to match the handbook keyword.

Then click the Add Promoted Result link. In the appearing dialog, enter the URL information.



Click the "Save" button in the dialog and "Save" button in the previous page. You are ready with the Query Rule.

Testing the Search

Now return to the Home page and in the search box enter the keyword handbook. You should get the first result with the promoted URL.



Query Rules is a management component from FAST Search.

References

http://bit.ly/14D6VS7

Summary

In this article we have explored how to use Query Rules to promote a document in the search results.