[BUG] 2sxc content is not appearing in DNN Search Results

[ajplopez]

Bug Affects...

[x] DNN Search indexing 2sxc content

Current Behavior / Expected Behavior

I have multiple DNN websites (various versions but typically 9.13 or 10.00 with the newer versions of 2sxc, and it seems that when users use the DNN search skin object to search for content, none of the content within 2sxc apps are displaying in the search results.

My apps typically are custom (not first party 2sxc apps like Blog or anything). I usually create an app called "Basic Content", for example. And within that app I have a Title and Text fields. And sometimes I have sub-entities like "Buttons".

I've tested about 3 sites and when I search for really unique text/heading, content within 2sxc is not appearing in DNN Search Results. I'm wondering if something is broken within 2sxc. I have tried re-indexing the content in DNN but it doesn't make a difference.

To Reproduce (Steps, Videos, Screenshots, Apps)

1. Create a simple app
2. Put in a super unique title
3. Re-index your content
4. Use the DNN Search input to search for your unique title
5. Check the results to see if you actually see the result appear

Your environment

• 2sxc version(s): 18.6.1 and 19.3.5
• Browser: all
• DNN / Oqtane: all | Dnn 10 / DNN 9.13.4
• Hosting platform: all | IIS | azure | ...
• Ui Languages: any/all | English | ...

Additional context

I haven't tested the core 2sxc apps - only my own custom apps. I also checked the "View" setting to make sure that it should be indexed and it is toggled correctly to my knowledge.

My apps are super simple so there shouldn't be a reason why they're not showing up in results. It's nothign to do with fancy queries or ways the content is appearing. I just use sub-entities a lot.

Both are new sites (not old websites that were upgraded or anything)

[iJungleboy]

I just ran a quick test and cannot spot any issues.

Are you describing something that used to work but doesn't, or did you never use it and now wonder why it doesn't work?

Could you try one of our main content apps - like the standard content or blog, and see what you get there?

My guess is you have a setup which requires some custom search integration...

[ajplopez]

I don't use Search on all my sites so it's very possible it's something I just overlooked because I was getting mixed results for search.

I just checked an older website that I built (in 2021). This site is built in DNN 9.11.2 and 2sxc 17.10.0

If it helps, I've been building apps more or less the same way for 5 or 6 years where I have, for example:

"Staff Listing"

Content Types:

Staff Listing with fields: Title, Text, People (entity picker to "Person")

Person with fields: Name, Bio (wysiwyg), Buttons (entity picker), Image (entity picker)

Button with fields: Title, Text, Link, Style

Image with fields: Title, Image (link), Alt Text

Presentation with fields like: Show Heading (boolean)

Are the sub-entities not getting indexed for whatever reason?

So I do use the Presentation settings on templates. And I'm using entities for things like buttons and images.

A lot of my templates are still using @inherits Custom.Hybrid.Razor14 (if that makes any difference)

My loop for people might look like this:

@foreach (var person in AsList(Content.People as object))
{
    <div class="space-y-5 flex flex-col h-full"
         @Edit.TagToolbar(person, actions: "edit,new,remove,instance-list,replace,add-existing", settings: new { hover = "right", color = "#00AB4E" })>
        
        @foreach (var personPhoto in AsList(person.Photo as object))
        {
            <div class="relative">
                <img src="@personPhoto.Image?w=158&h=176&mode=crop&anchor=@person.ImageCropAnchor"
                     alt="@personPhoto.FirstName @personPhoto.LastName"
                     class="rounded shadow relative z-10 w-" />

          
            </div>
        }

        <div class="space-y-2 flex-grow flex flex-col">
            <h3 class="text-2xl text-cadmium-green leading-tight font-semibold">
                @person.FirstName @person.LastName
            </h3>

            @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(person.Title))
            {
                <h4 class="text-cadmium-green text-sm font-semibold">@person.Title</h4>
            }

            @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(person.Organization))
            {
                <h4 class="text-sm font-semibold text-cadet">@person.Organization</h4>
            }

            @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(person.Email))
            {
                <h4 class="text-sm">
                    <a href="mailto:@person.Email"
                       class="flex items-center text-sea-green visited:text-sea-green hover:text-sea-green hover:text-opacity-70">
                        <i class="far fa-envelope mr-2"></i> @person.Email
                    </a>
                </h4>
            }

            @if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(person.Biography))
            {
                <div>
                    @Html.Raw(person.Biography)
                </div>
            }
        </div>

       
    </div>
}

Is the way I'm structuring my apps or writing my templates not allowing the indexer to search through content?

[ajplopez]

After searching around, I'm thinking that sub-entities don't get indexed and I'll need to provide a custom SearchMapper.cs file on the View to provide all that to the DNN search. Is that correct?

[ajplopez]

I compared my set up to Blog, Accordion, and FAQ.

In my set up, is it possible to just have a SearchMapper.cs file to look through all the sub entitiies? Or do I need to do something with setting up the template to use a data query?

[iJungleboy]

After searching around, I'm thinking that sub-entities don't get indexed and I'll need to provide a custom SearchMapper.cs file on the View to provide all that to the DNN search. Is that correct?

This is correct. The search cannot automatically guess which sub-entities are relevant for a specific block.

For example, a relationship (sub-entity) could point to a very large object like a Category containing an extensive description, images and more, but this should not be seen as part of the main block itself.

So yes, if your content-block is comprised of the sub-entities, you'll need to create a SearchMapper for it.

[ajplopez]

Thanks for letting me know. I looked at Blog, Accordion, and FAQ and I see the various ways things are set up.

For a simple sub-entity relationship app like I have, is there any advice you can provide? Any troubleshooting tips as I set up a SearchMapper.cs file? It's super hard and slow to troubleshoot if something is wrong with the code behind file.

[ajplopez]

Another question. I have polymorphism set up on an app.

So I have files set up like:

live/Staff.cshtml
staging/Staff.cshtml
Staff.cs

And in the View configuration I'm pointing to Staff.cs

Is that ok have Staff.cs at the root or does it need to be in the live or staging folder(s)?