{"id":2467,"date":"2025-05-27T07:38:34","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T01:38:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/?post_type=wpwax_extensions&#038;p=2467"},"modified":"2025-05-27T07:52:48","modified_gmt":"2025-05-27T01:52:48","slug":"universal-search","status":"publish","type":"wpwax_extensions","link":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/extensions\/universal-search\/universal-search\/","title":{"rendered":"Documentation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Universal Search feature for directory websites delivers a powerful, seamless search experience across multiple directory types, such as Places, Real Estate, Jobs, Services, etc.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Users no longer need to search each directory separately. Instead, they get an organized, intuitive results page where listings are grouped by directory, categorized smartly, and presented in their native layouts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Search multiple directories at once with a single, smart search bar.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Preserves directory-specific layouts like grid or list views for familiarity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Groups matched results by category and directory for effortless navigation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Includes instant filters to refine listings by directory, category, or layout.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clean, responsive design ensures a seamless experience across all devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Installation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Log in to your WordPress Admin Panel.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Navigate to <strong>Plugins &gt; Add New<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Upload the plugin ZIP file and click <strong>Install Now<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Once installed, click <strong>Activate<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXcJPeeJmL0wgXemr37Cmg8Ja8TkWfHai-bN4FJHFd1zfiJvDOEbGYaWMMJuXlwAP2sVS6AGwZdGNchswGmUBhIbVxKLi3K-t_JD_wKAJonlKYNNAL9WOJX8anFTKz512Hn_Quq_?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Configuration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once the Universal Search system is installed, two pages are automatically created:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Universal Search Form<\/strong> \u2013 This page contains the search input field where users can enter their queries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Universal Search Result<\/strong> \u2013 This page displays search results, including listings and categories from multiple directories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeDa2LGGrhH54QwD2KqYhZ-sug844utwQmgMKtkVnnhGmpCy7uycvJxW27WPPKjAKc8d1EPPNkTo5HoQfPgTyhP--A015sbtViNhU2Myz_6FCIagapNzqrYcwS1N6Vc9uvWuCZe?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXchoNmioToIvYqsymsgS0eLOCWljRQb9WRFsnTBDC2e9kTDZhrBUIVLM_KITR0BAVZWV9ARSRNmqLV61dzpox3CW_ikyIIPszmd4Wk0v_cUFmKU9iVoW7DSBqm-jjUYw7iFarQD5w?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>If these pages are not created automatically, you can manually create the pages through their respective shortcodes<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>[directorist_universal_search_form]<br>[directorist_universal_search_result]<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How It Works<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 1: User Enters a Search Query<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The user types a keyword (e.g., \u201cBudapest\u201d) in the <strong>Universal Search Form<\/strong> input field.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>As they type, <strong>instant dropdown suggestions<\/strong> appear, showing matched <strong>listings<\/strong> and <strong>categories<\/strong> from different directories.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXdmYkw1vEnlGTEycAIxKDKHAN0f7ZBPSSbN_TpcWnTA2Zj4Cj0YDuRj-Ywc2fiMToaj4groLzjFOApPRCiut65UvRZGGaMaLXILi13JwMF0ZjxkqUI2WnKVv82EPbGJgyuDORMjkg?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 2: Selecting a Search Suggestion<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The user can either:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Click on a <strong>listing<\/strong> to go directly to its details page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Click on a <strong>category<\/strong> to view all listings under that category.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Press <strong>Enter<\/strong> to view a full list of results on the <strong>Universal Search Result<\/strong> page.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXfZo_RB3L_xfqDoDcwdnEyAjB9-giaeMgcCtFe8o9_1X9NEX1WDYuJ8zeOK7wVOPvsAsCDz15qEpccKeo_ZXK2CuFW3090dQ3vIuv8RCMpLAhEGw9QtSfKji0Rb4cm9F8wlsWqc-g?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 3: Viewing Search Results<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>Universal Search Result<\/strong> page displays search results in structured sections:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Listings<\/strong> appear under their respective directories (e.g., &#8220;Results from Places,&#8221; &#8220;Results from Real Estate&#8221;).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Categories<\/strong> are also listed within their relevant directories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tabs allow users to switch between directory-specific views.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXeVj2FGvBPw1bfrGZk6m62Q65zkTE_AwFJkFL2EfNhwOt4kz_gXmiyxTSh9u5J4hNsJUMszdnlRE-UqKcqqyCen0ZhbiiSsOwALKsq9At59EKDQUO-xbWC_wNwnDfvW7l9D-gl0EA?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 4: Filtering &amp; Refinement<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Users can refine results using the <strong>filter panel<\/strong>, allowing them to:\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Toggle between directories (e.g., Places, Real Estate).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Filter by categories.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Change the layout (e.g., List view, Grid view).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 5: Clicking a Result<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Clicking a <strong>listing<\/strong> opens its detailed page.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Clicking a <strong>category<\/strong> shows all listings under that category in the corresponding directory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Step 6: No Results Fallback<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>If no results are found, a message appears, suggesting an alternative search or another directory.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lh7-rt.googleusercontent.com\/docsz\/AD_4nXctpe9RI-jdzcRzBQ3BWG0Resj1Wq9cRp0YGxcw7v_8DiJWrLxhgVI2nIgQURzDUzKU0HU3Y5xPa2_LoUcsHqfE9KGyNWp7X2nuW0vxP3chRA4hTRO_23-FQD0Ulq4k4NkEuHZ-?key=PVbrMZ1YaCL_DZ6lPlm4XNsP\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The Universal Search feature enhances usability by integrating multiple directories into a single search experience. Its structured results page, intuitive dropdown suggestions, and category integration provide an efficient and visually appealing solution for multi-directory searches.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2454,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"template":"","class_list":["post-2467","wpwax_extensions","type-wpwax_extensions","status-publish","hentry","wpwax_extensions_category-universal-search"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wpwax_extensions\/2467","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/wpwax_extensions"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/wpwax_extensions"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2454"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/directorist.com\/documentation\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2467"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}