Set a managed property as sort option on the Search Results page (FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint)

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Applies to: FAST Search Server 2010

You can set a managed property as sort option on the Search Result page. Enabling a managed property as a sort option gives the end-user the opportunity to sort the search results alphabetically. For example, by enabling the managed property Title as sort option, end-users can sort their search results in alphabetical order according to the title of the search items. Only managed properties of type string can be enabled as a sort option.

Warning

Enabling many managed properties as sort options will have a significant adverse effect on memory usage in the query matching component.

Setting a managed property as a sort option is a two-step process: First, enable the managed property as a sort option, and then make it available in the web front-end.

In this article:

  • Enable a managed property as sort option by using Windows PowerShell

    You can also enable the managed property as a sort option by using the graphical user interface (GUI). For more information, see Property Management (office.com).

  • Make a managed property sort option available in the web front-end by using the graphical user interface

Enable a managed property as sort option by using Windows PowerShell

  1. Verify that you meet the following minimum requirements: You are a member of the FASTSearchAdministrators local group on the computer where FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint is installed.

  2. On the Start menu, click All Programs.

  3. Click Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint.

  4. Click Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint shell.

  5. At the Windows PowerShell command prompt, type the following command(s):

    $sort = Get-FASTSearchMetadataManagedProperty -Name <ManagedProperty>

    Where:

    • <ManagedProperty> is the name of the managed property that you want to set as sort option, for example Author.

  6. Set sorting value:

    Set-FASTSearchMetadataManagedProperty -ManagedProperty $sort -SortableType <ConfigurationValue>

    Where:

    • <ConfigurationValue> is one of the following values:

      • 0 - “Sorting disabled”. The managed property is not sortable.

      • 1 - “Sorting enabled”. The managed property is enabled for sorting.

      • 2 – “Latent sorting”. The managed property is prepared for sorting, but must be changed to “Sorting enabled” for sorting to be supported.

Note

In contrast to switching from “sorting disabled” to “sorting enabled”, this does not require reprocessing of data.
Consider setting the configuration value to latent sorting if you want to prepare the index data structures for result-sorting but do not yet want to enable the feature for query evaluation. When using this option, the required data structures for result sorting are not loaded into main memory, and it will therefore have no performance effect. The setting can later be changed to enabled, and the change will have immediate effect (no requirement to re-index search items.)

Make a managed property sort option available in the web front-end by using the graphical user interface

  1. On the Search Center site, enter a search word and then click Search.

  2. On the Search Results page, click Site Actions, and then click Edit Page.

  3. In the Search Action Links Web Part click the edit arrow to display the Web Part menu, and then click Edit Web Part.

  4. In the Web Part tool pane, expand Display Properties.

  5. Select the Enabled check box next to the managed property that you want to set as sort option.

  6. Click OK.

  7. Click Save & Close.

    The enabled managed property will appear in the Sort by pull-down menu on the Search Results page. Both Ascending and Descending sort order will be enabled.

See Also

Reference

Set-FASTSearchMetadataManagedProperty