Tips to Enable SharePoint Intranet Search using Windows Desktop Search 3.0 RTW
I guess this has already been out for a month, but when I was running a x64 desktop with Office 2007 I was feeling the pain of not having the x64 WDS. Switching back and forth between Outlook 2003 and Outlook 2007 I really noticed a HUGE difference. I personally was saving upwards of 1-2 hrs per week a huge cost savings.
For those of you not familiar with WDS, think of it as fast search for Outlook 2007 (they call it instant search on the page), and desktop search for Windows XP. Vista has this functionality built in. Note: You can install WDS 3.0 on an Windows XP machine even if you don't have Outlook 2007.
Here's a more thorough overview from microsoft.com: "Windows Desktop Search 3.0 is the technology which enables instant search on your computer. It helps you to find, preview, and use your documents, e-mail, music, photos, and other items. The search engine in Windows Desktop Search 3.0 is a Windows service that is also used by applications such as Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 and OneNote 2007 to index application content and deliver instant results when searching within that application. Windows Desktop Search 3.0 provides fast indexing, improved performance, and improved file type support."
Here are links to go and get it!:
Windows Desktop Search 3.0 RTW for Windows XP (KB917013)
Windows Desktop Search 3.0 RTW for Windows XP x64 Edition (KB917013)
Couple of Tips for after you've installed...
1. When you hit control F on a folder or drive to do a search, let's say it's a remote search of a UNC, obviously it isn't indexed by your desktop unless you do a persistent mapped drive and tell it to index it (hint hint), but back to what I was saying... If you miss your puppy or your search isn't working he's at the bottom of that search pane, scroll to the bottom and choose "Click here to use search companion." You'll actually see a nice error that says "This folder is not indexed. To search this directory please use Search Companion or add this directory to your index via options" you can click on options to configure included paths on your desktop. From this options in Advanced you can configure granularity around file types add folder paths or drives and diactritic on or off. Obviously the more it's indexing the more it will impact your performance. By default most of the C drive is not indexed. If you create folders outside of your "My Documents" on the root of C for example, they won't be indexed by default.
2. Want to configure WDS to allow you to leverage your search experience from SharePoint Server? Here are the steps. (Works with SPS 2003, but most powerful with MOSS 2007). Note these steps are for your own computer and does require admin rights on your desktop.
- Make sure you are running WDS on the computer
- Download DesktopSearch.adm from here (you may have to save this from your browser (File save as (click alt to see File menu if running IE7) as desktopsearch.adm if this loads as text.)
- Open MMC and Add the Group Policy Editor Snap in
- Navigate to Administrative Templates, right click choose Add/Remove Templates (navigate to the desktopsearch.adm file you downloaded)
- Expand Administrative Templates -> Windows Desktop Search -> Search -> choose Add Primary Search Location
- Choose and open Add Primary Search Location
- Choose enable, add "MSW,http://msw/search.aspx?k=$w" (Where MSW is your Intranet Portal)
- Click ok.
(The MSW above is an example. You could also do "Intranet,http://intranet/search.aspx?k=$w" where intranet is your intranet. If you click explain when in this setting you'll see more detail.)
Note: I noticed that the UI is a bit crunched, but it worked for me. Not as clean as in this image from SSW.
Let me switch to Desktop Administrator Mode. Imagine pushing out an Intranet scope to include Intranet Search in your WDS configuration as you push out Outlook 2007.
Download the WDS Administrators Guide or view it online It's easiest to mange the policies for the domain using Group Policy Administration Console
I highly recommend using this excellent Step by Step Admin Guide with Screenshots from SSW for Configuring WDS Policies (got a couple of steps from above from here). My experience in WDS 2.6 did have more UI for the end user and have noticed it has really been trimmed down to give the domain admin or GPO Admin the control. For savy users looking through these guides you can really optimize your experience.
Here are instructions on how to do this with Vista...
Below are the instructions on how to configure Vista to do this.
1. Click on Start Button
2. Type Gpedit.msc, Group Policy Editor will open (Click Allow if prompted for elevated privileges)
3. Navigate down and expand the following Tree Nodes User Config à Administrative Templates "Windows Components" Instant Search
4. Double Click Custom Instant Search Internet Search Provider
5. Choose to Enable
6. Enter Search MSWeb for String
7. Enter http://msw/searchcenter/pages/search_results.aspx?s=Intranet&k=%w for URL
8. Click OK
9. Close Group Policy Editor
10. Reboot or run the following command in a command window as Administrator Gpupdate /force
NOTE: ***Replace the URL with your SharePoint results page were Intranet is the scope you want to use***
(Thanks Dean H for the Vista tip)
