[Support request] Search Feature Questions

[Stuart]

I am new to WordPress and to website design. I intend for my site to have a large number of static pages in addition to a blog. It seems that the standard search feature just searches keywords on all pages and posts indiscriminately. But I’d like to allow my visitors to have more options for searching, so I have the following questions.

Is there a way to set up a search function so that visitors have the option of searching only the blog or only static pages?

Are the tags an effective way to allow for the blog posts to be searched?

Are the categories an effective way to allow for the blog posts to be searched?

Can tags and categories be applied to pages as well as blog posts?

[Leo]

Hi there,

You can use this filter to change the search output:
https://docs.generatepress.com/article/generate_navigation_search_output/

Are the tags an effective way to allow for the blog posts to be searched?
Are the categories an effective way to allow for the blog posts to be searched?

Not sure what you mean by effective but if you search the tag or category keyword then the posts with those tags or category should certainly show up.

Can tags and categories be applied to pages as well as blog posts?

This should help: https://www.wpbeginner.com/plugins/how-to-add-categories-and-tags-for-wordpress-pages/

[Stuart]

Thank you, Leo. I will look at the links later.

[Leo]

Sounds good 🙂

[Stuart]

Okay, Leo, I looked at both of those and understand how they work.

I will install the plugin so that I can add tags and categories to pages.

However, it seems that the filter is not what I need. I want something that allows the visitor to select search parameters, so that he might choose to search only the blog or choose only to search the pages.

Thank you.

[Leo]

You will need to look for a plugin solution for that.

Maybe something like this?
https://wordpress.org/plugins/relevanssi/

[Stuart]

Leo,

I found this plugin through an Internet search which might work. But when I searched for it through my WP Dashboard, the system says “Untested with your version of WordPress” and that it has not been updated in 7 months. Do I need to be concerned about it?

https://wordpress.org/plugins/search-filter/

[Leo]

I can’t say as I have no experience with that plugin unfortunately.

Best to test it out yourself 🙂

7 months without an update isn’t all that long for a plugin with good reviews.

[Stuart]

Okay, I will try it.

Thank you.

[Leo]

No problem 🙂

[Author]

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