SharePoint Online - Site Search for .URL files

Question

Hello,

I have a Sharepoint Online communication site. Within the site I have a document library where I'm uploading URLs rather than word, excel docs etc. When I search the site the URL items from the document library do return in the search as expected, however, when you click on the search result it takes you to a URL preview rather than taking you to the URL itself. How can I amend the site search so that I can click on the URL search result and be taken to that URL rather than a URL preview. The expected behaviour does work when I search just the library the results take me to the URL, but I want that same behaviour when searching the library to also work when searching the site.

Thanks

Laura

Answer 1

I do some tests and get the same result as yours.

When clicking URL item in the search suggestions, it directly downloads the URL item. It's designed by SharePoint. As users, we cannot change it.

I agree with you having the ability to take the user directly to the URL item and suggest you add your idea as feedback in the SharePoint Community which is the best place to share our ideas and improve the Microsoft products.

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Answer 2

Could you provide some screenshots of search results for further troubleshooting?

Here are my test results.

1.In the document library, add a URL item (the item points a file stored in the SharePoint).

2.Search in the document library.

3.Search in the site collection. When I click testdoc, it redirects me to the URL, open the file in the browser. When I click emilycom, it redirects me to the document library stores the URL item.

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Answer 3

thanks Emily - that all makes sense. The biggest issue is on the site search when the suggestions pop-up I want to be able to configure the layout of how the suggestions appear.

the image above shows me searching for A E and correctly getting the search result back that I want - its a link from a doc library to an external URL.

When I click on the icon or the wording the behaviour I want is to take the user to that external URL. However, it either shows this

or this

Is there anyway to amend the layout of the search result to take the user directly to the URL without anymore clicks or extra pages popping up?

The behaviour that I want works when you search the document library, but not when I search in the site search bar.

Thanks

Laura