Creating an advanced searcher, getting files of a library

Question

Creating an advanced searcher, getting files of a library

Charlie Martharper 205

Hi!

So I am using PNP Modern search in a sharepoint site, but I want to search the files of one library with multiple folders and files. So when typing words in the search box, appear filters in the left with the choice column type.

So when nothing is type in the search box, I want nothing to appear in the search results.

And when something is searched, it appears the filters from the columns in that library.

How could I achieve that? I should create 3 or 4 more advanced searchers, one for main library, and then for specific folders in a library.

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Answer 1

Michelle-N 10,895 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum.

Based on the information you provided, I understand that you are using PnP Modern Search to search within a specific library containing multiple folders. You have two main requirements:

-When the search box is empty, no results should be displayed.

-When a search is performed, results should appear along with filters (refiners) on the left based on your Choice columns.

Here is how you can achieve this configuration based on my test environment:

Hiding Results When the Search Box is Empty

To ensure the Search Results web part shows nothing until a user types a keyword, you need to modify the Query Template. Please follow these steps:

Go to your site > Click Edit > See all web parts > Add Document library.

Then, in the Edit Search Results settings (for the web part you are configuring), change the Query template to the following format: {?{searchTerms} path:"https://yourtenant.sharepoint.com/sites/yoursite/yourlibrary"}

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Then, to configure the connections, you must ensure that the Search Results web part is listening to the Search Box > Go to page Connections in the web part settings > Connect it to the PnP - Search Box as shown in the image below: User's image

In my test environment, this configuration ensures that the results area remains blank initially. If you want to clear the search box and return to the empty state, you can simply click the "X" in the search box, and the results will disappear as shown below: User's image

Displaying Filters (Refiners) from Columns

To have your Choice columns appear as filters on the left after searching, you need to use the PnP - Search Filters web part. Please refer to the official documentation here:

https://microsoft-search.github.io/pnp-modern-search/scenarios/page-with-filters/

https://microsoft-search.github.io/pnp-modern-search/usage/search-filters/

Let me know if you need help mapping those properties!

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Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-19T09:05:31.9333333+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Have you checked the provided answer?

Any update would be great.
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2025-12-29T07:47:52.76+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

So I tried I think all the steps you told me and when searching, it shows no results even if the file is there:

Should I add the part missing of the link?

That is what I had in the query template with results Source Id LocalSharePointResults.

But in destination field name there is no options when clicking, you have "Title" there, but I don't know if I have to introduce it manually or where I get that information from.

Sorry for being so late answering, busy days.
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-29T09:49:06.63+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thank you for the update.

Based on the information provided, please make sure that you have enabled the content on the site to be searchable.

Also, I’d like to confirm: are you retrieving the path from the document library within that specific site? And did you add the document library as I mentioned in the first step?

In my environment, the path follows this format: sites/sitename/Shared%20Documents, so please double-check that on your end.
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2025-12-29T10:45:58.36+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

I have it like this:

Oh, I have the specific site in the path, so I should delete the specific site name? This is how it looks now:

Still no results. :(
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-29T13:58:09.06+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thanks for the update. Sorry for not being clear earlier.

In my environment, I tried creating a separate document library, but if I don't add the documents and the query template with the full path like I originally provided, the search results don't come back complete. So, have you tried adding the document in the 'edit site' section like I mentioned?
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2025-12-30T07:57:06.2866667+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

Yes, as what you can see in the link I showed is the https://main.sharepoint.com/sites/mainsite/library

so it is:

The first part is the SP, then sites + the main site name + library at the end.

But I am not getting any results and will not get into the filters without having results in the search box. =( In the Destination Field name it doesn't let me introduce any option, do i have to introduce it manually?
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-30T13:12:20.7+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thanks for the update. Could you try changing the path to the URL of the newly added document? Also, please configure the 'use data from this web part' section according to the initial setup instructions I provided to see if that works.

In the destination field name, I typed the word ‘’ manually, so you can also try typing it manually as well.
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2025-12-30T13:54:20.9733333+00:00

Perfect! Now it seems it works!

But I have problem with some of the results. It shows also the folders as results and I think we don't really want that.

I will work now with the filters. Will contact you once I look how it goes.

Thanks for your time, keep in touch this days.
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-30T14:13:39.96+00:00

Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.

Hi @Charlie Martharper
Thank you for the update.

Please feel free to provide any additional information when you have it. I am here to help you anytime.
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2026-01-05T08:10:43.02+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

The other thing is when creating filters, I don't know if I am doing well but it doesn't show any results when looking into them. Maybve i didn't link them right.

It's supposed to return those columns but nothing appears when the search is done.

This is what I was looking, it has different values, and nothing returns as filters:
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-05T14:24:46.3566667+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thank you for the update.

Filters are based on the Search Index and do not read directly from a SharePoint List or Library. Therefore, any field you want to use as a filter must exist in the Search Index as a managed property. This means you need to map the crawled property of your custom SharePoint column to an available refinable managed property, then add it to the search box and finally configure it in the Filters web part.

If you have the required permissions, I recommend configuring this directly from the SharePoint Admin Center by going to More features → Search → Manage search schema.

You can refer to the following resource for step-by-step guidance on how to set this up.

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/creating-custom-column-filters-pnp-modern-search-sharepoint-afser-wzdsc

Note: Microsoft is providing this information as a convenience to you. These sites are not controlled by Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot make any representations regarding the quality, safety, or suitability of any software or information found there. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks before using any suggestions from the above link
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-06T13:06:42.1633333+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Just writing to see how things are going with this issue.

Have you had a chance to check the replies provided?

Any update would be appreciated.
Charlie Martharper 205 Reputation points

2026-01-07T07:33:02.99+00:00

Hi @Michelle-N

Yes, I have an internal issue with this steps because it seems I don't have the permissions to work on that part of the sharepoint. Will keep you updated once I get into it.
Michelle-N 10,895 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-01-07T07:40:21.8933333+00:00

Hi @Charlie Martharper

Thank you for the update.

You can refer to the following document regarding the required permissions to continue handling your task.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sharepoint/sharepoint-admin-role

Thank you.

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Creating an advanced searcher, getting files of a library

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