Google Search Appliance Creating the Search Experience User Manual
Page 91
Google Search Appliance: Creating the Search Experience
Customizing the User Interface
91
•
Using the XSLT Stylesheet Editor in the search appliance or an editor of your choice
The Page Layout Helper enables you to change only some of the elements in the XSLT stylesheet. The
XSLT Stylesheet Editor enables you to make more extensive changes to the XSLT stylesheet. If the
elements that you want to change are not available in the Page Layout Helper, you must use the XSLT
Stylesheet Editor to change them. The search appliance supports XSLT 2.0 and XPath 2.0.
You may want to start by customizing the user interface using the Page Layout Helper. After you finish
making and saving changes in the Page Layout Helper, you can, if you wish, make further changes in the
XSLT Stylesheet Editor. Any changes that you make with the Page Layout Helper appear in the XSLT
stylesheet.
However, after you save changes in the XSLT Stylesheet Editor, you cannot return to using the Page
Layout Helper. It is automatically disabled. For more information about using both tools to customize a
user interface, refer to “Customization Process Overview” on page 107.
For information about the Page Layout Helper, refer to “Working with the Page Layout Helper” on
page 92. For information about the XSLT Stylesheet Editor, refer to “Working with the XSLT Stylesheet
Editor” on page 101.
Changes that you make using the Page Layout Helper are fully supported by Google Enterprise Support.
If you want to contact support about changes made using the Page Layout Helper, file a help ticket. You
can also refer issues to the Google Search Appliance group on Google Groups. Changes that you make
using the XSLT Stylesheet Editor are not supported by Google Enterprise Support. If you have issues
about changes made using the XSLT Stylesheet Editor, you can refer them to the appropriate Google
Group.
Another source of tools for user interface development is the Google Gadgets page
. You might consider creating a Google Gadget as a user interface for
Enterprise search. For example, you might create a Google Gadget search box for end users to add to
their desktops. This gadget would enable end users to start a search from the search box on the
desktop rather than the search page.
Google Gadgets are not supported.
What Knowledge Do I Need to Customize a User
Interface?
Even if you do not have any special knowledge of XSLT, you can effectively customize a Google Search
Appliance user interface using the Page Layout Helper. However, if you want to add a custom header or
footer (see “Adding a Header and Footer” on page 94) to your user interface using the Page Layout
Helper, you add snippets of HTML code. In this instance, some knowledge of HTML is required.
If you want to make extensive changes to a search appliance user interface, you need to work directly in
the XSLT Stylesheet. In this instance, knowledge of XSLT, XML, and HTML are required.
Getting Started with Customizing the User
Interface
The default user interface for the search appliance includes Google-specific elements, such as the
Google logo and the Google Search button. For illustrations of the default user interface, refer to
“Starting with a Basic Search Experience” on page 9.