Search Results Settings
Introduction
The Results tab controls how matching Target Form entries are displayed on the frontend.
You can select a visual template, choose between structured fields and custom HTML, configure list or grid layouts, add sorting controls, and control pagination and no-results messaging.
These settings allow the same Search to power directories, listings, portals, resource libraries, and other entry-based displays.
Configuring Search Results
Open the Results tab in Search Settings to configure the following sections.
1. Results Display
Results Display controls the visual template, layout, and output method used for each result item.
Visual Template
Select the visual template used to display search results on the frontend.
The selected template determines the overall result structure and may provide template-specific layout options.
Results Layout
Select the default layout used by compatible visual templates:
- Grid: Display entries in a card-based grid.
- List: Display entries in a vertical list.
Enable Layout Toggle
Enable this option to let visitors switch between list and grid layouts from the results toolbar.
Output Mode
Choose how each result item is generated:
- Structured Fields: Build result items from selected Target Form fields and configured display rows.
- Custom HTML: Build result items using custom HTML and merge tags.
Structured Fields is suitable for configuration-based layouts, while Custom HTML provides direct control over the result-item markup.
2. Structured Output
Structured Fields mode builds each result item from selected Target Form fields and configurable display rows without requiring custom HTML.
Title Field
Optionally select the Target Form field used as the result title. You can also use the system Entry ID.
Leave this setting empty when the result item should not display a title.
Link Title to Details
Enable this option to link the result title to the entry’s details URL.
Select the destination page and configure its URL under Search Setup → Details Routing. Configure the individual entry output under Details Display.
Main Image Field
Optionally select a compatible Target Form field to use as the primary image for each result item.
Show Distance
Display the calculated distance when a proximity origin and distance are available.
Show Details Link
Display a details link for each result item. The destination and URL format are controlled by the settings under Search Setup → Details Routing.
A published Details Page must be selected before standard details links can be generated.
Details Link Label
Customize the text displayed for the details link.
Default value: View Details.
Result Details
Add and arrange rows containing Target Form fields, entry metadata, distance information, or details links.
Each row can include:
- Source: The field or data source displayed by the row.
- Label Override: An optional custom label used instead of the default field label.
- Format: Text, Link, Link (New Tab), or Image.
Rows can be added, removed, and reordered to create the desired result layout.
3. Custom HTML
Custom HTML mode allows you to build result-item markup using HTML and merge tags from Target Form entries.
Use this mode when Structured Fields does not provide enough control for the required layout.
Table Header HTML
Enter optional header markup when using a table-based visual template.
This setting applies only to compatible table templates.
Result Item HTML
Enter the HTML used to render each result item.
Use the merge-tag selector to insert Target Form fields and other supported entry values into the markup.
See Search Templates & Merge Tags for additional examples and supported merge-tag usage.
4. Results Controls
Results Controls configure the per-page and sorting options available in the results toolbar.
Per Page Options
Enter a comma-separated list of the result counts visitors can select.
For example:
10,20,50,100
Sort Options
Enter one sorting option per line using the following format:
Label:value|ORDER
For example:
Newest:date_created|DESC Oldest:date_created|ASC Distance (Nearest):distance|ASC Distance (Farthest):distance|DESC
Built-in sortable values include creation date, update date, Entry ID, and distance. Compatible Target Form fields can also be used.
5. Pagination
Pagination controls how visitors navigate through multiple pages of results.
Pagination Mode
Choose how additional results are displayed:
- Pagination: Display standard page-number and navigation controls.
- Load More: Display a button that appends additional results to the current list.
Load More Button Text
Customize the button label displayed when Pagination Mode is set to Load More.
6. No Results
The No Results section controls the message displayed when no entries match the current query.
No Results Message
Enter optional text to display when no matching entries are found.
Use this message to explain that no results were found or suggest that visitors broaden their search criteria.
How Search Results Work
When a Search runs, Gravity Search retrieves matching Target Form entries and passes them to the selected Visual Template. The selected Output Mode determines whether each result item is generated from configured Structured Fields or Custom HTML.
Results Controls and Pagination determine how visitors sort, size, and navigate the result set.
Because results belong to the complete Search rather than the optional frontend search form, they can also be displayed automatically through Initial Load, Search Defaults, and Predefined Filters.
