Search Box Settings For The Website

Overview: The Three Search States

Every Google Site has a "Search" setting located in the Settings Gear.
Depending on your account type (Personal vs. School District), your site will default to one of these three options:

1.     This Site: Limits the search to ONLY the content you have physically placed on your specific website.

2.     Organization Content: Turns your search bar into a "District-Wide" search engine.

3.     None (Hide): Removes the search bar entirely for a cleaner, more curated look.

Why Use Different Search Types?

• Choose "This Site" if... you want students to find facts within your class handouts or subpages quickly. This is the safest setting for classroom teachers. It ensures students aren't distracted by files from other teachers or grade levels.

• Choose "Organization Content" if... you are building a school-wide "Resource Portal" or "Library Hub" where you want users to be able to find any public district document (like the Code of Conduct or Lunch Menu) from any page.

• Choose "Hide" if... your site is a small, linear project (like a 3-page digital story) where a search bar would just clutter the header.

How to Configure Your Search

Step 1: Open the Navigation Settings

1. • Open your Google Site in Edit Mode.

   • Click the Settings (Gear Icon) in the top right corner.

   • Select Navigation from the left-hand menu.

Step 2: Access the Search Menu 

• Look for the Search section within the Navigation settings.

• Click the dropdown menu to see your three choices: Hide, This Site, or Organization Content.

Step 3: Lock In Your Privacy

• If you are in a school domain and want to keep things private, select "This Site."

• Close the Settings window.

• CRITICAL: You must click the blue Publish button for these changes to take effect for your viewers.

Hidden Pages:

Even if you select "Hide from Navigation" for a specific page, the search bar can still find it if it is published!

The Rule of Thumb:  If a file is Linked (a blue underlined word), the search bar CANNOT read it. The search engine is programmed to scan the page "surface" of your site. It reads text boxes, headers, and iFrames where files are located. It is not programeed to search your entire Drive.

• Hidden is not invisible. If a page is published, but hidden, the search bar will find it.

• If a file is Embedded (visible on the page), the search bar CAN read it because you've embedded the file on a page, such as an entire Doc.

• To truly hide content: Keep it in a separate "Sandbox Site" until you are ready to reveal it to the world.

Troubleshooting

• The School Setting: By default, many school districts have "Organization Content" turned on. If you don't change this, a student searching for "homework" on your site might see results from other teachers' folders!

• The Fix: Always toggle your search to "This Site" and click Publish.

How To Test Your Search

• Before you share your site with students, perform the "Stranger Test":

• Open your published site in an Incognito/Private window.

• Type a common word (like "Test" or "American Revolution") into the search bar.

• If you see results that you didn't create, you are likely still set to "Organization Content."

• If files from your private Drive or other teachers appear, go to Settings > Navigation > Search, and change it to "This Site."

Exercise To Test Your Website's Privacy:

1.     Create two Google Docs:

• Doc A: Title it "Embedded Handout." Inside, type the unique word: "FLAMINGO."

• Doc B: Title it "Linked Handout." Inside, type the unique word: "PENGUIN."

• Ensure both are set to "Anyone with the link can view."

2.     On your Practice Site:

• Embed Doc A (Insert > Drive). You should see the word "FLAMINGO" on the page.

• Link Doc B (Type the text "Click here for Doc B" and attach the link).

3.     Publish the site.

The Conclusion:

• •  "Even though the Penguin doc is public, the search bar can't see it because it isn't 'on the page' of your website. It's behind a door (the link)."

  • If you are worried about a file being searchable, "link" don't "embed" the file.