Not only can you add widely adopted sources such as Google Drive, you can easily add homegrown applications, niche platforms, and legacy content sources.

<a href="https://www.elastic.co/workplace-search">Elastic Workplace Search</a> is rooted in a simple, but powerful mission: bringing information, content, and files from every corner of your organization into a singular, centralized source of truth. Thanks to its portfolio of first-party integrations, Workplace Search easily connects to a variety of popular content platforms. Whether your teams rely on images from Dropbox, accounts from Salesforce, tickets from Zendesk, or sites from SharePoint Online for their daily tasks, you can synchronize the goldmine of information across all of your collaboration tools with just a few clicks. In a matter of minutes, you can create a relevant search experience that surfaces the right content to the right individual, dramatically improving work efficiency and accuracy at scale.
Such a straightforward way to connect widely adopted data sources is fantastic, but what if your team also relies on homegrown applications critical to your unique organizational knowledge landscape? What about niche platforms or legacy content sources? Here again, there’s a simple answer: custom sources.
<h2>The anatomy of a custom source</h2>Custom sources operate much like any other data source connected to the Workplace Search experience. Once created, a custom source becomes a unique repository of content with its own data structure and configurations. It can be updated in real-time, and features such as content filtering and automatic keyword detection at query time are enabled with no additional configuration required.
To create a custom source, head to the Sources area of the Workplace Search dashboard, click Add an organization content source and locate Create a Custom API Source:
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/blt7b8d6059e44c8b28/5e6ff4de40126a5133de995d/workplace-search-custom-sources-add-source-blog.png" data-sys-asset-uid="blt7b8d6059e44c8b28" alt="Add a shared content source" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
From here, you must name the source to be created. Do so wisely: It will be used to identify the content source in the search experiences used by the various teams in your organization. Hit that green button and voilà! You’ve created a new container for the content you’re looking to expose from the search experience:
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/blt11d0bffa78cba883/5e6ff65ec1679c505bbad90a/workplace-search-custom-sources-source-created-blog.jpg" data-sys-asset-uid="blt11d0bffa78cba883" alt="Custom source successfully added" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
<h2>Giving it a push</h2>We now have a content platform filled with valuable information on one side, and a custom source ready to receive the data on the other. The next step involves building a small program that bridges the gap between the two repositories, commonly referred to as a connector. While precise instructions on how to build a connector fall outside the scope of this piece, there a few guiding principles to keep in mind as you are developing synchronization software:
<ul>
	<li>Standalone vs. embedded: You may choose to develop a small synchronization script that lives on its own, or embed the Workplace Search ingestion logic directly within the application for which you want to make the information searchable.</li>
	<li>Data modeling and transformation: While the content source may have large, complex data structures, astutely choosing which attributes to index will lead to a more relevant search experience.</li>
	<li>Document-level permissions: Most content platforms are backed by authorization systems that allow certain pieces of information to be accessed by certain individuals, but not others. Using <a href="https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/workplace-search/current/workplace-search-document-permissions.html">document permissions</a>, you can maintain the same level of access at the search experience level.</li>
	<li>Real-time vs. scheduled: Custom sources can be updated in real-time via the API, but some sources may benefit from a scheduled ingestion strategy, such as once a day.</li>
	<li>Observability: Keeping track of connector activity may help you understand any changes that would cause the indexing process to behave differently over time.</li>
</ul>For more information on the Custom Sources API and its features, refer to the exhaustive guide found in the <a href="https://www.elastic.co/guide/en/workplace-search/current/workplace-search-custom-api-sources.html">Elastic Workplace Search documentation</a>.
<h2>Searching with a cause</h2>With content now freely flowing into Workplace Search, your teammates can now search over its content alongside the other sources connected to the platform. Custom sources are a first-class citizen of the search experience, the same way the Google Drive or Salesforce integrations are. This translates into a seamless experience when searching across content repositories. For example, searching for acme inc contract updated last week will return results both from Dropbox and our bespoke Legal Document Vault custom source, automatically filtered down to the information updated in the last 7 days:
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/bltf710f8e89cfcc188/5e6ff6a2b4cea86c65af4e66/workplace-search-custom-sources-search-new-source-blog.jpg" data-sys-asset-uid="bltf710f8e89cfcc188" alt="Searching the new custom source" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
<h3>Tailored relevance for all teams</h3>Custom sources can be assigned to Groups, ensuring that the right individuals and teams have access to the right content at the right time. Some teams may even rely more heavily on information found in a custom source, which makes for a wonderful use of the Source Prioritization tool. Source Prioritization applies relative algorithmic importance to the information matching in the data repository:
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/blt5cefeea4f686c7b4/5e6ff8e381bc8343ad162292/workplace-search-custom-sources-tailor-relevance-blog.png" data-sys-asset-uid="blt5cefeea4f686c7b4" alt="Tailoring relevance with the Source Prioritization tool" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
<h2>Zen and the art of custom source maintenance</h2>The great news about custom sources is that you are in control at any point in time. Should the data structure evolve over time, you can update the underlying schema directly from the administrative dashboard, with no downtime or degraded search experience:
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/bltc9598ceac7180da1/5e6ff9293ed79e6484b30c30/workplace-search-custom-sources-update-schema-blog.png" data-sys-asset-uid="bltc9598ceac7180da1" alt="Updating underlying schema" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
There is also a reasonable chance that you may want to update the way results are presented to your teammates over time. Workplace Search offers an intuitive interface to properly assign the right pieces of data to the result layout, used across the various search clients provided with the platform.&nbsp;
<img src="https://images.contentstack.io/v3/assets/bltefdd0b53724fa2ce/bltf7b01273282851a0/5e6ff96282f4cf42bbba2289/workplace-search-custom-sources-display-settings-blog.jpg" data-sys-asset-uid="bltf7b01273282851a0" alt="Updating the way results are presented" style="display: block; margin: auto;">
<h2>Wrapping up</h2>In short, custom sources are an integral part of the Workplace Search experience. Built with flexibility and maintainability as core principles, it is built on a feature-rich set of APIs and dashboard integrations and aims to help you create the most relevant, most engaging search experiences for your organization. To get started today, <a href="https://www.elastic.co/downloads/enterprise-search">download the latest beta version of Workplace Search</a> and get searching!

blog-banner-release-workplace-search.png

workplace-search-custom-sources-blog-thumb2.jpg

Custom sources: Search content from anywhere with Elastic Workplace Search

Start free trial

Blog Footer CTA

Sign up for Elastic Cloud free trial

headshot-sean-story-300x300.jpg

Principal Software Engineer I

Sean Story

By submitting you acknowledge that you've read and agree to our <a href="/legal/elastic-cloud-account-terms" target="_self">Terms of Service</a>, and you agree to receive the <a href="/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_self">selected communications</a> at the contact details you provided above. See <a href="/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_self">Elastic’s Privacy Statement</a> for more details or to opt-out at any time.

Communication Preferences - ONLY for /communication-preferences

提交即表示您确认您已阅读并同意我们的<a href="/cn/legal/elastic-cloud-account-terms" target="_self">服务条款</a>，并且您同意通过您提供的上述联系方式接收<a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_self">所选的通信</a>。如需了解更多信息，或想随时取消订阅，请参阅 <a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_self">Elastic 的隐私声明</a>。

By submitting you acknowledge that you've read and agree to our <a href="/legal/serverless-preview-terms" target="_blank">Terms of Service</a>, and that Elastic may <a href="/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_blank">contact you</a> about our related products and services, using the details you provide above. See <a href="/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_blank">Elastic’s Privacy Statement</a> for more details or to opt-out at any time.

Serverless GDPR Text

提交即表示您确认您已阅读并同意我们的<a href="/cn/legal/serverless-preview-terms" target="_self">服务条款</a>，并且 Elastic 可以使用您提供的上述详细信息与您联系，以向您介绍我们相关的<a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_self">产品和服务</a>。如需了解更多信息，或想随时取消订阅，请参阅 <a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_self">Elastic 的隐私声明</a>。

By submitting you agree to <a href="/agreements/global/cloud-services-monthly" rel="nofollow">Elastic Cloud Terms of Service</a>. Your personal data will be processed in accordance with <a href="/legal/privacy-statement">Elastic's Privacy Statement</a>.

Cloud Trial GDPR Text

提交即表示您同意 <a href="/cn/agreements/global/cloud-services-monthly" rel="nofollow">Elastic Cloud 服务条款</a>。我们将会按照 <a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement">Elastic 的隐私声明</a>处理您的个人数据。

By submitting you acknowledge that you've read and agree to our <a href="/legal/terms-of-use" target="_blank">Terms of Service</a>, and that Elastic may <a href="/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_blank">contact you</a> about our related products and services, using the details you provide above. See <a href="/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_blank">Elastic’s Privacy Statement</a> for more details or to opt-out at any time.

Newsletter GDPR Text

提交即表示您确认您已阅读并同意我们的<a href="/cn/legal/terms-of-use" target="_self">服务条款</a>，并且 Elastic 可以使用您提供的上述详细信息与您联系，以向您介绍我们相关的<a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement#how-we-use-the-information" target="_self">产品和服务</a>。如需了解更多信息，或想随时取消订阅，请参阅 <a href="/cn/legal/privacy-statement/" target="_self">Elastic 的隐私声明</a>。

Explore similar demos

Overview

Speakers

Close

See more insights

The content on this page is not available in the selected language. As Elastic grows globally, we continue to support content in multiple languages.

The content on this page is not available in the selected language.

本页内容尚不支持所选语言。Elastic 正在不断努力，以实现对多种语言内容的支持。感谢您在此期间给予的耐心与陪伴！

Author

Articles by

Learn more

Watch now (no PT)

Watch now

See all top stories

All (no PT translation)

Contact information

Press Release

Share on Reddit

Share this story

Share by Email

Thank you for your interest!

Contact Info

Follow us on Youtube

Load More

Share on LinkedIn

Follow us on LinkedIn

Search Integrations

All Solutions

Video for

Follow us on Twitter

See when this webinar starts in my time zone

查看本次网络研讨会在我的时区的开始时间

Register to Watch

Register now

See All Posts

Can't make it? Register and we'll send you the recording. You'll also receive an email with related content

无法实时参加？注册后我们会给您发送录像。您还将收到相关内容的电子邮件。

Author

Articles by Sean Story

Principal Software Engineer I, Elastic

Custom sources: Search content from anywhere with Elastic Workplace Search