Search function in Canvas?

[KatharineEbbs]

Hi, I'm fairly new to Canvas and am interested to find out if there are any updates about the development of an integrated Search tool in Canvas.

I saw a Canvas ideas discussion called "[Courses] Comprehensive Course Search Tool (Search..."  but some of the posts are from a while back.

Also saw that there is a tool called Atomic Search that may be handy but it will cost my organisation. 

Is there anything already in Canvas that we can activate to enable users to search courses they are enrolled in please? 

Katharine posting in August 2023

[chriscas · Accepted solution]

Hi @KatharineEbbs,

As of right now, I think the paid third-party options like Atomic Search are the only options really available.  If Instructure is going to add any kind of search functionality, I don't think ti would be in the next year as I have not seen them put anything on the Canvas roadmap  at this point.

-Chris

[KatharineEbbs]

Hi Chris, Thanks very much for your response. Really appreciate the update. Will have a closer look at Atomic Search. 

Cheers Katharine

[jerry_nguyen]

@KatharineEbbs 

If you only need your users to be able to search for their enrolled courses, you can create a custom Javascript function to embed the course search function into your Canvas. If you're interested, send me a PM and I'll be able to assist you further. 

However, if you need to search for course content, there is a free Google Chrome extension called "CanvasCape" that allows you to search for content within a course.

[KatharineEbbs]

Hi Jerry, Thanks a lot for your advice. It's really a content search we need. Will check out Canvas Cape, understanding it will allow users to search one course at a time. 

Cheers Katharine

[KatharineEbbs]

Hi again, We are in the process of exploring Atomic Search further. I also noticed there is an app called Smart Search. Has anyone used that? 

Cheers

Katharine

[GOODTIMES]

I don't understand why Google has not donated it's search option within Canvas. Someone in management please fix this issue!!