VL Standalone AI Search Module

Introduction

VL Standalone AI Search is a System Screen module in Template Builder. It powers a conversational search page — customers ask in their own words (or by voice), then see a chat reply and matching video cards.

On the website this experience typically lives at /ai. When Enable AI Search is on, keyword search can also show Dive Deeper in AI Mode, which opens this page.

This article explains how to create the AI Search page in Template Builder, configure VL Standalone AI Search, turn on AI Search in site settings, publish it, and verify the experience on the web.

Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help you:

• Create an AI Search System Screen (or Search Screen) in Template Builder
• Add and configure VL Standalone AI Search
• Edit welcome copy, placeholders, conversation settings, and chat layout
• Turn on Enable AI Search so customers can open AI Mode from keyword search
• Understand what customers see on /ai
• Publish and verify the live AI Search page

Scope

This article covers:

• Creating an AI Search page in Template Builder
• Adding VL Standalone AI Search to the page layout
• Module settings: Should Prioritize Server Config, Localization, Dev Config, Chat Settings, and Font Settings
• Enabling AI Search in ViewLift Tools → AppCMS → Settings → Search
• How AI Search appears on the website

It does not cover:

• VL StandaloneSearch (keyword search results at /search)
• Building the masthead search icon (see the Masthead module)
• Search indexing or catalog setup
• Voice or microphone settings on customer devices

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• Access to Template Builder for your site
• Access to ViewLift Tools / AppCMS to turn on Enable AI Search (and Enable Search if customers will start from the header)
• Copy ready: welcome title, description, and input placeholder
• A published keyword Search page at /search if you want Dive Deeper in AI Mode from that page

Example used in this article
Throughout the steps below we use an AI Search page named AI Search at path /ai. Replace the sample values with your own. For a sports site you might welcome fans with “Ask about City United fixtures and match highlights.”

AI Search flow overview (website)

The flowchart below shows the typical customer journey on the website when VL Standalone AI Search is published at /ai.

Notes

• The website AI Search path is /ai. Keyword search stays at /search.
• Dive Deeper in AI Mode appears on keyword search only when Enable AI Search is on in AppCMS Search settings.
• A term typed in keyword search can be carried into /ai when the customer opens AI Mode.
• The welcome screen uses Search Title, Search Description, and Search Input Placeholder.
• Voice search needs microphone permission in the browser. If the mic is blocked, the site shows a permission message.
• Stop ends the voice session. Video cards open the title’s page.

Step 1: Open Template Builder

1. Log into ViewLift Tools.
2. Open AppCMS → Edit Template Builder (or open Template Builder for your site from your usual entry point).
3. Confirm you are on the correct site and language (if localization is enabled, use the language selector on the Template Builder home screen before editing page copy).

Template Builder home. From here you create pages and open System Screens.

Step 2: Create the AI Search page

The AI Search page must be a System Screen or Search Screen so that VL Standalone AI Search is available in the module picker.

1. In Template Builder, go to Pages.
2. Select + ADD NEW (or Create a New Page).
3. Enter New Page Name: AI Search (or your preferred name).
4. In New Page Type * Developers Only, select System Screen or Search Screen.
5. Optionally set Target Language (If localized Page) if you are creating a language-specific AI Search page.
6. Select CREATE.

Set the page path

1. On Page Settings, set the page path to /ai.
2. Confirm the page type is System Screen or Search Screen.
3. Save page settings if prompted.

Page Settings. Set the path to /ai so AI Mode from keyword search and direct visits resolve correctly.

Tip: Keep /ai for this module and /search for VL StandaloneSearch. They are different pages.

Step 3: Add VL Standalone AI Search to the layout

1. Open the AI Search page.
2. Select Edit Layout.
3. Select Add a New Module.
4. Search for or select VL Standalone AI Search.
5. Insert the module into the page layout.

Edit Layout → Add a New Module. Search for and insert VL Standalone AI Search.

AI Search page layout with VL Standalone AI Search placed on the page.

This module is in the default system picker. On Sports templates you will also see VL StandaloneSearch — that module is for /search, not this page.

System Screens typically use a single primary system module.

Step 4: Configure Should Prioritize Server Config

Open the VL Standalone AI Search module settings.

Should Prioritize Server Config at the top of the module settings.

Step 5: Configure Localization — Labels

Expand Localisation → Labels.

Replace the default description with copy that matches your catalog. For a championship site, use something fans would actually ask, such as City United fixtures or match highlights.

Step 6: Configure Localization — Dev Config

Expand Localisation → Dev Config.

Change Agent Prompt so the assistant speaks in your brand voice and only discusses your catalog. Leave model, voice, and transcription values as provided unless your team gives you replacements.

Step 7: Configure Chat Settings and Font Settings

Expand Settings → Chat Settings.

The form groups Mobile, Tablet, Desktop, and OTT (TV) under Number of Display Items.

Font Settings include Title, Subtitle, and Chat Text.

Settings → Chat Settings. Background, text color, thumbnail type, and display-item counts.

Step 8: Enable AI Search in site settings

The page at /ai is only half of the experience. Customers also need the site-level AI Search switch if they should open AI Mode from keyword search.

1. In ViewLift Tools, open AppCMS → Settings.
2. Open Search.
3. Turn on Enable Search if the masthead search icon should appear.
4. Turn on Enable AI Search.
5. Save the settings.

When Enable AI Search is off, the AI Mode button is hidden on keyword search and customers cannot start AI support from that page.

Step 9: Save and publish the AI Search page

1. Save the module settings.
2. Review the page layout once more.
3. Publish the AI Search page.

Until the page is published, /ai will not show your latest welcome copy.

Changes can take several minutes to appear because of caching. To verify sooner, use a private window, another browser, or clear cookies and cache.

Step 10: How it looks on the website

After publish, open:

https://www.example.com/ai

Or type a term on /search and select Dive Deeper in AI Mode (when Enable AI Search is on).

Welcome screen

When no conversation has started:

• Search Title
• Search Description
• Ask field with Search Input Placeholder
• Microphone control
• Send control

Conversation

After the customer types a question or starts voice:

• Their message in the chat
• The assistant reply
• Matching videos under Search Results, with a count (for example “Search Results (6 videos found)”)
• Each card shows a thumbnail, title, category, and tags. Series items can show Series and the series title
• Selecting a card opens that title
• Speaker control (when voice is active)
• Microphone mute / unmute
• Stop to end the voice session
• The same ask field, still using Search Input Placeholder (if that label is empty, the conversation field can fall back to Voice is active, just speak or type to search...)

Errors and permissions

• If the page cannot start, customers see an error. The website default is Oops! Something went wrong. Please try again later.
• If the browser blocks the microphone: Microphone access blocked. Please enable permissions to use voice search.

Website /ai welcome screen with title, description, ask field, and microphone.

Verification checklist

• AI Search page exists as a System Screen or Search Screen
• Page path is /ai
• VL Standalone AI Search is on the layout (not VL StandaloneSearch)
• Search Title, Search Description, and Search Input Placeholder match the brand
• Agent Prompt matches the catalog and language you want
• AppCMS Search has Enable AI Search on
• AppCMS Search has Enable Search on if the header search icon is required
• Page is published
• /ai shows the welcome title and description
• Typing a question starts a conversation
• Matching titles appear as video cards and open the correct page
• Dive Deeper in AI Mode appears on /search when AI Search is enabled
• Blocking the microphone shows the permission message
• Stop ends the voice session

Troubleshooting

Best Practices

• Use /ai for this module and /search for keyword search.
• Rewrite the default description so it matches your catalog, not the sample hunting and fishing line.
• Turn on Enable AI Search when you want the AI Mode button on keyword search.
• Keep Agent Prompt short and on-brand.
• Test type, voice, blocked microphone, and a title with no match before launch.
• Localize title, description, and placeholder when the site has multiple live languages.
• Publish after every meaningful change.

FAQs

Q. What page type should I use?
System Screen or Search Screen. Set the path to /ai.

Q. What is the module name in the picker?
VL Standalone AI Search (this is the Template Builder caption for VL Standalone AI Search 01).

Q. How is this different from VL StandaloneSearch?
VL StandaloneSearch is keyword search with recent history and result trays at /search. This module is a conversational / voice experience at /ai.

Q. Why don’t I see Dive Deeper in AI Mode?
That button appears on keyword search when Enable AI Search is on in AppCMS Search settings.

Q. Do customers have to start from /search?
No. They can open /ai directly. Starting from keyword search can carry the typed term into AI Mode.

Q. Where do I turn AI Search on for the site?
ViewLift Tools → AppCMS → Settings → Search → Enable AI Search.

Important Information

• Search the picker for VL Standalone AI Search.
• Place the module on a System Screen or Search Screen at /ai.
• Turn on Enable AI Search in AppCMS Search settings if customers should open AI Mode from keyword search.
• Create the page, add the module, configure copy and Dev Config, then publish.
• Cache can delay frontend updates by several minutes.

Glossary

Contact Support

If you need help beyond this article, contact the ViewLift support team.

• Email: techsupport@viewlift.com
• Phone (US): +1-800-859-0420
• Phone (UK): +44-203-014-8921

Support hours: B2C requests are handled Monday to Friday. B2B support is available 24/7.