---
title: "VL StandaloneSearch Module"
slug: "vl-standalonesearch-module"
updated: 2026-09-04T09:31:36Z
published: 2026-09-04T09:31:36Z
canonical: "docs.viewlift.com/vl-standalonesearch-module"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.viewlift.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# VL StandaloneSearch Module

## Introduction

**VL StandaloneSearch** is a System Screen module in **Template Builder**. It powers the site **search results** page — recent searches, top results, and trays of matching videos, series, games, and other content types you enable.

On the website this experience typically lives at `/search`. Customers type a term in the masthead search box (or on the page if **Show Search Bar** is on), then land on this page with recent history and results.

This article explains how to create the Search page in Template Builder, configure **VL StandaloneSearch**, publish it, and verify the experience on the web.

## Purpose

The purpose of this article is to help you:

- Create a **Search** System Screen (or Search Screen) in Template Builder
- Add and configure **VL StandaloneSearch**
- Choose content types, layout, badges, and labels
- Understand what customers see on `/search`
- Publish and verify the live search page

## Scope

This article covers:

- Creating a search page in **Template Builder**
- Adding **VL StandaloneSearch** to the page layout
- Module settings: content types, thumbnails, columns, search bar, Localization, Font Settings, and Search Tray Settings
- How search appears on the **website**

It does not cover:

- **VL Standalone AI Search** (conversational / AI search)
- Building the masthead search icon (see the Masthead module)
- Search indexing or AppCMS search configuration
- **VL Search Tray** as a tray on a modular page

## Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

- Access to **Template Builder** for your site
- A **Sports** site template (this module is in the picker on Sports templates)
- Copy ready: recent-search title, clear label, top results title, no-results text
- A published Masthead if customers will open search from the header

> **Example used in this article** Throughout the steps below we use a Search page named **Search** at path `/search`. Replace the sample values with your own.

---

## 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).

![tb-home.png](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/tb-home(12).png) *Template Builder home. From here you create pages and open System Screens.*

---

## Step 2: Create the Search page

The Search page must be a **System Screen** or **Search Screen** so that **VL StandaloneSearch** 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**: `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 Search page.
6. Select **CREATE**.

### Set the page path

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

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/image-EEZJ4LIQ.png) *Page Settings. Set the path to `/search` so masthead search and in-page search resolve correctly.*

> **Tip:** Keep `/search` consistent. **VL Standalone AI Search** is a different module if your site uses conversational search.

---

## Step 3: Add VL StandaloneSearch to the layout

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

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/image-9NIKIR5X.png) *Edit Layout → Add a New Module. Search for and insert **VL StandaloneSearch**.*

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/image-9C17MAQO.png) *Search page layout with **VL StandaloneSearch** placed on the page.*

If **VL StandaloneSearch** is not in the list, confirm the site template is **Sports** and the page type is **System Screen** or **Search Screen**. Other templates use **VL Standalone AI Search** in the default system list.

System Screens typically use a single primary system module.

---

## Step 4: Configure search layout

Open the **VL StandaloneSearch** module settings.

| Field | Description | Default example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Supported Content Types** | Types included in search (Video, Episode, Live Video, Series, Game, Bundle, Audio, Article, Collection, Videoplaylist, Linear Channel, Person). | *(none selected until you choose)* |
| **Thumbnail Placement** | Thumbnail position on result cards: Top, Left, or Right. | Top |
| **Thumbnail Type** | Aspect ratio. Options use an asterisk (for example `16*9`). | `16*9` |
| **Number of columns (mobile)** | Columns on phones. | `3` |
| **Number of columns (tablet)** | Columns on tablets. | `4` |
| **Number of columns (desktop)** | Columns on desktop. | `6` |
| **Number of columns (ott)** | Columns on TV / OTT. | `6` |
| **Show Monetization Badge** | Show a paid / free badge on results. When on, **Monetization Badge Placement** appears. | Off |
| **Enable Sharing** | Allow sharing from result items. | On |
| **Group Top Results** | Show top results grouped by content type. | Off |
| **Display Badge on Thumbnail** | Place the badge on the thumbnail. | Off |
| **Show Search Bar** | Show a search field on the `/search` page. | Off |

Select the content types your catalog actually uses. Extra types with no matching items stay empty.

![Screenshot 2026-09-04 at 2.58.31 PM.png](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202026-09-04%20at%202.58.31%E2%80%AFPM.png) ![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202026-09-04%20at%202.59.22%E2%80%AFPM.png) ![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/Screenshot%202026-09-04%20at%202.59.37%E2%80%AFPM.png) ***Supported Content Types**, thumbnail, columns, badges, **Group Top Results**, and **Show Search Bar**.*

---

## Step 5: Configure Localization — Labels

Expand **Localisation → Labels**.

| Label | What it controls | Default example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Video Title** | Video result heading. | *(empty)* |
| **Game Title** | Game result heading. | *(empty)* |
| **Event Title** | Event result heading. | *(empty)* |
| **Series Title** | Series result heading. | *(empty)* |
| **No Result Found Text** | Message when nothing matches. The website can append the search term. | `There are no results for your search.` |
| **My Recent Search Title** | Recent-search row heading. | `My recent Searches` |
| **Clear All Search Text** | Clear recent searches. | `Clear All Recent Search` |
| **Top Results Tray Title** | Top results heading. | `Top Results` |
| **kVideoContent Text** | Videos group label. | `Videos` |
| **kSeriesContent Text** | Shows group label. | `Shows` |
| **kVideoPlaylistContent Text** | Playlists group label. | `Playlists` |
| **kGameContent Text** | Games group label. | `Games` |
| **kBundleContent Text** | Bundles group label. | `Bundles` |
| **kEpisodicContent Text** | Episodic group label. | `Episodic` |
| **kPersonContent Text** | Person group label. | `Bundles` |
| **kSearchTitlesRelated Text** | Related-titles line. | `Search title related to` |
| **searchHeaderLabel Text** | Search header. | `Search` |

The **k… Text** names are the field titles in Template Builder. On the website, **My Recent Search Title**, **Clear All Search Text**, **Top Results Tray Title**, and **No Result Found Text** are the labels you will see most often.

---

## Step 6: Configure Font Settings

**Font Settings** on the module include Title, Subtitle, Tray Item Title, Badge, and Tabs.

Under **Search Tray Layout Settings → Font Settings**, you can also set Title, Tray Item Title, and Badge for the results tray.

---

## Step 7: Configure Search Tray Settings

Expand **Search Tray Layout Settings → Search Tray Settings**. These control the results tray under Top Results.

| Field | Description | Default example |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Thumbnail Type** | Tray thumbnail ratio (`16*9`, and the other asterisk ratios). | `16*9` |
| **Thumbnail Placement** | Top, Left, or Right. | Top |
| **Text Background Color** | Background behind tray text. | `#000000` |
| **Mobile / Tablet / Desktop / OTT (TV)** | Number of display items per breakpoint. | `3` / `4` / `6` / `6` |
| **Show Monetization Badge** | Badge on tray items. | Off |
| **Display Badge on Thumbnail** | Badge on the tray thumbnail. | Off |

### Brand (inside Search Tray Settings)

| Setting | Default (example) | Purpose |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Tray Title Color** | `#FFFFFF` | Tray heading color. |
| **Watch Time Completed Color** | `#CF082D` | Progress / watched color. |
| **Watch Time Background Color** | `#000` | Progress track. |
| **Item Background Color** | `#000` | Result card background. |
| **Timer Background Color** | `#3A4765` | Countdown / timer background. |
| **SignUp Banner Title Color** | `#000` | Sign-up banner title. |
| **SignUp Banner Sub Title Color** | `#000` | Sign-up banner subtitle. |
| **SignUp Banner Background Color** | `#FFFFFF` | Sign-up banner background. |
| **Feature Tag BackgroundColor** | `#fff` | Feature tag background. |
| **Feature Tag Text Colorr** | `#000` | Feature tag text (this is the field name in Template Builder). |

---

## Step 8: Save and publish the Search page

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

Until the page is published, masthead search will not show your latest labels and layout.

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 9: How it looks on the website

After publish, open:

`https://www.example.com/search`

Or type a term in the masthead search box.

### Search field

- Shown on `/search` only when **Show Search Bar** is on.
- Placeholder is the site generic search placeholder (default `Search...`).

### Recent searches

When the customer has searched before:

- **My Recent Search Title**
- Recent titles
- **Clear All Search Text**

### Results

When a term matches:

- **Top Results Tray Title** and matching items
- Content trays using **Search Tray Settings** (thumbnails, columns, badges)

When nothing matches:

- **No Result Found Text**, with the search term appended when one was entered

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/image-3ZEYHX9D.png) *Website `/search` with recent searches and Top Results.*

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/15e0c142-c823-4c77-a8e8-9d32ca937982/Images/Documentation/image-LEM8FAVD.png) *Website no-results message after a term with no matches.*

---

## Verification checklist

- Search page exists as a **System Screen** or **Search Screen**
- Page path is `/search`
- **VL StandaloneSearch** is on the layout
- Supported content types match the catalog
- **Show Search Bar** is on if the page should have its own field
- Recent, clear, top results, and no-results copy are reviewed
- Thumbnail type and columns look correct on desktop and mobile
- Page is **published**
- Masthead search opens `/search` with results
- Recent searches appear and can be cleared
- An unknown term shows **No Result Found Text**

---

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | What to check |
| --- | --- |
| **VL StandaloneSearch** is not in the picker | Use a **Sports** template. Other templates list **VL Standalone AI Search** instead. Page type must be **System Screen** or **Search Screen**. |
| Page path is wrong | Set path to `/search`. Masthead search uses that path. |
| No search field on the page | Turn on **Show Search Bar**, or search from the masthead. |
| No results for known titles | Select the matching types under **Supported Content Types**. Confirm the titles are published. |
| Labels do not change on the site | Save, publish, and allow cache to clear. For localization, edit labels in the correct language. |
| Customer expected a chat / ask-me search | That is **VL Standalone AI Search**. |
| Columns look wrong on TV | Set **Number of columns (ott)** and the Search Tray OTT (TV) count. |

---

## Best Practices

- **Use one Search page** at `/search`.
- **Select only the content types you publish.**
- **Turn on Show Search Bar** if `/search` should work without the masthead.
- **Keep no-results copy short** — the site can add the typed term after it.
- **Match tray colors** to the rest of the site.
- **Localize** recent, clear, top results, and no-results labels.
- **Publish after every meaningful change.**

---

## FAQs

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

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

**Q. Why don’t I see this module?** It is listed on **Sports** templates. Other templates include **VL Standalone AI Search** in the default system list.

**Q. How is this different from VL Standalone AI Search?** This module is keyword search with recent history and result trays. AI Search is a conversational / ask-me experience.

**Q. Must Show Search Bar be on?** Only if you want a field on `/search`. Masthead search can still send customers here when it is off.

**Q. Where is the search-box placeholder edited?** In site generic messages (empty search field). Default on the website is `Search...`.

---

## Important Information

- Search the picker for **VL StandaloneSearch**.
- Place the module on a **System Screen** or **Search Screen** at `/search`.
- The module is available in the picker on **Sports** templates.
- Create the page, add the module, configure types and labels, then **publish**.
- Cache can delay frontend updates by several minutes.

---

## Glossary

| Term | Definition |
| --- | --- |
| VL StandaloneSearch | System module for the `/search` results page. |
| Top Results | Primary matches for the current term. |
| Recent searches | Titles the customer searched before, stored in the browser session. |
| Supported Content Types | Catalog types included in search. |
| VL Standalone AI Search | Separate conversational search module. |

---

## 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.

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