Create custom Search Result Page using a basic page (No search center required)

I know this is a very basic thing which all SharePoint experts know very well when they started their JOURNEY with SharePoint but there is something very interesting & simple we missed to check or use

Here are few steps with which we can create a custom search result page in very simple way. I use word because SIMPLE because it’s not required to create any search center sites or any search pages. This can be achieved with a simple Blank web part page and with ALL OOTB features.

• First of all create a page, (i.e. Blank web part page). I call it “Simple Search”
• Then click on Add a web part and add following web parts in sequence.

1.      Search box

2.      Search Paging

3.      Search Core Results

• Now click on edit page and select Search Box web part > click “Modify Shared Web part”
• Under Miscellaneous section change – Target search results page URL to the newly created page – i.e. http://sitename/doclib/simplesearch.aspx (i.e. http://sitename/pages/simplesearch.aspx for site with publishing enabled)
• That’s all, now when user lands on Simple Search Page and query for search he / she will get all search results on the same page and it gives the same look and feel which is there on OSSearchResult page as we have added search paging.
• Search paging gives number of pages containing search results.

There are few more customizations which we can do on the same page like creating a custom scope for a search box or by customizing search core results.

Here are some references

Search Core Results XSLT Transformation:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms584121(v=office.12).aspx

Creating a Custom Search Page and Tabs in the Search Center of SharePoint Server:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb428855(v=office.12).aspx

Search Core Results Web Part XSLT:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms562390(v=office.12).aspx