Skip to content
Postman API Testing Tips

How To Use Postman To Test Sharepoint Search Api

API Testing Blog

Getting Started with Postman and the SharePoint Search API

Postman is a powerful tool for testing APIs, and the SharePoint Search API is no exception. This API provides a way to interact with the powerful search capabilities within SharePoint, allowing you to query for documents, sites, and other content. In this guide, we will explore how to use Postman to test various aspects of the SharePoint Search API, offering practical examples and step-by-step instructions.

Setting Up Your Postman Environment

Before we begin, ensure you have the following:

  • Postman: Download and install the latest version of Postman from https://www.postman.com/.
  • SharePoint Online/On-Premise: You will need access to a SharePoint environment, whether online or on-premise, to test the API.
  • API Credentials: Obtain the necessary API credentials (client ID, client secret) for your SharePoint environment.

Understanding the SharePoint Search API

The SharePoint Search API provides various endpoints to interact with the search engine. It supports various functionalities like:

  • Querying: Search for documents, sites, people, and other content.
  • Retrieving search results: Get detailed information about the found results.
  • Managing search settings: Configure search settings like query rules, ranking models, and more.

Step-by-Step Guide: Testing a Basic Search Query

Here’s how to perform a simple search query using Postman:

1. Create a New Request:

  • Open Postman and click on the “New” button.
  • Select “Request” and choose the HTTP method as GET.

2. Construct the API Endpoint:

  • The base endpoint for the SharePoint Search API is: https://<your-sharepoint-site>/_api/search/query.
  • Add your specific query parameters to the endpoint:
https://<your-sharepoint-site>/_api/search/query?querytext='your search term'&sourceId='your source ID'

Replace the following placeholders:

  • <your-sharepoint-site>: Enter your SharePoint site URL (e.g., https://contoso.sharepoint.com/sites/test).
  • 'your search term': Enter the term you want to search for (e.g., 'report').
  • 'your source ID': Specify the source from where you want to search (e.g., 'b09a7990-051f-4827-9c0f-a048266ff12c')

3. Authorization:

  • You will need to authenticate with your SharePoint environment.
  • For most cases, Basic Authentication can be used. Add your username and password in the Authorization tab as Basic Auth.

4. Send the Request:

  • Click the “Send” button.

5. Analyze the Response:

  • The response will contain the search results in JSON format.
  • You can inspect the response to understand the returned data structure, including document titles, URLs, and other relevant information.

Example Code:

{
    "querytext": "'report'",
    "sourceId": "'b09a7990-051f-4827-9c0f-a048266ff12c'",
    "selectProperties": [
        "Title",
        "Path",
        "LastModifiedTime",
        "Author"
    ]
}

This example queries for documents containing the term “report” from the source with the specified ID. It also requests specific properties to be included in the results.

Testing Other SharePoint Search API Endpoints

Besides basic queries, you can use Postman to test other important API endpoints. For example:

1. Retrieving Search Results:

  • Use the endpoint https://<your-sharepoint-site>/_api/search/query with the ‘querytext’ and ‘sourceId’ parameters.
  • Add the startrow and rowlimit parameters to paginate through results.

Example Code:

{
    "querytext": "'project plan'",
    "sourceId": "'b09a7990-051f-4827-9c0f-a048266ff12c'",
    "selectProperties": [
        "Title",
        "Path",
        "LastModifiedTime",
        "Author"
    ],
    "startrow": 10,
    "rowlimit": 10
}

2. Retrieving Search Schema:

  • Use the endpoint https://<your-sharepoint-site>/_api/search/query?selectProperties='*'&querytext='*'.
  • This will return the search schema, which defines the properties available for searching.

3. Managing Search Settings:

  • You can use various endpoints to manage search settings:
    • /_api/search/query/suggest for auto-suggestion.
    • /_api/search/query/searchSuggest for search suggestions.
    • /_api/search/query/queryRules for managing query rules.

Example Code (Managing Query Rules):

{
    "querytext": "'report'",
    "sourceId": "'b09a7990-051f-4827-9c0f-a048266ff12c'"
}

Leveraging Postman Collections and Environments

For more complex tests, consider using Postman Collections and Environments:

  • Collections: Organize your API requests into logical groups, making it easier to manage tests.
  • Environments: Store variables like your SharePoint site URL, API credentials, and other dynamic values in a secure way.

Conclusion:

Postman is an invaluable tool for testing the SharePoint Search API efficiently. By utilizing its features like Collections, Environments, and various API endpoints, you can comprehensively test various aspects of your search implementation, ensuring functionality, performance, and stability.

API Testing Blog