---
title: Step 7 - Create Your IDX Search Widget
description: "Navigate to the page that you would like to display your widget and add the 'IDX Search' Summary: The IDX Search widget provides a simple search form visitors to your site can fill out to begin a sear"
---

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# Step 7 - Create Your IDX Search Widget

**Summary:** The IDX Search widget provides a simple search form visitors to your site can fill out to begin a search.  This widget is a good one to include in your side bar so it is always present.

**Example:**  There’s are examples of the IDX Search widget on this [page](https://go.wearefbs.com/help-center/idx-search-example?hsLang=en).

Navigate to **Pages \> All Pages** and find the page that you would like to display your widget on.  
Click on the **\[+}** icon to bring up the widget search and type in 'idx search' and select the choice.![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Apr-06-2026-09-45-05-1825-PM.png?width=670&height=178&name=image-png-Apr-06-2026-09-45-05-1825-PM.png)

Once added to the page all of the options will be on the right side of your screen:  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-02-57-46-6490-PM.png?width=670&height=346&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-02-57-46-6490-PM.png)

### Sorting

**User Sorting:** If enabled, this option adds a sort field to the widget, allowing your users to select the order of the search results.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-02-58-46-3603-PM.png?width=300&height=88&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-02-58-46-3603-PM.png)

### Filters

These choices will be shown to your website visitors in the widget to help them narrow down their search.

**Location Search -** Adds a find-as-you-type text search for city, zip and other locations, including from your My Map Overlays specified in Flexmls Web.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-01-19-0922-PM.png?width=300&height=88&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-01-19-0922-PM.png)

**More Search Options -** This will add the option for More Search Options beneath the search button and will open a SmartFrame link where website visitors can use more criteria for a search.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-00-57-3909-PM.png?width=300&height=88&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-00-57-3909-PM.png)

**Select Property Types to Show -** Select one or more property types for this search widget. (Options will vary per MLS.)  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-02-44-1286-PM.png?width=300&height=64&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-02-44-1286-PM.png)

**Property Type display -** Tabs place property type at the top of the widget; only one type is active at a time. Sub-types appear in the selected tab panel. Checkboxes mode keeps the classic multi-select row with the other filters.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-09-23-1457-PM.png?width=300&height=96&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-09-23-1457-PM.png)

**Show Property Sub-Types** - When on, selecting exactly one property type reveals its sub-type checkboxes. Turn off to hide all sub-type lists.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-10-55-2122-PM.png?width=300&height=93&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-10-55-2122-PM.png)

**Other Fields to Show** - You also can add Price, Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Square Footage and Year Built to the search.  We’ll be making other fields available in future releases.  In the meantime, please note the strategy for using a saved search link to make pre-set additional fields for your users.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-35-43-2592-PM.png?width=300&height=179&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-35-43-2592-PM.png)

**Status:** If allowed in your MLS and the Setting is turned on you choose to enable Pending/Sold:

### Behavior

**IDX Link**: This is the IDX Link generated from within the Flexmls IDX Manager that you wish to use when this search is executed. We recommend choosing a link with broad criteria unless you would like to limit the search results for your website visitors.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-12-54-5751-PM.png?width=300&height=74&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-12-54-5751-PM.png)

**[Send Users To](https://go.wearefbs.com/help-center/my-search-results-idx-search-widget?hsLang=en):**  When a user submits their search, you can choose how they view the results…  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-13-33-0196-PM.png?width=300&height=100&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-13-33-0196-PM.png)

- **Default Search Results Page** (Recommended) – Displays the listing details on your page, this option is best for SEO/indexing purposes.
- **A Flexmls IDX Frame** – Displays the results in an IDX Smart Frame on your page (iframe).

### Layout & Style

**Widget Background -** Transparent removes the widget fill so your page background shows through. When set to solid, use the color below.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-37-45-6039-PM.png?width=300&height=117&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-37-45-6039-PM.png)

**Background color:  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-21-31-6450-PM.png?width=300&height=98&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-21-31-6450-PM.png)**

**Listings Per Page -** Select the number of listings to display per page from 5 - 25  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-23-01-1742-PM.png?width=300&height=108&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-23-01-1742-PM.png)

**Title -** This will appear at the top of the search widget. If you would prefer not to have a title, you can leave this blank.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Jan-22-2025-04-03-21-4555-PM.png?width=300&height=76&name=image-png-Jan-22-2025-04-03-21-4555-PM.png)

**Submit Button Text -** You can type in any text you’d like here. (ex. "Search for Homes")  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-23-22-5929-PM.png?width=300&height=95&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-23-22-5929-PM.png)

**Default View -** What view of the listing results would you like search results to default to for your visitors?  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-38-12-6250-PM.png?width=300&height=124&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-38-12-6250-PM.png)

- Must have a [Google Maps Key](https://go.wearefbs.com/help-center/step-3-install-the-plugin-and-google-maps-keys?hsLang=en#google-maps)applied in order for Map view to function properly.

**Orientation**: Choose the appropriate orientation. For example, if you are displaying the widget in a sidebar, vertical will be the best option.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-26-42-6727-PM.png?width=300&height=114&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-26-42-6727-PM.png)

**Search bar layout -** Compact row (horizontal only) places location (up to ~500px wide), numeric filters, and submit on one row when space allows; extra options (property type, sort, status) wrap to additional rows. Use 100% widget width for best results. Vertical orientation always uses the default stacked layout.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-28-15-6990-PM.png?width=300&height=121&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-28-15-6990-PM.png)

**Compact row: search button -** Icon only shows a compact magnifying-glass submit on the same row as the search fields. Only applies when Search bar layout is Compact row. Submit Button Text is still used as the accessible name for screen readers.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-29-24-6976-PM.png?width=300&height=130&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-29-24-6976-PM.png)

**Widget Width -** Pixels: plain number uses legacy sizing (saved value minus 40), or use an explicit suffix (e.g. 800px). Percentages: e.g. 100% or 90%. Leave blank to use 100%.  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-29-57-8199-PM.png?width=300&height=94&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-03-29-57-8199-PM.png)

**Fonts & Colors  
![](https://go.wearefbs.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Aug-26-2026-05-32-48-5051-PM.png?width=300&height=552&name=image-png-Aug-26-2026-05-32-48-5051-PM.png)**

**Selected Property Type Tab Color -** Background color for the active Property Type and Property Sub-Type tabs. Only applies when Property Type display is Tabs. Text color is automatically adjusted for contrast.

**Detailed Search Link Color -** Color for the optional "Detailed Search" link shown next to the submit button.

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