How to have SharePoint search custom columns in a custom list?

Question

Hello,
How can have SharePoint search custom columns in a custom list?  I have a custom list for a directory with names, department, title and phone numbers.  Department and titles are not searchable with the search box for the list.
How can I make these 2 custom columns searchable?
Thanks
Paul

Answer 1

Any text added to any property is searchable. If you have a Sales department search for "sales", but I think you are asking about doing a property search like "department=sales" or "department:sales".
2013 has a different way than 2007 and 2010 to create Managed Properties. You will need to create a Site Column and then a little configuration. The basic steps are:
Create a Site Column (as SP already has a Department column you will want to create one with a difference name such as CorpDept.)
Add the column to a list or library and add data. (won't be found otherwise)
Wait for the next content crawl. (or manually start a crawl)
Go to the tier where you want to define the managed property and go to the Schema page:
Central Admin, Search Service, Schema
your site, Settings (gear), Site Settings, Search Schema (in the Site Collection Admin section)
your site, Settings (gear), Site Settings, Schema (in the Search section)
Click Managed Properties and search for your column name. It might look like this: ows_q_TEXT_CorpDept.
Edit the Managed Property and give it a useful Alias, such as "CorpDept".
Test the search:    CorpDept:Sales
Do a web search for "SharePoint 2013 Site Column Managed Properties" for examples.
Mike Smith TechTrainingNotes.blogspot.com
Books:
SharePoint 2007 2010 Customization for the Site Owner,
SharePoint 2010 Security for the Site Owner