Custom Browser Search Engines for Canvas

[tyler_clair]

This guide will help you setup searching shortcuts in Chrome and Firefox for finding Canvas users and courses or going directly to them using the canvas ID. Both browsers allow you to use a keyword entered into the address bar followed by what you want to search by or an ID to go directly to the resource. String placeholders (%s) represent what you type in the address bar.

Google Chrome

Manage search engines

1. Click the More button and then click Settings.
2. In the Search engine section, click Manage search engines.
3. In the Other search engines section, click Add.
4. Follow the directions for each search engine you want to create.

Canvas course search

1. In the Add search engine dialog box, in the Search engine box enter Canvas Course Search.
2. In the Keyword box enter ccs.
3. in the URL... box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/accounts/?search_term=%s.
4. Click Add.

Canvas people search

1. In the Add search engine dialog box, in the Search engine box enter Canvas People Search.
2. In the Keyword box enter cps.
3. in the URL... box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/accounts/users?search_term=%s.
4. Click Add.

Go directly to a Canvas course

1. In the Add search engine dialog box, in the Search engine box enter Direct Canvas Course.
2. In the Keyword box enter dcc.
3. in the URL... box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/courses/%s.
4. Click Add.

Go directly to a Canvas user

1. In the Add search engine dialog box, in the Search engine box enter Direct Canvas User.
2. In the Keyword box enter dcu.
3. in the URL... box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/users/%s.
4. Click Add.

Activation

To activate the search engine enter the search engine keyword in the address bar, and then press the Tab key, and then type your search string or ID, then press Enter.

Firefox

Create bookmarks folder

1. Click Library, then click Bookmarks, or press Ctrl+Shift+B
2. In the Bookmarks list, right-click on Bookmarks Menu then click New Folder....
3. In the New Folder dialog box, enter Canvas Search in the Name box, then click Add.
4. In the Canvas Search folder right-click and select New Bookmark....

Canvas course search

1. In the New Bookmark dialog box, in the Name box enter Canvas Course Search.
2. In the Location box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/accounts/?search_term=%s.
3. In the Keyword box enter ccs.
4. Click Add.

Canvas people search

1. In the New Bookmark dialog box, in the Name box enter Canvas People Search.
2. In the Location box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/accounts//users?search_term=%s.
3. In the Keyword box enter cps.
4. Click Add.

Go directly to a Canvas course

1. In the New Bookmark dialog box, in the Name box enter Direct Canvas Course.
2. In the Location box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/courses/%s.
3. In the Keyword box enter dcc.
4. Click Add.

Go directly to a Canvas user

1. In the New Bookmark dialog box, in the Name box enter Direct Canvas User.
2. In the Location box enter https://<instance>.instructure.com/users/%s.
3. In the Keyword box enter dcu.
4. Click Add.

Activation

To activate the search engine enter the search engine keyword in the address bar, and press the Spacebar, and then type your search string or ID, then press Enter.

Examples

• Canvas course search: ccs Sp19 BIOL-1010

• Canvas people search: cps Abe Froman

  • You can also search by login_id, email, or sis_id.

• Go directly to a Canvas course: dcc 123456

• Go directly to a Canvas user: dcu 123456