Free WordPress plugin
DIRSCHL Search
A clear site search that guides visitors to the right content. DIRSCHL Search presents published content on a dedicated results page with a correctly proportioned preview image, title, URL and useful description.
German and English results remain strictly separated. An optional search icon sits in the header beside the dark/light switch.
Current version 1.0.10 · free · no AI or API costs.
WordPress search made visible, multilingual and easy to use
Many WordPress sites technically include a search function but hide it or rely on a difficult default results view. DIRSCHL Search turns it into a clear route into existing content, so visitors can immediately understand which page matches their request.
- Dedicated search pages: /suche/ for German and /en/search/ for English.
- Useful results: image, page title, URL and Rank Math description or excerpt.
- Natural image ratios: previews are not forced into a cropped square.
- Configurable: results per page, pagination and an optional header icon.
- SEO-conscious: query result URLs do not become thin index pages; the base page remains the canonical entry point.
For visitors
- a familiar search interaction with no learning curve
- a faster route to services, products, articles and references
- responsive result cards with a clear visual hierarchy
- language-matched results without mixing German and English
For site owners
- no external search cloud or API key required
[dirschl_search]shortcode for custom placement- search landing pages are created on activation
- safe coexistence with DIRSCHL Answer Engine: the free pages remain available while Premium owns only the global header icon
Free Search and the Premium Answer Engine solve different problems
DIRSCHL Search locates existing pages through a conventional query. The DIRSCHL Answer Engine understands freely worded questions, grounds answers in a controlled knowledge base and improves the website using measured search data.
| DIRSCHL Search · Free | DIRSCHL Answer Engine · Premium |
|---|---|
| classic page and keyword search | questions, RAG and editorially approved answers |
| finds already published content | also detects content gaps and improves destination pages |
| no AI, GSC or Matomo connection needed | optional AI drafts, GSC questions and measurable source clicks |
Installation and use
- Install and activate the plugin.
- Choose the number of results and header icon under Settings → DIRSCHL Search.
- Review the automatically created pages or place the shortcode on a custom page.
- For multilingual websites, test German and English results separately.
The plugin itself is free. Setup, custom styling or adaptations for a special theme can be commissioned as optional services.
Frequently asked questions about DIRSCHL Search
Is DIRSCHL Search really free?
Yes. The plugin works without a suite licence and without a paid AI API. Only optional setup or custom adaptations are professional services.
Does it replace WordPress content with an external search index?
No. Search uses the published content of the WordPress website itself. No external search cloud is required.
Does search work in multiple languages?
Yes. The provided German and English search pages use language-separated results and follow the existing language selection.
What happens when Answer Engine is installed?
The free search pages remain fully available. Answer Engine only takes over the single global header icon and routes it to the premium question page.