Note: As part of the Yokohama release (EA on 30th Jan), we are deprecating the SharePoint Online Search Connector and replacing it with a new, Raytion-based External Content Connector
Feature Demo
Introduction
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new External Content Connectors, designed to enhance your search capabilities by seamlessly integrating external enterprise repositories. These AI-powered connectors allow for secure crawling, indexing, and searching of external content, making your search experience more efficient and streamlined.
As part of this update, we are deprecating the SharePoint Online Search Connector and replacing it with a new, Raytion-based connector. This new version simplifies the setup process from over 50 steps to just 3, offering faster and more intuitive integration.
In addition to SharePoint, we're introducing out-of-the-box connectors for Confluence, with even more connectors coming soon.
How to get access?
License & family release compatibility – The new External Content Connectors are available for all customers with Workflow Data Fabric (formerly Integration Hub Pro, Automation Engine Pro, or Automation Engine Enterprise), starting with the Yokohama family release on January 30th. For customers with IHub Starter V4 (Which is bundled along with Employee Center Pro), access to the External Content Connectors will be available with the March release on March 12th.
Plugins required – This enhancement is available by downloading theExternal Content Connectors (version 1.0.9) application.
Technical details – Downloading the requisite plugins will install the External Content Admin UI along with all available connectors. Once installed, simply navigate to External Content Connectors > External Content Admin Home to set up your connector.
For other feature deep-dives, refer to other topics covered as part of Employee Center Academy series.
FAQ's
1. My organization is looking to explore or deploy SharePoint Online Search Connector and I'm facing issues in configuring the connector. What should I do?
As part of the Yokohama release (EA on 30th Jan), we are deprecating the SharePoint Online Search Connector and replacing it with a new External Content Connector (XCC). We recommend all new customers to explore and use the new connector.
2. What are external content connectors (XCC) ?
External content connectors are AI Search plug-ins which enable the crawling, indexing, and searching of external enterprise repositories in a secure manner. XCC replace the legacy Raytion enterprise search connectors.
3. What benefits do we receive from XCCs?
XCC will provide the following benefits for admins and users:
Simple Deployment XCCs require 2-3 inputs to establish a connection, and creation of a schedule to crawl the content. This drastically reduces the effort from our previous connectors which required 50+ steps and weeks to complete.
Better Performance Ability to conduct partial crawling, Crawling only specified branches of a source system hierarchy, useful for more frequently used directories. Additionally, these connectors are more performant by measure of documents traversed per second.
Increased Filtering More control to the customer to selectively filter which content they want included, such as file type extension filtering, document size filtering, and various directory filtering methods.
More Flexibility Create multiple connectors per source system, which was a prior restriction of ServiceNow’s connectors. Allowing large organizations, with multiple instances, to sync content across all instances of their application.
4. What license is required to get XCC?
The new External Content Connectors are available for all customers with Workflow Data Fabric (formerly Integration Hub Pro, Automation Engine Pro, or Automation Engine Enterprise), starting with the Yokohama family release on January 30th. For customers with IHub Starter V4 (Which is bundled along with Employee Center Pro), access to the External Content Connectors will be available with the March release on March 12th. Subprod usage doesn't require entitlement.
5. How can I start using XCCs?
Entitled customers can download "External Content Connectors" product bundle from the app store. This installs the External Content Admin UI and all available connectors.
After installation, go to External Content Connectors > External Content Admin Home to set up your connector.
6. We've been using SharePoint Online Search Connector for some time now. How can we migrate to the new External Content Connector?
Is it possible to provide step-by-step procedures to connect this connector for sharePoint.We have this requirement but its very much confusing on Documentation so.
@svani Our new connectors, External Content Connectors (XCC) are well documented with step by step actions. It also includes a dedicated admin hub to help guide you through the process. External Content Connectors product documentation.
If you have specific questions on what steps are tripping you up, feel free to follow up here!
Can you please provide troubleshooting steps for the Confluence XCC? I set this up in our sandbox instance and follow everything that is in the documentation. I have a Confluence Cloud personal account (trial) where I am trying to pull content from. I followed the configuration settings as described in the product documentation but none of my Crawls are working. Everything is failing without any errors. I only have one space and one page in the Confluence.
Also, I noticed that when I am granting access to the App I created in the developer console in Atlassian for XCC to get access to Confluence I get redirected to my instance call back URL (https://instancename.service-now.com/oauth_redirect.do) with the below error:
Your OAuth redirect failed. Please check if the redirect URL setup in your OAuth configuration matches your ServiceNow instance URL.
Hoping to hear from the product team for suggestions, thanks in advance! @SmritiGupta@adambuj
