Hello! This is a very common scenario and usually points to one of two settings involving attachments and AI Search.
You are correct that the setting is not on the Catalog Item itself, but rather on the tables being indexed. Since you are seeing the documents appear, the data is definitely being indexed.
Here is how to steer your troubleshooting:
1. Primary Fix: Exclude Attachments Globally
The fastest and most common fix is to ensure the system-level exclusion for attachments is correctly set for the Request Item table (sc_req_item).
The Issue: When a document is attached to a Catalog Item request via the portal, that attachment ultimately gets stored on the associated Request Item (sc\_req\_item) or Attachment (sys\_attachment) tables. If these attachments are indexed, they will appear in search results.
The Solution: The key control is a System Property that governs whether attachments are indexed for AI Search.
Action: Check the property record for glide.service_portal.search.enable_all_attachments.
Expected Value: This property should be set to false or removed entirely, or a related property governing attachment indexing for the specific table is overriding it.
2. Secondary Fix: Adjust the AI Search Source
If the global property doesn't work, you need to go back to the Search Source you mentioned and ensure the exclusion condition is applied correctly.
The Search Source: Navigate to AI Search > Search Administration > Search Sources. Find the search source responsible for indexing Catalog Item requests (it may be named "Requested Items" or similar).
The Exclusion: Look at the Script or Condition that defines what records are returned. Even if the attachment indexer is disabled, the script might still be bringing in the sc_req_item record, and AI Search is then displaying the file content it found linked to that record.
Steering Tip: Look for the dedicated system setting that manages which tables are specifically excluded from attachment indexing. In many instances, the system manages this via the Index Attachment for Table record list (csh\_index\_attachment\_for\_table). If the sc\_req\_item table is listed here and set to True, the attachments will be indexed regardless of other settings.
Key Takeaway
The fact that the documents appear means they are being indexed. This indexing is controlled either by a general System Property or a setting specific to the sc_req_item table's attachment indexing scope.
Good luck!
