XbK Azure AI Search - How to trigger index updates when using XbK APIs in external apps?

2025/03/17 7:44 PM

I've got an XbK site (let's call it Site A) that uses the Azure AI Search integration for XbK library to index some of the page content. I've got a second external non-Kentico site (Site B) with custom UI/functionality that allows users to edit and publish some pages from the XbK site, completely outside of the Kentico admin. Site B connects directly to Site A's Kentico database, and uses the Pages API for updating the page drafts and publishing pages.

When I publish the pages directly in the Kentico admin on Site A, the connected Azure AI Search index updates successfully. However, when publishing the same pages externally on Site B using the Pages API, the Azure AI Search index does not get updated.

Do I need to duplicate the AzureSearchSearchModule (https://github.com/Kentico/xperience-by-kentico-azure-ai-search/blob/main/src/Kentico.Xperience.AzureSearch/AzureSearchSearchModule.cs) in Site B to get this to work? Or is there a way to trigger the event handlers defined in the AzureSearchSearchModule in Site A, when events are triggered via Kentico APIs? Any other solutions?

Answers

2025/03/18 6:12 AM
Accepted answer

How about exposing a webhook endpoint on Site A that triggers an index rebuild when called? This way, Site B can send a request to that endpoint after completing updates via the Pages API.

I encountered a similar issue with rebuilding a Lucene index on a SaaS environment, and this was my solution: https://www.milanlund.com/knowledge-base/handling-search-index-rebuilds-in-xperience-by-kentico-s-saas-environment

2025/03/31 4:54 PM

Thanks Milan, I ended up implementing your suggestion. I added a code-only module to Site B that registers handlers for the applicable content item/web page events (e.g. Publish, Unpublish, Delete). These event handlers then call a custom endpoint on Site A that does the actual work of rebuilding the Azure index.

I still need to look into adding improved resiliency, but the core concept is working.

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