HIGHLIGHTED CONTENT WEB PART

Configuration Options

1. Content Source

• This site → Rolls up content only from the current site.
• Document library → Targets a specific library (great for policies, templates).
• Hub sites → Aggregates content across all sites connected to a hub.
• All sites → Broadest scope; useful for enterprise-wide rollups.

2. Content Type Filters

• Pages, documents, news posts, videos, or custom lists.
• Can filter by managed properties (e.g., Author, Title, Modified date).
• Supports metadata-based filtering (e.g., department, project tags).

3. Sorting

• Most recent → Shows newest items first.
• Most viewed/popular → Based on usage analytics.
• Custom sort → By metadata or property values.

4. Layout Options

• List → Simple text-based list.
• Grid → Thumbnail cards; good for visual content.
• Carousel → Rotating display; ideal for news or announcements.
• Filmstrip → Horizontal scrolling; good for images or videos.

5. Audience Targeting

• Requires enabling audience targeting in site settings.
• Allows different groups to see different content (e.g., HR vs IT).

Advanced Features

• Keyword query (KQL): Site owners can use Keyword Query Language for precise filtering (e.g., FileType:docx AND Department:HR).
• Managed properties: Use custom metadata fields to refine results.
• Hub rollup: Automatically aggregates content across connected sites, reducing duplication of effort.
• Dynamic updates: No need to manually refresh; content updates automatically as items are added/modified.

Best Practices

• Use consistent metadata: Ensure documents/pages are tagged properly for filters to work.
• Limit scope: Avoid “All sites” unless necessary; it can overwhelm users.
• Pair with other web parts: Use alongside News, Quick Links, or Hero web parts for a balanced page.
• Test layouts: Match layout to content type (e.g., grid for images, list for policies).
• Keep filters simple: Overly complex queries can confuse site owners and reduce usability.

Practical Use Cases

• Project site: Show the latest project documents automatically.
• Department portal: Roll up HR policies or IT guides from a central library.
• Hub site: Aggregate news posts from all connected sites.
• Executive dashboard: Highlight most viewed reports or KPIs.
• Training site: Surface recently updated learning materials.

Quick Summary (for training materials)

The Highlighted Content web part automatically displays relevant documents, pages, or news from your site, hub, or across SharePoint. Site owners can filter by type, metadata, or popularity, choose layouts like list, grid, or carousel, and enable audience targeting for personalized views. It’s best used for dynamic dashboards, project sites, or hub rollups where content changes frequently.