How to add a file type to the content index in SharePoint 2010

In this article we will be seeing how to add a file type to the content index in SharePoint 2010.

Using Central Administration:

• Go to Central Administration => Application Management => Manage Service Applications => Search Service Application.
• In the navigation, go to Crawling => File Types.
• Click on "New File Type".
  
  
   
• Enter the file extension.
  
  
   
• Click on Ok.
• A new file type is added successfully.

Using Visual Studio 2010:

• Open Visual Studio 2010.
• Go to File => New => Project.
• Select Console Application from the installed templates.
• Enter the Name and click Ok.
• Add the following references.
  
  o Microsoft.SharePoint.dll
  o Microsoft.Office.Server.dll
  o Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.dll
   
• Add the following namespaces.
  
  o using Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administration;
  o using Microsoft.Office.Server;
  o using Microsoft.SharePoint;
   
• Replace the code with the following.
  
                   //  search service application name             
              string ssaName = "Search Service Application";
              SearchContext context = SearchContext.GetContext(ssaName);
              Content ssaContent = new Content(context);
              //ExtensionList => Get the list of file name extensions
              ssaContent.ExtensionList.Create("ascx");
   
• Build the solution.
• Hit F5.
• A new file type is added successfully.
  
  
  

Using Powershell:

• Run SharePoint 2010 Management Shell as an administrator.
• Add the following script to create a new file type to the content index.
  
  $ssaName="Search Service Application"
  $context=[Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administration.SearchContext]::GetContext($ssaName)
  $ssaContent=New-Object Microsoft.Office.Server.Search.Administration.Content($context)
  $ssaContent.ExtensionList.Create("ascx")