Global search manager is not checking that classes under classes/search are actually search areas (extends core_search\base)

Create an abstract class extending \core_search\base (in 3.1: \core_search\area\base ). eg. base_forum in mod_forum\search . Create a concrete class extending base_forum or core_search\base . eg., forum_sub in mod_forum\search . Create another class that extends forum_sub . eg., forum_sub_sub in mod_forum\search . Assign language strings for both classes in mod/forum/lang/en/forum.php : $string['search:base_forum'] = 'Forum-base'; $string['search:forum_sub'] = 'Forum-sub'; $string['search:forum_sub_sub'] = 'Forum-sub-sub'; Login as admin. Navigate to Site administration ► Plugins ► Search ► Search areas . (In 3.1: Go to Site administration ► Plugins ► Search ► Manage global search then click Enable search areas ) Confirm that only Forum-sub and Forum-sub-sub are listed as search areas and they should be available to be enabled, while Forum-base is not displayed as a search area.