Highlighted excerpt is only returned if excerpt contains search phrase. If excerpt text does not contain the search phrase, nothing gets highlighted and no excerpt is returned att all.

What I need is highlighted excerpt text if excerpt text contains the search phrase, AND except text if it does not contain the search phrase. Is this a bug or am I missing something in the HitSpecification or in the find initializer?

In controller:

var hetSpec = new HitSpecification
                {
                    HighlightExcerpt = true
                };

                model.Hits = query.GetResult(hetSpec);

In EpiserverFindInitializer.cs:

SearchClient.Instance.Conventions.UnifiedSearchRegistry
                .ForInstanceOf<BasePage>()
                .ProjectExcerptUsing<BasePage>(spec => x => x.ExcerptText.AsCropped(spec.ExcerptLength));

            SearchClient.Instance.Conventions.UnifiedSearchRegistry
                           .ForInstanceOf<BasePage>()
                           .ProjectHighlightedExcerptUsing<BasePage>(spec => x => x.ExcerptText
                           .AsHighlighted(new HighlightSpec { 
                               FragmentSize = spec.ExcerptLength,
                               NumberOfFragments = 1,
                               PreTag = "<strong>",
                               PostTag = "</strong>"
                           }));

In BasePage:

public virtual string ExcerptText
        {
            get
            {
                if (MetaDescription.IsNotNullOrEmpty())
                {
                    var meta = HttpUtility.HtmlDecode(MetaDescription);
                    return meta;
                }
                    

                if(HeroArea != null && HeroArea.Items.Any() && UseNewHero)
                {
                    IContentRepository ContentRepository = ServiceLocator.Current.GetInstance<IContentRepository>();
                    if (ContentRepository.TryGet(HeroArea.Items.First().ContentLink, this.Language, out HeroBlockBase heroBlockBase))
                    {
                        if (heroBlockBase.IntroText != null && !heroBlockBase.IntroText.IsEmpty)
                        {
                            var intro = StringHelpers.RemovePTag(heroBlockBase.IntroText).ToString();
                            return intro;
                        }
                    }
                }
                return string.Empty;
            }
        }