404 Not Found turns into vBulletin search!
 

Well, I can't say that this is the most advanced, or most original thing I've written, but I figure it'll be a good hack to post first.

Say a user goes to your forum, and is looking for something specific and quick. Perhaps your forum is a Tolkien based forum...and the user was looking for information on Gandalf, the user could go to http://www.yourforum.com/gandalf, and a search would be generated. Basically what this hack does is it uses GET data as POST data in what would be submitted by search.php.

Features:

• Incorporates permissions to match your forums permissions.
• Gives the most common bots and spiders a 404 error.
• Small, and disgustingly easy installation
• Explicitly clear instructions for configuration (comes preconfigured with vBulletin defaults)

The attached zip by default only works on Apache's httpd or other servers that support .htaccess and ErrorDocument directive. Can be configured for IIS, but extra work on your part (and probably your host's) part.

So far, it has been tested and works on 2.2.8 and 2.2.9, but it should work on 2.2.*.

Ahh, yes, I said it wasn't original. I got the idea from php.net's neat little idea where you can go to http://www.php.net/something and it will search for something.

To Install:

1. Upload 404.php to your forum root directory.
2. If you have a .htaccess file in place already, copy the line from the supplied file into your file. If you *do not* have a .htaccess file in place already, add the file.
   

Lets see, I believe that's all...nope

Oh, yes, one last...yes, finally last...thing, please, please click Install if/when you install this hack.

That's all folks!

EDIT: VERSION 1.0

Interesting idea Beorn, although I can't say it's really needed by me, but I'll defiantly consider it for future installation. ;)

Screenshots?

Does this perform a search through the vB forum search, or a websearch through some other site.

*Didn't read full post*

vB forum search

Nice hack, I might consider it :)

Great, I will check it out :)

There really are no screenshots. Basically if you went to yourforum.com/searchforthis, it would be the same as yourforum.com/search.php, and typed in 'searchforthis' and hitting enter.

Thanks :)
*tries to convince you that you really do need it ;)


Oh, yes, one last thing, please, please click Install if/when you install this hack

Thanks all,
Mike

It's just like on php.net. It's great just too bad I already use php 404 handler for pages.

This is very nice, I will definately install this, thanks!

/me clickies install

could I see a working demo by any chance?

I installed this, and it works great, because search engine cached pages that do not work because maybe I moved it or something, but now the potential users will not leave :)