[memobug]

Great idea! This looks really useful. I am thinking of a little bit different use.

Shouldn't the default really be to search the forum itself? Anyway, I am thinking of using this also to search my own photopost database of pictures, and my links database, but I will probably make the default a simple search of the forum.

Some notes:

1) I found each template (both search_the_internet and search_the_internet_window) have what appears to be a few instances of the same minor html bug: Each has a few, I believe three instances of valign="center". and the actual options for the valign tag are "bottom" "middle" or "top", so it probably should be "middle?"

2) If you do decide as I did to make the default search option a search of your forum, you may find this useful:

add this case option to websearch.php with the others:

case "myforum" :
doSearch("http://www.yourforum.com/search.php?action=simplesearch&sortby=lastpost&sor torder=descending&forumchoice=-1&searchdate=-1&query=");
break;

Then, open the search_the_internet template and replace the

<option value="google" selected>Search--> Google

bit with the following:

<option value="myforum" selected>Search -> Your Forum Name Here
<option value="google" selected>Search -> Google

That will make a simple keyword search of your forum the default search

3) Then, if you'd like to change the layout a bit to what I found to be a little more straightforward presentation, you can get rid of all that Search -> This engine stuff in the pulldown and insert the word Search as a text label for the box. You can see it in the footer at http://forum.bonsaitalk.com but it looks like

Search for: [ input box ] Search in: [ pulldown box ] [(go button)]

I think that's cleaner anyway, plus moving the submit button (which I relabled Go! to a position right next to the pulldowns.

4) Somewhere I have some Javascript for a pulldown that doesn't require a GO! button. That might be even better since this is a Jscript menu anyway. I'll look around.

5) Here's another one you'll definitely want to add, especially if you are Amazon Affiliate:
add to the case statement in websearch.php, replacing the "tag=" part with your own affiliate ID, or use mine, heck I don't care!

case "amazon" :
doSearch("http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/external-search?mode=blended&tag=wwwbonsailinn-20&keyword=");
break;
default :

and modify your search_the_internet template accordingly:

<option value="amazon" >Search--> Amazon

Fun Hack!

Regards,

Matt