Search The Internet v1.0 (Major Engines)

Search The Internet Hack - (Copyright 2002+), tHE DSS
V1.0 (10th August 2002)

Additional code (enhanced by tHE DSS) used from Freddie's Quick Stats Hack at https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showthrea...threadid=37193

As with anything of this nature, I will not be held responsible for any damage that may be caused during installation of this hack, or in the future during usage of this hack. Although steps have been taken to ensure a smooth installation, and smooth usage, you install and use this hack entirely at your own risk.

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This hack gives your visitors an excellent quick and easy way of finding information on the Internet, without having to leave your site.

5 search engines are included at the moment (google, yahoo, alta vista, excite & lycos). A search "bar" is present on every page on your forum site, in the footer by default - your visitors simply type in a search, select the engine to search on (from a drop down box), and that's that.

A new window will open up, with the seach results displayed.

It gets even better, because this hack can optionally keep search logs on who is searching what from where, and when. A great help for webmasters interested in their visitors wants and needs.

Webmasters can quickly track down information from the search logs via the vB AdminCP. In-fact, webmasters can control the logs completely, from the AdminCP.

It gets better yet, as this hack is so easy to install.

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I will no doubt be adding features to this hack as and when I get a spare half hour - the "upgrades" will simply entail uploading a replacement file (no vB scripts will need replacing).

Cheers.

[Big M]

Nice hack, easy to install, works well.
Thanx for your time & effort.

[tHE DSS]

Excellent.

I've looked at all the sites that I can find a URL for, to see this working at your places..... i'm impressed with everyone... thanks all for installing.

[blackice912]

[high]* blackice912 likes and will use [/high]

[morrow]

This is a really nice hack. I just installed it and everything seems to be working great.

Check it out:

http://www.njflyfishing.com

[tHE DSS]

All doing me proud. Thanks for installing.

[Attrox]

Oh wow, I've been looking for this for quite awhile now. Nice job.

[joebow]

Cool hack! Easy to install .... Nice Job!

[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

[tHE DSS]

For sure.

I like what you've done.

I didn't have the "search forum" in there, or as default, because there are already options for that. I simply wanted a "search the internet" add-on.

I'll certainly consider your suggestions for the next version, though, each to their own tastes.

Nicely done though.

[memobug]

A mod for online.php to clean things up a bit. This will decode websearch a bit

1. in online.php find:

case 'gallery':
$userinfo[where] = "Viewing Picture <a href='gallery.php?s=$session[sessionhash]'>Gallery</a>";
break;
case 'spider':
$userinfo[where] = "Search Engine Spider";
break;

Add after that:

// mec 081802 start print websearch
case 'websearch':
$userinfo[where] = "<a href=\"$userinfo[location]\" TITLE=$userinfo[location]>Using Websearch Function</a>";
break;

2. Next find

case 'attachment.php':
if (strstr($token1,'postid')) {
$blowup = explode('=', $token1);
$postid = intval($blowup[1]);
$postids .= ",$postid";
} else if (strstr($token2,'postid')) {
$blowup = explode('=', $token2);
$postid = intval($blowup[1]);
$postids .= ",$postid";
}

and insert BEFORE it:

case 'websearch.php':
$userinfo[activity] = 'websearch';
break;

You can of course, omit the comment, change the date or use your own initials. This is just a technique I use to find mods later.

3) Test it out. When a user uses this search function, you should see something like

Using Websearch Function (with the Function hotlinked to the search, and if you hover on it you will be able to see the search url, of course you could read that out of the "explorer bar" at the bottom of the browser, anyway)

Regards,

Matt