Integration with vBulletin - vB Google Adsense for Search plus Integration

I've done an overhaul on this and you will need to resetup your adsense for search account for this to work. If you aren't happy with that, please use the 3.6 version of this, which works fine for 3.7 from what I've been told.

Step 1:
You may have to resetup your adsense. If you do, you will get a new pub ID - this one includes your previous pub and tacks on your GALT (which is set up when you resetup your adsense account). I used www.christianboards.org and www.google.com (so it would search my site and the web - you can choose only your site, or any location that is web-accessible for results)

Example: partner-pub-0123456789012345:lnucfbm5dtp

If your partner-pub ID does not look like the example, you will see an error.

Also, keep in mind, all sites you put into the box for the adsense (one per line) will be integrated into the search and the search results.

Step 2:
Edit your searchresults.php file.
Find:

chdir('/path/to/your/forums/');

Put your correct value.

Example: chdir('/var/www/vhosts/yoursite.com/forums/');

Step 3:
Upload this file your forum's root. An example of your forum's root is below.

Example: http://www.yoursite.com/forums/searchresults.php

Step 4:
Install the product
Go to Admincp => Plugins & Products => Manage Products => [Add/Import Product] => Browse for product-davidw_vb_google_search.xml => Import

Step 5:
Configure your Admincp options
Go to Admincp => vBullitin Options => vBulletin Options => Find vB Google Search (Adsense) then click [Edit Settings]
Edit your new Partner-pub ID (the one you just had reset up - see example in red above), Google box width, iframe widthfor your results (I use 800 in the screenshot, but you can change this based on your needs), and the full URL to your searchresults.php.

NOTE! If you do not enter these in, you will see errors.

Step 6: Optional
Edit 1 template:
Admincp => Styles & Templates => Style Manager => Edit Templates (on your style) => Search Templates => search_forums => under $navbar, add $google_siteadsearch

Step 7: Optional (for vBAdvanced 3.x only)
vBa CMPS => Default Settings => Main Options => Portal Output Global Variables

Add these variables:
template_hook
google_navadsearch
homeurl

=> Save

vBa CMPS => Edit Modules => Search Forums => Select Action => Copy Module

Main Options
Module Title Google Search site / Forums
Template To Include search_google

Module Wrapper Template Options
Form Code Replace default code with

<form action="http://www.yoursite.com/forums/searchresults.php" type="hidden" name="search" target="_blank">

Click Save
Edit locations where you want to set this active to.

[jlew24asu]

Originally Posted by davidw

Did you disable your current search for the home page and enable the new one you created (set active). The one I see goes to search.php page rather than searchresults.php.

how do I do that?

[davidw]

Assuming you have created the module in the last step above, to disable the old,
vBa CMPS => Edit Modules => [Search Forums] Click Go next to Edit Module
Under Main Options
Active => Set to No
Click Save

Then go back, and make sure the other Google Search module is set to active.

Also, check your Quick Permissions Editor (and look under Modules) - Find your Google Search and make sure everyone you want to be able to view it can.

[jlew24asu]

ah. ok. done! thanks again. you are very helpful

[jlew24asu]

how anyone would not want this on their site is beyond me

[davidw]

Thanks
Btw, if you want me to look at your CMPS setup, PM me enough info to get me access to the CMPS in the admin and I'll look at it when I get a chance. I may sit down this week and totally rewrite the instructions.

[jlew24asu]

actually something is wrong. when doing a search it comes up www.yoursite/forums/seachresults.php (etc etc)

did I not edit the php correctly?

[davidw]

That is an admincp option (last option). Your forum's path.
or
That is Module Wrapper Template Options (last step above)
Form Code Replace default code with ...
(you've got to put your site in there)

[jlew24asu]

getting closer now I get

Not Found
The requested URL /asu_forum/searchresults.php was not found on this server.

but it is there!

[MadK]

I have about 7 queries done today, but my Google Adsense Search report shows $0.00.

Is everything alright with the way I setup the custom search? All were from different IPs.

Is it a problem if my searchresults.php is hosted in the root folder (www.mafia-mp.com) and my forum is hosted on /forum/ ? The search results show up properly.

[davidw]

Originally Posted by jlew24asu

getting closer now I get

Not Found
The requested URL /asu_forum/searchresults.php was not found on this server.

but it is there!

It needs to be the full URL
http://www. ... /asu_forum/searchresults.php

Originally Posted by MadK

I have about 7 queries done today, but my Google Adsense Search report shows $0.00.

Is everything alright with the way I setup the custom search? All were from different IPs.

Is it a problem if my searchresults.php is hosted in the root folder (www.mafia-mp.com) and my forum is hosted on /forum/ ? The search results show up properly.

I am not sure how long it takes to show up, but as long as you have your full partner-pub- number and there are no errors and the user does the full click-through by Google's standards, you will/should get what credits that are appropriate. I know I did a couple tests a while back and one showed up, and one didn't - it was for a couple pennies, but it still worked. If there are no errors, I would have to say that there is a small waiting period (days probably). But I've not really looked on that side of things. I do not get that much traffic, but I have still earned a few dollars in the past couple months.