Add-On Releases - GTSearch: Google? Custom Search Engine

Now you can have your very own Google? Custom Search Engine tailored specifically for your web site.

Why GTSearch: Google? Custom Search Engine?

• Help your visitors find what they're looking for
• Invite your friends and community to contribute
• Make money with AdSense for Search

Custom modification brought to you by Joe Velez (aka Princeton vbulletin.org Admin).

1.0.0 VERSION (download GTSEARCH.zip)

This is a "No Template Edits" modifications.

Show your support and click Mark As Installed and Nominate For MOTM.

For continued support and upgrades - support by donating via PayPal.

What is a Custom Search Engine?

A Custom Search Engine is a tailored search experience, built using Google's core search technology, that prioritizes or restricts search results based on websites and pages you specify. Your Custom Search Engine can be tailored to reflect your point of view or area of expertise. With a Custom Search Engine, you can:

• Apply your website's look and feel to the search results page.
• Provide search refinements within results pages to make it easier for searchers to find the information they're looking for.
• Add sites to your search engine's index as you surf the web.
• Invite friends and trusted users to co-edit and contribute to your search engine.
• Make money from your Custom Search Engine by participating in Google's AdSense program.

Once you've defined your search engine index, Google will give you a simple piece of code for a search box to place on your site or blog. You'll then have the option to choose various customization options to make the look and feel and functionality of your search engine your own.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q) What exactly does this modification do?
A) It integrates your CSE with your site - results are on your site not on a Google-hosted page.

Q) Can I run Adsense ads on the same page?
A) No, it's Adsense Google's TOS. To earn money, you will need to associate your CSE with your Adsense account. You can do this by clicking the "Make Money" section of your custom search engine control panel.

Instructions

1. Upload gtsearch.php file to vbulletin root (same place where global.php file is located)
2. Install GTSearch: Google? Custom Search Engine product file
3. Create a Custom Search Engine @ google.com
4. Want to make money? Follow directions as instructed in the Make Money section of your CSE page.
5. When completed copy/paste Code to GTSearch: Google? Custom Search Engine vBulletin Options.
6. Done

Questions about Google? Custom Search Engine?

• Direct all questions to Google's Discussion group

Must Read

• Google? Custom Search Engine Terms of Service
• Google? Custom Search Help Center

History:

• November 6 2007 - GTSearch: Google? Custom Search Engine release

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[Princeton]

Originally Posted by Warden-B-

Will this mod conflict with google adsense?

it's against their TOS - do not add google adsense .. you will earn money when visitors click on Sponsored ads in the Google results

Originally Posted by Michelle

Doesn't this mean that users will only be able to search in threads that are visible to guests?

whatever google can index is available

Originally Posted by Saviour

Downloaded and installed...

Followed directions to the tee. Also made sure I included the url to the gtsearch.php within the CSE code.

Worked a couple of times...but getting a lot of Google Internal Server errors.

It was fun while it lasted...but must uninstall since it's really serving no useful purpose if Google can't handle the query.

May be nice...once all the bugs are out of it...

check your settings; check your plugins .. Google doesn't produce errors (at least as far as I'm aware)

[Illustrious]

What is the template addons, it doesn't work with my style by default.

[youradhere4222]

Do you know why I'm getting the error message I stated above?

[Illustrious]

I'm getting an error. I have added the GTSearch box now, but it still seems to try to use the standard search when I enter any text into the Google box.

However, since the standard box is empty (when I use the google box), it returns an error that nothing matches the search terms.

[Saviour]

Originally Posted by youradhere4222

Do you know why I'm getting the error message I stated above?

You need to specify in the CSE what the url will be to display your results...

Example: http://www.yourdomain.com/forums/gtsearch.php

Make sure you specify the landing page...gtsearch.php.

[Saviour]

By the way...for those interested...it will conflict with AdSense if you don't specify in your AdSense account to let www.google.com/coop access to the AdSense account.

Email I received from Google:

"You are receiving this email because you recently requested access to use
AdSense through www.google.com/coop. In order to use AdSense features through
www.google.com/coop, you'll need to give the site access to the ad
code and performance information in your AdSense account."

[youradhere4222]

Thanks for the reply.

I added:

http://unsocialme.com/forum/gtsearch.php

to the "Specify search results details" section. I then pasted the codes into the appropriate places. It's still giving me the same error.

[youradhere4222]

It's working now!

This mod works excellent; many thanks!

[ShawneyJ]

great hack i love it.

can someone give me an idea on what goes in:

Search box code?
and
Search results code?

please, i have signed up with google but cant find a code

edit: ok got it lol.

but when i search my forum appears, what am i missing please?

[youradhere4222]

Do you have a custom search engine set up? There's a link to in the ACP.

Once you do this, go to your control panel, and click "Code". The codes that go in that section are in there.