Problem with search function :(

[Goodman_2020]

Hi,

i'm configuring my new forum and i realized that there is a problem withthe search function.
Actually, i can make searches ONLY on forums that are actives
The problem is that 98% of my forum/category are hidden thanks to the function "forum is not active" tyis way i created buttons with direct link to forum i want.
But it seems that the fact to make forum not active (so invisible only if we know the url) has as effect to don't make appears them in seach boxes so we can't search on them! ouch

Is there a way to make that they appear for search but stay hidden?

And by the way, if they don't appear in search box, because they are hidden, could google, yahoo etc. see the threads????

EDIT/ actually we can do a search but nothing appears in the "search in all forums box" due to the fact they are hidden. Would it be possible to make them appear in the box but stay hidden?

Thx