How to implement "search" on a custom page?

[Lynne]

You added the code from the search field into a new form after the form you had there (the one with the drop-down and Show Websites). You kinda have the html all messed up around there. You only need one form - you have two (one that you can't even access). You need to add those "type=hidden" inputs to under your other hidden inputs. You also need to give your new form a unique name..... I have a search form on my torrents page and I have it set to only search thread titles in two forums. This is some of what I added in my template:

<form action="search.php" method="post" name="vbform">

<input type="hidden" name="s" value="$session[sessionhash]" />
<input type="hidden" name="do" value="process" />
<input type="hidden" name="titleonly" value="1" />
<input type="hidden" name="showposts" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="sortby" value="lastpost">
<input type="hidden" name="order" value="descending">
<input type="hidden" name="s" value="">
<input type="hidden" name="forumchoice[]" value="12">
<input type="hidden" name="forumchoice[]" value="13">

All my input fields that they may select
</form>

So, you can see that I do use the search.php action and I give it a unique name. I also fill in a ton of hidden fields that the search form will need. Then, all my input fields use the correct name to correspond to what the search.php file wants.