Integration with vBulletin - vB Google Adsense for Search plus Integration

This is no longer supported - however I will be working on a 4.0 compatible version of this.

This is the same version as 3.7 as I've had a few reports that it works just fine in 3.8. Plus, I have it running on 3.8 with no issues.

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.

[davidw]

The branding is out of my control. I have tested it and when I only display it in one specific location it shows up there, but more locations, it only displays in one location, sometimes in the navbar, sometimes elsewhere.

The URL for the searchresults.php file is supposed to go in the admincp options.

[mattonline]

I know but on my forum the search is only going to the built in vbulletin search, and not searchresults.php

[davidw]

can you pm me a link to what is going on and an account to test with?

[panus]

after tried to install for a week , finally it's working now!
Thanks.

installed.

[dreck]

Great hack! thanks!

I do have a question. My page with the search results has 2 other google ads displayed. One below the navbar & the other in the footer.

When the results are displayed sometimes it will display 2 other ads. Will I run into any problems running 4 ads? Or should I disable the ads after navbar & in footer?

And how can I disable these ads only on this page?

Thanks, dreck

[davidw]

Typically, those ads are provided by Google, based on your placement preferences set up when you set up your adsense. I don't see how you can disable them.

Unless... you are referring to the ads displayed via vBulletin's built in adsense system. I don't see an issue with them personally as long as you aren't forcing the ads on the users (making them click) and as long as they aren't in a pop-up or pop-under they should be ok. The only way to effectively disable them is to replicate the navbar and footer and remove the ad code in there. You can disable them other ways such as using if conditionals (styleid - put the adsense in a certain style for example).

[dreck]

OK. I would think it would be ok. I am just not sure. I did not want to violate googles TOS. It clearly states only 3 ads units per page.

[ranz]

is the partner-pub id the whole thing or just the bit in bold?

partner-pub-0123456789012345:lnucfbm5dtp

[dreck]

whole thing

[45wheelgun]

David,

This is the best hack yet. I clicked Install and I nominated:up: