Integration with vBulletin - CFM: Google AdSense for Search Integration

Title: "CFM: Google Search Results"
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Author: Sal Bezos (webmaster@carforummisfits.com)
Date of Creation: September 3, 2006
Version: 1.0 (9/30/2006)
Home: http://www.carforummisfits.com/
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Purpose:
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This product for vBulletin creates a target page for providing Google Search Results within your vBulletin forums. The Google Search Results (AdSense for Search) will appear in a vBulletin page.

Unlike the previous revision of this product, you will now be able to enter code for a Google Search Box for placement in the Search drop-down menu (or anywhere else you would like to place it). Please make sure that your search box code includes a <form> tag that states something along the lines of action="http://<yourhostname>/forums/cfmgoogle.php".


Tested:
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This product has been tested on a vBulletin 3.6.1 installation. There is no reason why it should not work in the same manner on any 3.6.x or 3.5.x installation, but it has not and will not be tested by the author.


Included Files:
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- README.txt
- cfm-live-demo.png (screenshot)
- cfmgoogle.php
- product-cfm_google_search_results.xml


Installation:
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1. Upload the cfmgoogle.php file to your forum root, usually located at http://<yourhostname>/forums.

2. Register for a Google AdSense for Search account.
----a. Register for a Google AdSense account if you don't have one.
----b. Visit "http://www.google.com/adsense/".
----c. Login with your e-mail and password.
----d. Click on the "AdSense Setup" tab.
----e. Select "AdSense for Search".
----f. Configure your search box.
--------f1. Select either "Google WebSearch" or "Google WebSearch + SiteSearch" depending on whether you want users to be able to Google search your site or not. If you select "Google WebSearch + SiteSearch", enter the URL of sites you wish to be able to search.
--------f2. For Logo Type, I recomment selecting "Google Logo" and checking the "Logo above text box" option.
--------f3. For "Opening of search results page" select "Open results within my own site." Enter the URL of your cfmgoogle.php file (e.g. http://<yourhostname>/forums/cfmgoogle.php)
--------f4. Click "Continue >>".
----g. Configure the appearance of the results page, then click "Continue >>"
----h. You should now receive two sets of code from Google labeled "Your search box code" and "Your search results code".

3. In your forum's admin panel, go to Plugins & Products/Manage Products

4. Click on Add/Import Product

5. Click "Browse..." and select the "product-cfm_google_search_results.xml" product file. If this is your first installation of this product, select the "No" radio button in the "Allow Overwrite" option. If you are upgrading or reinstalling, select the "Yes" radio button. Click the "Import" button.

6. Go to vBulletin Options/vBulletin Options. Scroll through the list and select "CFM: Google Search Results".

7. In the "Google Search Box Code" option, paste the code provided by Google titled "Your search box code".

7. In the "Google Search Results Code" option, paste the code provided by Google titled "Your search results code".

8. In Styles & Templates/Style Manager go into Edit Templates for your style. Open the "Navigation / Breadcrumb Templates" template group and open the "navbar" template.

9. Find the following:

		<form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">
		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">

And replace with:

		<table cellpadding="4" cellspacing="1" border="0">
		<form action="search.php?do=process" method="post">

Find the following:

		</table>
		</form>
	</div>
	<!-- / header quick search form -->

And replace with:

		</form>
		<tr>
			<td class="thead">Search Google</td>
		</tr>
                <tr>
                        <td class="vbmenu_option" title="nohilite">$vboptions[cfmgsr_googlesearch]</td>
		</tr>
		</table>
	</div>
	<!-- / header quick search form -->

10. Pull up a forum page and look under your search drop-down menu for the search box.

11. Enjoy!


FAQ:
----
Q. My search results window is too tall. What's wrong with it?
A. This appears to be a bug in the Google Search Results code. If my assumption is incorrect, please let me know.

Q. Why are the colors all wonky on my search results?
A. The colors of the search results are provided by the search box. Make sure the colors in the search box code are correct.

Q. The background color of the Google search box doesn't match my page -- what can I do about it?
A. If Google's TOS allows it, play around with the settings in the code you pasted in the "Your search box code" option.


Revisions:
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1.0 - 09/30/2006 - Adding instructions and support for the Google search box in the search drop-down menu
0.1 - 09/03/2006 - Initial release


Support:
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Any questions and problems should be reported to the modification's thread on http://www.vbulletin.org. No warranty, express or implied, is granted with this software. Use is at your own risk.


License:
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GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE
Version 2, June 1991

[VViper]

Hi there great mod, is there any way that on the top of the page after they search, to have another search, as they have to go back if they want to search again.

[bigcurt]

installed and works perfect on vB 3.6.7

[LPH2004]

I added a custom Google search engine script in the header so that the search results would be placed on cfmgoogle.php. This works great except Google ads do not show. Google is trying to figure out why the ads do not show in the search results page. Any thoughts?

[RetroDreams]

Originally Posted by bchertov

Ok. What's the point of having the search results in a vb page? If they click on any of the links they are outa there!

Just set the search to open in a new window. That's what I've done.

[RetroDreams]

Any idea on how to edit it so the Who's Online isn't so ugly?

[TomJames]

Does not seem to work on 3.6.8, any ideas?

[SirHappy]

Hello Throtex, I would use with pleasure this code. May you adapt your instructions to the newest version 3.6.8? Thank you

[|Jordan|]

Works in 3.6.8 for me

[Kaelon]

Originally Posted by LPH2004

I added a custom Google search engine script in the header so that the search results would be placed on cfmgoogle.php. This works great except Google ads do not show. Google is trying to figure out why the ads do not show in the search results page. Any thoughts?

Not sure if anyone else figured this one out, but I haven't been able to see the ads myself, either.

[induslady]

Originally Posted by |Jordan|

Works in 3.6.8 for me

Hey Jordan,

Have you got blog also installed in your forum running 3.6.8?

Does the Google custom serch integate well in the search menu showing Forum search and Blog search as well.

Why I am asking is, I have an issue integrating with Blog search also listed.

Please refer - https://vborg.vbsupport.ru/showpost....79&postcount=5

Can you help me how to take care of the style background issues, looking at the screenshots I had provided in the above link?

Many Thanks.