Custom SU forum search plugin
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I've created a custom search plugin for the SketchUcation forum. It currently works with Firefox, Chrome and IE8 on the PC and should work in Chrome on the Mac. I can't confirm that as I don't have a Mac ...
This plugin won't mess with your current search engine preferences in your browser. It's in a smaller text bar to the right of the main URL bar and works as a "quick search" for the SU forums. I use similar plugins for other forums I frequent and I find them especially useful if I need to do a quick search and then drill down to a specific post (if it's a long thread, for instance.) It saves me from having to go to the site, klutz around trying to remember which forum section the post was in and then invoke the forum search functions.
To get it, go here: http://mycroft.mozdev.org/search-engines.html?name=forums.sketchucation.com
Under the heading: 1. Computer - software you will see SketchUcation Forum
Left click on it one time and it will ask you if you want to install the plugin. Answer yes and it will install for you.Because you can search the SU forum without actually having to be in them, you'll need to have logged on previously. If you get a page that says that you can't use the forum search system, you need to be logged in. I usually log on and stay logged so it works.
If you decide not to use it after installing, it's simple to remove. Click on the inverted triangle next to the SU icon in the search box, select Manage Search Engines, highlight the plugin and click on the remove button. ta-da! It's gone.
I hope you find it useful and if you have any issues, comments, flames or extra cash laying around, please let me know.
Cheers.
(Just kidding about the cash ... )
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Added it but nothing appears in the browser (Firefox 10)
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Hmm, not seeing anything. Ok, a little troubleshooting:
After installation, this is where you will find the plugin:
If you don't see exactly that, left click on the little inverted triangle by the "U" and select "SketchUcation Forum" from the drop down menu. I tried to get a screen cap but it kept resetting the menu.
Next, you need to type your search term into the text bar:
Either click the magnifying glass to the right or hit the Enter key.
You won't see any search results in the main browser window until the plugin connects and does it's search. Pretty much like using Google, etc.
If your still having trouble, please let me know.
Cheers.
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It seems to work fine - just like the SketchUcation search box in fact...
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@chrisjk said:
It seems to work fine - just like the SketchUcation search box in fact...
Wonderful! I was hoping to get some early feedback from a Mac user. Thanks!
Cheers.
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Idaho,
Thanks for the post. Seems to be working fine on Firefox on a Mac. (Snow Leopard)
How do you do this? I need to search my county's permit center often and the built-in search is terrible. Returns abstracts that are all the same disclaimer language. Need something like a Google page with previews...
Peter
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Hi Peter,
You can use this page: http://mycroft.mozdev.org/submitos.html at Mozilla. It provides a web-based form for setting up search plugin frameworks. It's mostly a "fill in the blanks" form, with the trickiest part being the search URL and suggestions URL fields. You'll need to do some experimentation with those because each site is somewhat unique in how it's searched. Be aware as well, the site you want to search may have restrictions. You'll have check it out ...You might find this site: https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Creating_OpenSearch_plugins_for_Firefox useful for understanding the plugin structure.
Once your plugin is debugged, you can add it to the Mycroft database. A good thing to do because if you decide to modify it in the future, maybe a URL changes for instance, you can reload it and just make the appropriate changes.
I'll be out for the week with no internet access, leaving this afternoon. If you run into trouble, please PM me or post here and I'll get back to you as soon as I get home.
Cheers!
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