Killer Tip : How to add seach bar to your ning 3.0 network ?

[Bernard Lama]

Hi NCs,

As you know Ning 3.0 doesn't have search bar like ning 2.0 yet. May be some people are desperately looking for a solution. So today I'm gonna show you few simple steps to add  google custom search bar to your ning 3.0 network (Ning 2.0 has search bar at the top right corner within ning bar) and it works as good as default ning 2.0 search bar. So here we go.

Step one: Click on this lick http://www.google.com/cse/manage/all and sign in to your Google or Gmail account, or create one if you don’t already have one. Once you’ve done that, head over to the Google Custom Search management page. Click on ADD button> Enter your network link under "Sites to search" and hit CREATE button> now go to step two.

Step Two: Copy and paste the following code into notepad. Go back to the google page you just created google custom search bar code and Click on GET CODE and copy the code. Now go back to the notepad and paste the google custom search bar code within <p style="text-align:left;"> and </p>. 

<!--CUSTOM GOOGLE SEARCH BAR by [e-mail]-->
<div id="BL_search_bar" style="display:none;">
<p style="text-align:left;">

YOUR GOOGLE CUSTOM SEARCH BAR CODE GOES HERE

</p>
</div>
<script type="text/javascript">
if (typeof(x$) != 'undefined') {
x$(".ningbar").prepend('<div id="inside_header"></div>');
var within_headerCode = document.getElementById('BL_search_bar');
var insideheaderCode = document.getElementById('inside_header');
insideheaderCode.innerHTML = within_headerCode.innerHTML;
}
</script>
<style>
input.gsc-search-button-v2 {
padding: 6px 20px 7px 20px;
}
.gsc-search-box-tools .gsc-search-box .gsc-input {
padding-right: 0px;
}
.gsc-control-cse {
background-color: hsla(0, 100%, 100%, 0);
border-color: transparent;
height: 33px;
padding: 0px 3px;
}
#inside_header {
width: 300px;
float:right;
}
</style>
<!--CUSTOM GOOGLE SEARCH BAR by [e-mail]-->

Step Three: Now copy and paste the entire code into custom code (End of Page Code) and save the page. You are done.

Live preview here

 

If you are looking for more than this tip or want to hire me for any kind of Ning custom job or ning re-designing jobs, you can directly contact me @ [e-mail]

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[Julie Polvinen]

Hi I had a quick question.  If you use this Google way, does it make you show up on google.com?  Also, can this google search work even if your site is password protected?  I'm trying to keep my content private to only members, but I still want a search engine.  

Hope to hear from you soon and thanks!

[Bernard Lama]

Hi Julie,

It is important to note that Google's Custom Search Engine will not work if your site has not been indexed by Google so make sure you have submitted your sitemap to Google before you install this on your website. Here is a link to our tutorial which will step you through verifying your site with Google Webmaster and submitting a sitemap: Google Webmaster Tutorial. After you submit your sitemap to Google it can still take time for your site to be indexed.

[Gwynnyth]

I have no idea on how to create and submit a site map. I have looked at tutorials and so forth but I don't understand code enough. I need someone to do just that one thing for me so I can move on. I'm willing to pay, if that's what it takes.

[Noémi Ketterer]

Thank you

[Illona Haus]

but this won't work if your network is private, correct?   ... we're still waiting for NING to one day come around with a "search" function like they have in 2.0, right?  just wanted to be sure.

thanks!

[Willerie Razote]

Hi Illona--not sure if someone has gotten back to you on your question.  My site is private, and I couldn't get it to google custom search to work, so I'm guessing like everyone is saying custom google search will not work for searches inside private sites.

If I'm wrong, can anyone correct me?  Thanks!

[Illona Haus]

yes, i've had to give up on building my newest network on NING 3.0.  without having the functionality of 2.0, it's just not a functioning network.  you can't run a successful network without:

-email notifications for new forum discussions

-search function in order to search the accumulated information that a network amasses in its forum

-and a few other functions that 2.0 offers but have somehow been forgotten in 3.0, but we were willing to wait for.

sadly, without any kind of assurances that these were coming in the near future -- or at all, in the case of email notifications -- i had to move to Groupsite to build my newest network.  NOT what i wanted to do ... but at least Groupsite has all of the functionality that is required for a network to thrive and be successful.  NING's 3.0 doesn't.

[steve]

wow.. have you seen the prices on that groupsite,, and i thought ning was expensive. Ning is bargain basement prices compared to them..:))

[Gwynnyth]

I feel exactly the same.

[Bernard Lama]

Hi Willerie and Illona, the google custom search bar won't work on a private network.