There is a new custom search engine I've been testing out called Swiftype. I figured I'd share because it is entirely customizable and completely awesome.
Great configuration options
Easy to install and includes auto-complete..
You can even snap it in the place of your existing search box if you like..
I won't go into a large amount of detail on it here but if you get stumped and need some help figuring it out, drop me a comment. I will write a more detailed walk through for configuring with Ning 2.o and 3.0 on my blog over the weekend. Enjoy!
Replies
Am using Swiftype and love it. www.carnytown.com. Had a minor problem over verifying my email adddress and got an immediate call from Sunny at Swiftype who found a spelling error (go figure...high tech, right?) and solved the problem. Seem like good folks, there. Looking forward to any CSS gurus on the forum to come up with a slick way of embedding it on all my pages...not crazy about it being in my ning bar and would prefer it in a sidebar. Pretty nice search.
Sure thing, I'm assuming you want it to float on the side and not in a module? Screen shot or tell me the rough location you want it to be and I'll help you out. Looks like you are using my star rating tip too. I wish they were all that simple :)
Star rating is real nice.
Am open to suggestion where to place it, but my concept is to train folks now coming on...to use it to search all our sites, rather than just browsing. Towards top of site would be best??
I loved this new search.
Sorry Tom... didn't see your question.
Get rid of the float property in the CSS and change to position absolute. Then you can change the position to your liking (top, bottom, left or right) and adjust the distance as you see fit. Here's a quick revision from my most recent tweaks:
/* Swiftype Search Tweaks */
#search-container {margin: .4em; position:absolute; top:4em; right:1em; }
form input.st-search-input {
font-size: .95em;
height: 2em!important;
width: 18em!important;
color: #333;
border: 1px solid #fff;
background: #fcfcfc url(https://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/964749619?profil...) no-repeat 4px 2px!important;
}
/* Smaller Screens */
@media screen and (min-width:60px) and (max-width:600px) {
form input.st-search-input {
font-size: .6em;
height: 2em!important;
width: 18em!important;
background-image:50%!important;
}
#search-container {float:right; margin: 2px 13% 2px!important;
}}
I also added a little extra to resize the search on smaller screens.
The reason I kept in the Ning bar was so it wouldn't float over other content on mobile devices. The Ning bar just expands.
Hope that helps
FT
Fire-Tech,where can I see this tip in action?
not sure which tip Thiago you are refereing to, but Here's a link for some public pages to see both...
Thanks.
Hi j. Where do you add the code on your 2 Site?, and where does it show up on your home page?