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Using OpenSearch to add your blog (or other site) to IE's Instant Search box

I use and like IE7's Instant Search box. The IE7 search architecture relies on OpenSearch Description which allows multiple search providers can be installed, which are then easily switched between - so you can check the same terms quickly in multiple engines. I usually add my blog to the list, and I was asked recently how to do this.

findmoreproviders

Selecting "Find More Providers..." takes you to a page with the following ...

createyourown

following the instructions enter TEST and click search

entertest

then copy the resulting URL

CopytheURL

into the box and specify the name you want to use in the Instant Search List

createyourown2

then click Install. For the curious the View XML option shows the OpenSearchDesctiption,

viewXML

Add the provider ...

 addprovider

... and hey presto, your site is added

 searchadded

Posted: Jul 26 2007, 07:54 PM by Stephen McGibbon | with 2 comment(s)
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Comments

Kriz said:

The View XML feature is not only for the curious but it allows you to easly store the OpenSearch Desctiption in a xml file and integrate it into a web page.

For details see

msdn2.microsoft.com/.../ms532996.aspx

I prefer the link tag approch over the javascript approach but ymmv.

--Kriz

# July 27, 2007 8:22 PM

Stephen McGibbon said:

Are you referring to making the instant search box glow just while on a particular page? I'll give that a try later. Thanks Kriz

# July 27, 2007 9:12 PM