FreeFind Search Engine Code

Many of us use FreeFind as the search engine for our FreePages site. The code as given by FreeFind is shown below. (Larger image) Try and validate it - 25 errors with an XHTML Transitional doctype.

Validating the FreeFind Search Engine Code

Step 1: Change all CAPS to lowercase letters.

Step 2: Add the closing / to the ending tags.

Step 3: Move the font styling to an external style sheet. You can even fancy it up a little bit by adding this to your style sheet.

Next step is customizing the results page. Coming soon.

To use a custom template for the search results page, choose the template you want. If you are using a dwt (dynamic web template) you can still use the "look" but you will need to detach it as the link references will all need to be changed to absolute (full url).

Step 1: Change ALL references to absolute which means you use the full url including the image files.

Step 2: Where the content is normally placed, add ::content::

Finished page that will be uploaded.

Step 3: Upload the file to the FreeFind server per their instructions. Preview the page and FF will check for any missed relative references to links including the style sheet if you use one. Go back to your site and try out your "new results page look."