Custom WordPress Search tutorials?

Hey guys,

As we all know, WordPress search kinda sucks.

Some plugins like Search Everything or WP Custom Fields Search try to add missing functionality.

However, I searched a lot and I can’t seem to find any tutorials on how to create your own custom search functionality.

A good example are Real Estate WordPress themes… You define several options and the custom search takes them all into account.

Bottom line is… does anyone know any resources on how to create custom WordPress search functionality?

Thanks,
Cosmin.

P.S.: real estate theme authors on TF : I’ve seen some great functionality implemented…ever thought of writing a tutorial for Nettuts on this?

Wow… really? no one? Is it such a big secret?...

Hello,

Here are some articles you may find helpful:

http://cogdogblog.com/2010/04/24/found/

http://www.slideshare.net/justinshreve/building-a-better-search-development-of-a-wordpress-search-api

http://www.jtpratt.com/wordpress-hack-3-custom-search-results-page-and-template/

http://wpgarage.com/code-snippets/how-to-hack-the-wordpress-search-function-search-categories-and-child-categories/

http://www.ashbluewebdesign.com/2010/06/wordpress-search-tips-and-security-flaws/

Not to sure how helpful these will be, but there is some brief information between them all that will help in directing you perhaps.

Sorry I can’t be of more assistance. Hopefully someone else can throw in some thoughts.

Hey, thanks for the insights

I saw the one one jtpratt.com and since I am using custom fields, I initially wanted to go for that. However, I have a search form with multiple options (select, radio, input) – just like many real estate WP themes.

Since I don’t know PHP that well, I think I’m going to go for the WP Custom Fields Search plugin…

It looks to me that info on this matter is pretty much as it was with tutorials on theme options for WP. Not long ago, you couldn’t find anything on that matter, but now the web is full of tuts… guess it’s just a matter of time…

Again, thanks for being helpful

Oh and congrats on the Forum Superstar badge