# Can we add a Google custom search? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 20, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014 "2013-07-20T05:36:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/1 "2013-07-20T05:36:45Z")
The inbuilt search tool is limited to one search every 5 minutes. You can go to Google and do searches using boards.straight.dope in the search box, but it’s a bit of a pain. Sites like [tvtropes](http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/HomePage)use a Google custom search which uses the Google search engine to search within the site. Could we get something like that added here? ---
**Author:** ![DataX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@DataX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DataX)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/2 "2013-07-20T05:47:56Z")
Not sure if you know, but FWIW - if using google - use: site:boards.straightdope.com Instead of just [http://boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) I thought the limit was every 2 minutes, but I almost always use the google method - mainly for the reasons you mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/3 "2013-07-20T11:49:45Z")
She is asking for a google search box to be added to the SDMB page so she doesn’t have to go to google or use the browser search box. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/4 "2013-07-20T12:07:29Z")
Here’s what I did, I did a google search for site:boards.straightdope.com then saved that as s bookmark. Then I moved that bookmark to the toolbar. Now, all I have to do is click that button and it takes me to Google with "site:boards.straightdope.com already in the search bar and I just need to type in my search string. To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) ---
**Author:** ![sandra\_nz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eada6e/32.png) [@sandra\_nz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sandra_nz)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/5 "2013-07-20T14:23:41Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: > javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) Perfect, thanks! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TheChileanBlob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thechileanblob/32/435_2.png) [@TheChileanBlob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheChileanBlob)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/6 "2013-07-20T14:51:48Z")
What’s the difference between site:boards.straightdope.com and just [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com)? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/7 "2013-07-20T14:55:37Z")
A random other site that happened to include the words [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com) would be included in the latter search, but not the former. Probably doesn’t make much difference in this case, but it’ll still help clear a little chaff away from the wheat. ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/8 "2013-07-20T15:00:05Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: > javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) That is nice. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/9 "2013-07-20T15:09:52Z")
> [@TheChileanBlob](#): > > What’s the difference between site:boards.straightdope.com and just [boards.straightdope.com](http://boards.straightdope.com)? When you do a google search for site:[website] it _only_ searches that website. So when you do a google search for site:boards.straightdope.com, it’s only searching the SD boards. If you do a google search for site:facebook.com [search string] it’ll only search facebook for your search string. It’s a nice little feature of Google. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/10 "2013-07-20T15:58:48Z")
I just type SDMB (the actual acronym) and whatever I’m searching for. Works great. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/11 "2013-07-20T16:51:23Z")
Thanks, **Joey P**!!! I owe you one. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/12 "2013-07-20T21:57:24Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Here’s what I did, I did a google search for site:boards.straightdope.com then saved that as s bookmark. Then I moved that bookmark to the toolbar. Now, all I have to do is click that button and it takes me to Google with "site:boards.straightdope.com already in the search bar and I just need to type in my search string. > > To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: > javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) I haven’t been this excited about a discovery since I learned that Grandpa kept nudiist magazines in the outhouse. Thanks! mmm ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2013, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/13 "2013-07-20T22:33:13Z")
While searching for some old threads via Duck Duck Go and google, I got an index page. Here are some examples: From the pit and possibly NSFW (I had to turn safe search off): [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4257.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4257.html) [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-70976.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-70976.html) I am puzzled. I was searching for the 2000 pit thread, “Anal sex is unnatural”. I was going to link to it in GD. Also, the in-board search engine only goes back 10 years. Whine and double-whine! I can emote, can’t I? ---
**Author:** ![sangfroid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e0b2c6/32.png) [@sangfroid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sangfroid)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/14 "2013-07-21T01:06:24Z")
Hot Damn, **Joey P**! Thanks for sharing that. That is one sweeet single click pop-up. Anyone paying attention is going to owe you, um, “favors”… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/15 "2013-07-21T01:18:12Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > While searching for some old threads via Duck Duck Go and google, I got an index page. Here are some examples: > > From the pit and possibly NSFW (I had to turn safe search off): > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4257.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-4257.html) > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-70976.html](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-70976.html) Am I seeing the same thing you are? At both those links, there’s just a short page with a link to each forum. ---
**Author:** ![Measure\_for\_Measure](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/measure_for_measure/32/557_2.png) [@Measure\_for\_Measure](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Measure_for_Measure)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/16 "2013-07-21T01:43:23Z")
> [@ZenBeam](#): > > Am I seeing the same thing you are? At both those links, there’s just a short page with a link to each forum. Yes, we are both seeing the same thing (and I’m glad it’s not just me). I got those off of a search engine. …and Google finally gave me a real web page. [Anal Sex is Unnatural - Great Debates - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=70976) Weird. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2013, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/17 "2013-07-21T02:13:10Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: > javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) This code works for iPhone’s Safari browser, too. Paste it into your bookmarks and it will pop up a search box and return a Google page with the results. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2013, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-we-add-a-google-custom-search/664014/18 "2013-07-23T15:18:04Z")
> [@Joey\_P](#): > > Here’s what I did, I did a google search for site:boards.straightdope.com then saved that as s bookmark. Then I moved that bookmark to the toolbar. Now, all I have to do is click that button and it takes me to Google with "site:boards.straightdope.com already in the search bar and I just need to type in my search string. > > To make it even better, the last time I relayed that story, another doper gave me code below which turns the button into a pop up box requesting my search string and then takes me to Google. Either way works. Just right click on the toolbar and select “New Bookmark” and then enter this for the Location: > javascript:void(location.href='[Google](https://www.google.com/?q=site:boards.straightdope.com#q=site:boards.straightdope.com%20'+prompt(%22Enter%20your%20search%20terms:%22))) Amazing. Mods: Can these two nifties be worked in to the sticky on How to Search … Using Google? With **Joey P** ’s permission, of course. I tend not to use (OK, I did just one time) the methods suggested using the Google Booleans because I don’t need such specificity and they’re a pain in the ass to type. Even the generic one. Also, since I’m stuffing the Suggestion Box, put in that sticky, or somewhere else, a note that Cecil’s database and the forums’ are different, for those using the simple search boxes on the Home page or within the forums. Early on I got hung up on this and had to bug a mod. Unlike now. 🙂