[ChimpanzeeUK]

I have a website where I would like to allow my users to run a search on a second site. The search engine I want to use is here: http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentFind.aspx

Basically, I want to have a single text input box and a submit button on my site which, when the user clicks on it, the query is submitted to the 'Name of Establishment' field on the other site and the results page (from the other site) is shown.

I have a feeling that this should be possible as the google toolbar allows you to do it (add a custom search to the generic 'search' field)

Any suggestions. Sorry I haven't explained this very well.

[Big-K]

Your best bet is to set up a form on your own site, give the fields the same 'name' attributes as their corresponding ones on the actual site(view source), then have the form point(action="") to http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentFind.aspx, which is where the search engine points to. Hopefully, but not neccesarily, the post data from your form will mesh with theirs. This isn't always the case though, so try first to make sure.

[ChimpanzeeUK]

lol. That was my first thought but then I thought there's no way it would be that easy. I'll give it a go, Fingers crossed.

Thanks!

[Big-K]

Often times it is that easy, although it could be considered a security risk. It's the trick alot of API's are based off of, like paypal and myspace(i havn't actually tried an api for myspace, but the one i'm working on myself uses it).

[ChimpanzeeUK]

Unfortunately, it seems it wasn't that easy

This is what I added to my page:

<p><strong>Search for a School</strong></p>
<form name="frmFindForm" method="post" action="http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentFind.aspx" id="frmFindForm">
<input type="hidden" name="__EVENTTARGET" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="__EVENTARGUMENT" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="__VIEWSTATE" value="" />
<input type="hidden" name="Action" value="FIND" />
<input type="hidden" name="lstLEAName" id="lstLEAName" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="lstOpenClosed" id="lstOpenClosed" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="lstPhaseOfEducation" id="lstPhaseOfEducation" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="lstGender" id="lstGender" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="lstEstablishmentType" id="lstEstablishmentType" value="0">
<input type="hidden" name="lstSearchType" id="lstSearchType" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="lstLocationDistance" id="lstLocationDistance" value="1">
<input type="hidden" name="txtURN" type="text" maxlength="6" id="txtURN" />
<input type="hidden" name="txtLEA" type="text" maxlength="6" id="txtLEA" />
<input id="btnWelshLAs" type="hidden" name="btnWelshLAs" />
<input name="txtDfESNumber" type="hidden" maxlength="6" id="txtDfESNumber" />
<input name="txtEstablishmentLocation" type="hidden" id="txtEstablishmentLocation" />
<input name="txtPostcode" type="hidden" id="txtPostcode" />
<input id="chkLocationSearch" type="hidden" name="chkLocationSearch" />
<input name="txtLocationPostcode" type="hidden" id="txtLocationPostcode" />

<input name="txtEstablishmentName" type="text" id="txtEstablishmentName" />
<input type="submit" name="cmdFindTop" value="Search" id="cmdFindTop" class="submit" />
</form>

I have a hidden field for all the items that aren't being used and I believe I have entered a default value for the ones that require them.

Can anyone think of anything else I could try. The page again is http://www.edubase.gov.uk/EstablishmentFind.aspx - it appears to be the one that processes the search as well as holding the search fields.

[Big-K]

well, the first thing i notice is you dont have a value for __VIEWSTATE, but the site does.

what happens when you submit? Does it give the 'A search must contain criteria in at least one of the textboxes. Please try again.' message?

[ChimpanzeeUK]

I got it working in the end. I think I must have missed something out - maybe it was the VIEWSTATE thing. I tried just copying the whole form and putting what I don't need in a display:none DIV and it works now.

Thanks very much for your help!!

(Hmm. Can't find the 'Solved' function under the new forum design?)