One of the things I've done lately was to modify a joomla component and to add a module to that advanced search that allows to put different searches (everyone with specific fields) on the different sections of a site. The following article is the help file of that utility... if you find it interesting get it.
The component and the module can be buy from cbadvancedsearch.com
CB Adv. Search
(Joomla Component – Help File)
Overview
CB Advanced Search is a Joomla component and a Joomla module that enables you to search any field in CB (Community Builder). Using this component and the module you can show a CB Search form in the frontend and control the fields available for search and the sequence of these fields in the search results. There can be configured an unlimited number of different searches (with there own fields and description) in the backend, but in the frontend the component is preset to the first search. You can access the other search forms using the module (it can be set to the search you want).
This component automatically decides the field type to be shown in the frontend, for example if you have created a dropdown field in CB and if you choose to use that as a search parameter in the frontend then the component will automatically show a dropdown to users in the search page.
Installing this component is very easy, just download the zip file containing a copy of the component and the module from our website and install it using the ‘Install/Uninstall’ link in the ‘Extensions’ menu.
Once installed, the component can be accessed within the Joomla administration from the “Components” menu on the top. The module can be configured in the module list.
CB Adv. Search – Backend User Interface for the component
Once you click on the “CB Adv. Search” you will screen will show the backend interface of the component.
Then it will appear the following list, it contains the element of the first search. If there is no search defined you must go to the configuration using the Config button and define a number of searches.
The configuration part looks like the next picture. In the version of joomla used for testing there were configured 4 different searches, each having a description and a listing definition. It means you can define how you want your results to be listed: horizontal or vertical.
The description of the other buttons of CB Adv. Search backend
a. Delete – delete one or more selected search field
b. Edit – Edit search field options like name, email, etc. This can be done by clicking on the title elements in the table
c. Add New Search Field – adds a new search field from CB
d. Help – This help
The search select will list the other searches you have defined (the default one is number 1).
Column heading
d. Title – this shows the title of the search fields as defined by you, and you can change the entire element by selecting a particular title and clicking on ‘Edit’ button
e. CB Field Name – this column shows the actual name of the CB field as you may have defined in the Community Builder field management form
f. Description – The description of the field (maximum length is 250 chars).
g. Publish in search results – this columns indicates whether a particular field will be visible in the search on the frondend or not (it means it it's not published it will not appear in the search form nor in the results).
h. Searchable – this colums indicates whether the field will be visible in the search form (it might appear in the results, but not in the form).
i. Search Result Order – use this field to define the sequence of field in the search results page.
Add/Edit Search Form description
1. Label – The field label as visible on the frontend (the title)
2. Field – dropdown for selecting CB field that will be searched.
3. Description – The description of the field (maximum length is 250 chars).
4. Searchable (it will be used to search)
5. The search number – it sets the search the field will be included
Creating a CB Adv. Search page in the frontend
To do this simply create a menu link and set its ‘Menu Item Type’ to ‘CB Advanced Search Frontend’. See below.
CB Adv. Search Frontend Example for the component
CB Adv. Search – Backend User Interface for the module
Once you click on the “CB Adv. Search” you will screen will show the backend interface of the module.
You can use as many modules as you want using Copy button (for joomla 1.5) or Duplicate button (for joomla 1.6). Each of them can be configured like in the following image.
CB Adv. Search Frontend Example for the module
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