Resources for MDC LibGuide Authors: Box Boutique

You can use the EBSCO Search Box Builder to create customized widgets for searching individual or multiple EBSCO databases. Depending on which customization options you select, some coding tweaks may be necessary to ensure web accessibility. To minimize the amount of code that will need to be edited, follow the recommendations below.

Note that when adding code of this nature to a LibGuide, Springshare recommends using the Media/Widget content item rather than the Rich Text/HTML content item.

1. Use the EBSCO Search Box Builder to generate the desired code.
   
   In section 2 (Select Authentication Parameters):
   • Use proxy prefix: https://go.openathens.net/redirector/mdc.edu?url=
   • Leave all methods unchecked.
   • Leave “Secure HTTPS authentication” unchecked.
   
   In section 4 (Customize the Layout):
   • Remove "Research databases" from the Title field and leave it blank.
   • Check "Open search results in new browser."
   • Leave the "Show choose databases," "Show Full Text Checkbox Limiter," and "Show Peer Reviewed Checkbox Limiter" boxes unchecked.
      

   
    

2. Once you've generated the code, copy and paste it into the Embed Code field of a LibGuide Media/Widget content item, then scroll down to find the part of the code that looks like this:
   
   <div>
   <input id="ebscohostsearchtext" class="" name="ebscohostsearchtext" type="text" size="23"  style="font-size:9pt;padding-left:5px;margin-left:0px;" />
   
   <input type="submit" value="Search" class="ebscohost-search-button " style="font-size:9pt;padding-left:5px;" />
    
3. Insert the highlighted text as shown below.  You can change "Enter keywords" to something else if you wish.
    
   <div>
   <label>Enter keywords:<br><input id="ebscohostsearchtext" class="" name="ebscohostsearchtext" type="text" size="23"  style="font-size:9pt;padding-left:5px;margin-left:0px;" /></label>
    
   <input type="submit" value="Search" class="ebscohost-search-button " style="font-size:9pt;padding-left:5px;" />

    

4. Some widgets might not function as expected, so be sure to test each one you create by performing a few searches.

The ready-made catalog search boxes on this page represent only a few of the options available via the Primo Search Box Builder. If you'd like to use the widget creator to make your own search boxes, go for it!  However, you'll need to insert some additional code to make each search box web accessible, and to ensure proper functionality.

Note that when adding code of this nature to a LibGuide, Springshare recommends using the Media/Widget content item rather than the Rich Text/HTML content item.

Labels:

For keyword search boxes, you'll need to add a label, such as "Enter keywords," as shown below.

Note that the label doesn't have to say "Enter keywords." You can use any meaningful wording, such as "Search for," "Enter search terms," or whatever you prefer.

To add labels to keyword search boxes:

1. Use the Primo Search Box Builder to generate the desired code.
    
2. Copy and paste the code into the Embed Code field of a LibGuide Media/Widget content item.
    
3. Scroll down and find the part of the code that looks like this:
   
   

   <input type="hidden" name="query" id="primoQuery">
   <input type="text" id="primoQueryTemp" value="" size="35">

4. Insert the highlighted text as shown below.  Remember that the label does not have to say “Enter keywords.”  You can use any meaningful wording.
   
   

   <input type="hidden" name="query" id="primoQuery"><label>Enter keywords:<br>
   <input type="text" id="primoQueryTemp" value="" size="35"></label>

5. If you want the label on the same line as the search box rather than above it, replace <br> with a blank space, or with the code for a blank space, which is: &nbsp;

Form Identifiers:

It has been observed that FLVC search boxes can sometimes interfere with each other, resulting in strange search results. To avoid this, each search box should be assigned a unique identifier.

1. Find the part of the code that looks like the code shown below. Note that instead of "searchForm1," you might see "searchForm3" or some other variation.

   
   <form id="searchForm1" name="searchForm1" method="get" target="_blank" action="https://mdc-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=utf-8" onsubmit="searchPrimo('searchForm1')">

2. Replace the highlighted text with anything you wish, as long as it's something unlikely to be used in any other search box. Be sure to insert the same identifier in all three of the highlighted areas, as shown below.
    

   <form id="FluffyBunny1" name="FluffyBunny1" method="get" target="_blank" action="https://mdc-flvc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search" enctype="application/x-www-form-urlencoded; charset=utf-8" onsubmit="searchPrimo('FluffyBunny1')">

3. Scroll all the way to the end of the code and find the part shown below. Replace the highlighted text with the same identifier you used in the rest of the code (e.g., FluffyBunny1).
    

<!-- Search Button -->
<input id="go" title="Search" type="button" onclick="searchPrimo('searchForm1')" value="Search" alt="Search">

Who says the search button has to say "Search?"  You can change it to "Go," or whatever you prefer.

You can also pre-populate the box with specific search terms.  Contact Jenny for assistance.
 

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