Using EBSCOs Search Box Builder Tool Tutorial

Would you like to promote your EBSCOhost resources by adding an easy-to-use search box to your website? The EBSCOhost Integration Toolkit features a simple tool to help you create and customize your own search box! The Search Box Builder is available from the EBSCO Support Site at under the Promotion menu, as well as from the Promote Your Online Resources page and within the EBSCOhost Integration Toolkit Center.

The Search Box Builder includes six simple steps to create your own search box. When completing these steps, it may be helpful to have your EBSCOadmin account open simultaneously on a separate browser window. Depending on the type of search box you create, EBSCOadmin contains some information you may need.

Step 1: Set Search Parameters From the Interface drop-down menu, choose the interface you would like your patrons to see after using the search box, and then choose whether you would like individual databases, database groups, or profiles to be searched. If you choose Databases, check the box for each of the EBSCOhost databases you would like added to the search box. If you are using EBSCOhost Integrated Search, you can add external databases in the field below.

Adding External Databases to Search Box Before adding external databases to your search box, you will need to retrieve codes for those databases from your EBSCOadmin account. Select the Database sub-tab for the profile that contains your external databases. Included with the name of each database, you will see a unique database identifier code. In the Search Box Builder tool, enter the database name in the Display Name field and the code in the Code field, then click the Add button. Each external resource will be added to the databases list above, and will appear with a check in the box. EBSCOadmin Database Sub-Tab Search Box Builder Tool

Search Box with Database Groups If you have database groups you would like to use instead of individual databases, select the Database Groups radio button below the Interface drop-down menu. From your list of Database Groups in EBSCOadmin, copy the database group name to the Display Name field in the Search Box Builder and copy the dbGroup code to the Code field. Then click the Add button. The database group is added to the list of groups to be searched by the search box. EBSCOadmin Database Sub-Tab Search Box Builder Tool

Search Box with Profile If you have a profile you would like to use instead of individual databases, select the Profiles radio button and enter the Customer ID, Group ID, and Profile ID of the desired profile in the fields provided. (Again, this information is found within your EBSCOadmin account.)

Choosing Search Modes and Limiters Next, choose a search mode for your search box. Choose either Boolean/Phrase, All terms (AND), or Any terms (OR). You can also select from three available limiters that will be applied to all searches performed with the search box, as well as enter any keywords you would like automatically combined with user entered terms.

Step 2: Select Authentication Parameters The next step is to configure your authentication settings. If you authenticate your users through a proxy server, enter your proxy URL prefix in the field provided. If you use one of the authentication types in the Methods box, you can select it there. If your institution has a secure web site, check the box for Secure HTTPS authentication.

Steps 3 and 4: Design Your Search Box Select one of the three search box designs available to you. In the title field, enter a title you would like to appear in the search box. You can display your own logo in the search box by pasting a URL to the logo in the Logo field. Set a height and width for your search box and indicate if you would like results to open in a new browser. You can also let users decide which databases or database groups will be searched by checking the box for Show choose databases.

Steps 5 and 6: Generate your HTML code Confirm your search box by testing it. Enter search terms in the Find field of the search box and, if you have chosen to show the Choose Databases area, select the desired database(s) or database group(s) and click Search. If you are satisfied with your search box, click the Create Search Box button. Highlight the generated HTML code and copy and paste it into your website.

Sample Search Box HTML Code The HTML code for your search box will look like this example.

For more information on EBSCOs Search Box Builder tool, or to contact Technical Support, visit the EBSCO Support Site at This concludes the Search Box Builder tutorial.