FrontPage Tips by Ward Cameron Enterprises
Take Your Web Site to New Levels

Creating Search Pages for Your Database Driven Site

This tutorial will walk you through the process of creating a variety of different styles of search forms. Too often, web novices believe that search forms come in a single style and will answer all of your website visitors needs. This tutorial will have you begin by thinking about your navigation structure, visitor needs and data configuration. Only then can you begin thinking about creating search forms.

The process involves several steps

1. Searching begins with website design

2. Create a Progressive Search Form

3. Add an All Values option to your Search Form

4. Using Drop-down Menus with Multiple Select

5. Add a Text Search Field Using the DRW

6. Search Multiple Fields in the Same Table

7. Search Multiple Fields or Tables in the Same Database

1. Is your database relatively simple or very complex? For instance, if your database lists book titles and authors, then your site users may not need a complex search form.
2. Will your users benefit from the ability to drill through your data in a step-by-step approach?
3. Will different users want to find information in different ways? If so, creating multiple customized search forms may be a better solution than trying to create a one size fits all solution. For identifying plants on MountainNature.com, I created customized search forms to allow users to identify by common name, latin name, family, Genus or color. Check it out here
4. Do you need a free form text search field or can you use a series of drop-down lists to add structure to your search forms?

Your answers to these questions will help you determine the best way to simplify your visitors searching. One of the most satisfying comments we have received at MountainNature.com is that users were able to work the way THEY wanted to. Botanists could search by Latin name, but novices could use a step-by-step approach based on color.

You are creating your website for your visitors, not yourself.

Let them work the way THEY want to and you will be repaid by repeat visits and a devoted audience.

Create a Well Planned Navigation and Menu Structure

Once you have taken the time to analyze your data AND you believe that you have a handle on how users may want to ferret out the relevant facts, then you can begin to look at creating multiple pathways to identification. One of my goals at MountainNature.com was to literally remove the need for a free text search form from the site. I believe text based search forms are often used as a crutch to make up for poor website planning.

Ask yourself how many ways your users might like to track down facts contained in your database. There may be many ways they might prefer to work. Now, are you ready for the secret?

Create a special page that provides a customized search mechanism for each of them!

Don't force them all to use a single form that has dozens of fields, each with a variety of options. Walk them through the various processes so that they can find the information the way they want. In a well designed site, the search process takes place behind the scenes.

Check out the following link to see how we created a variety of ways for visitors to identify plants at MountainNature.com:

http://www.mountainnature.com/Plants/PlantID.htm

Take the time to walk through each of the search options to see how we've provided the most efficient way for our visitors to find what they need. For our visitors, it's all about them, so we make sure we do the extra work to customize each pathway to make it as easy as possible. No cluttered forms. No complex decisions to make. Everything is easy and clean.

Am I getting through? In a well designed site, 90% of the searching is accomplished through proper navigation. Only a small amount of searching should require the use of a special form.

In fact, if you find that your site is being used in ways you did not expect, continue to create custom navigation options to embrace those new uses and new users (or customers).

Begin by creating a hierarchical view of your database and website. How should your menu structure be organized to create a clear and easy way to move through your site. Try to keep the structure as simple as possible. If you have too many levels of sub-menus it can be very challenging for visitors to remember how they found the information the last time they visited.

Once you've planned your site, only then can you begin to create your custom search mechanisms.

Read Part 2 - Creating a Progressive step-by-step search form