Changing the primary template for search results

[jxm28788]

Is it possible to change the primary template for the search results page...?

[TraceyG]

This has been discussed before - see this thread

[jxm28788]

ok, so to paraphrase the other thread "no, no way, no you can't do that, no not at all".

Sooooo, my next question is... Is there anyway to either -

1) Stop the simple search box disappearing on the results page (I don't understand why this happens anyway, the main search is still present on the results page, and the simple search is on every other page including the checkout pages)

or

2) Replace the missing search box with something else (eg. a spacer)

The problem that I have is that my page layout is perfect for every page - except the results page, where the layout is shifted to the left because of this suddenly disappearing search box...

The only way I can see to fix it is to move the search box elsewhere - but I like it where it is. There must be some way of getting round this...?

oh, the site is here btw - www.labelking.co.uk - just search on something that will be found (the problem doesn't occur if it doesn't find any results)

[NormanRouxel]

and the simple search is on every other page including the checkout pages

No it isn't.

As Tracey said there's a common Primary Template used for the Search, Cart and Checkout and you've not got the simple search on these. Just add it and that'll make it appear evberywhere.

[jxm28788]

oh yes your right - the search box isn't on the checkout pages - but take a look at the difference between the checkout pages and the results page...

ie. watch the foot!

I remember what I did - as a workaround I just deleted the search box and replaced it with a spacer in the checkout template. Unfortunately the results page uses the primary template so I can't do that otherwise it will delete it from all the other pages.

So the problem remains. On the results page the search box doesn't display - despite being present in the template, and that causes spacing issue on my menubar.

I have re-read the other thread and it contridicts itself. Initially (#7/#8) it says that it is hardcoded to use the Act_Primary template (I think this is the case), later (#14) it says that it is hardcoded to use the "overall layout selected for the checkout" - but that doesn't seem to be the case.

[NormanRouxel]

I see nothing different - except the left hand side of the menu bar below your site logo. Fix the Cart and Checkout Template and you'll be there.

[jxm28788]

if so if you go to the search results page you don't see the kings foot in the wrong place?

[peblaco]

Can't you hard code it?. If I remember correctly the reason it's disappearing is because it's put in via a NETQUOTVAR. Take the source code of the search box that's outputted on your site and put that back into your template thus making it stick on the page no matter what?.

[jxm28788]

ok, sounds good - I'll give that a go. Just in the middle of a big import, but when I've tried it I'll post the results.

[NormanRouxel]

if you go to the search results page you don't see the kings foot in the wrong place

As I've no idea what that means I can't help.

Ahah. Update. You mean the toe of the king from your main logo. Of course it's in the wrong place (as it is on your Cart and Checkout pages) - because you've removed it from the Template that these pages use.

Reread post #4 above which describes why and what to do to fix it.

[NormanRouxel]

It's quite simple. If you want the same overall layout for every page, use the same Primary Template for every page.

[jxm28788]

the foot is in the right place in the checkout/basket on my browser (IE7) - which browser are you using?

[jxm28788]

It's quite simple. If you want the same overall layout for every page, use the same Primary Template for every page.

But that won't work at all - I can use exactly the same template for every page on the site - but if the simple search box disappears on some pages like the results page then it will screw up my format.

[NormanRouxel]

I think I see what's happening. The Simple Search template is omitted by Actinic only on your results page. The table cell that it fits in is usually filled out by the Quick Search on all other pages, putting the toe in the right place. When there's nothing in that cell, the toe is misplaced. On your checkout pages, you've put a blank red image in to fill that space.

The cure isn't to use an image as padding but to define the TD cell that contains the Quick Search to have the width needed.

[jxm28788]

Firstly, just to confirm - I took the compression option off so I could see the comments, and can confirm that the results page uses the ACT_PRIMARY.HTML template.

The cure isn't to use an image as padding but to define the TD cell that contains the Quick Search to have the width needed.

I already had a width set, but noticed that with the search missing on that page the code is -

<td width="190"></td>

Not sure if having empty contents is 'illegal' and therefore stops the width taking effect, however...

Can't you hard code it?. If I remember correctly the reason it's disappearing is because it's put in via a NETQUOTVAR. Take the source code of the search box that's outputted on your site and put that back into your template thus making it stick on the page no matter what?.

I tried this and it fixes it - problem solved.

And the search function still works on this page, so Actinic why on earth do you code it so it disapears on this page???