Vesko Aleksandrov

I wanted to have SSL Google Search available from the addressbar in Internet Explorer 9.

My first attempt to get what I need failed quickly. I looked up through the search providers list on Internet Explorer Gallery only to leave empty-handed.

Then an almost working solution showed up - IE Search Provider Builder Tool. It did not offer an autocomplete feature, also known as suggestions.

Dug some more and finally something valuable showed up - Duck Duck Go + Google Suggest Search Plugin, credits go to both Nathan and Eli.

I did edit the XML to better tailor it to my personal preferences, basically bringing back "the good old Google".

Step 1:
With your favorite editor create

secure-google.xml

with following content:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<OpenSearchDescription xmlns="http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearch/1.1/">
	<ShortName>Secure Google</ShortName>
	<Description>Secure Google provider</Description>
	<InputEncoding>UTF-8</InputEncoding>
	<Url type="text/html" template="https://encrypted.google.com/#q={searchTerms}"/>
	<Url type="application/x-suggestions+xml" template="https://encrypted.google.com/complete/search?q={searchTerms}&amp;client=ie8&amp;mw={ie:maxWidth}&amp;sh={ie:sectionHeight}&amp;rh={ie:rowHeight}&amp;inputencoding={inputEncoding}&amp;outputencoding={outputEncoding}"/>
</OpenSearchDescription>

Step 2:
Create HTML document with following link in it and specify the path to

secure-google.xml

<a href="javascript:window.external.AddSearchProvider('/path/to/secure-google.xml')">add secure google search to IE</a>

Step 3:
Open the HTML document in your IE and follow the hyper-link. This is it!

May be I should now use it to find a similar solution for Opera... oooor to look for "fluffy kittens"?!


P.S. As for Opera - this short example is worth considering, though Opera does not support suggestions in address bar yet.



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