Google Custom Search with custom search box and button?

Question

Hi! I am trying to make a google custom search (I just need some sort of search engine on my site) and I need to make it so that I can use my own search box (input field). I need it to be an exact size. I also need to be able to make my own button to search. I am going to need to be able to change the size and background of the search button. I am not completely sure yet, but I might actually need it to be a regular img.

Does anyone know how to do this?

If you cannot do this with google, do you know of another way to do it?

If there is no other way besides using your own search engine, can I please get a link to a very simplified tutorial on how to make my own. I am willing to put in the extra work to learn, but I tried a bit, and after looking at three different tuts, I gave up because they were very very long and confusing. I hope I was just looking in the wrong places.

Thank you to anyone who helps!

Answer 1

If you want to set up Google custom search - this link is the most comprehensive one I could find, with screenshots,

http://www.doshdosh.com/how-to-set-up-google-custom-search-and-make-money/

If you just want your site searchable - there may be other options available depending on whether you're running just static html files, or a database driven dynamic website.

Answer 2

Here is the one I am using, you just need to add some styles to <input id='q' which is the search box, and <input value='MyButton' is the button to click

<!-- Google CSE Search Box Begins  -->
<center>
<form id="searchbox_XXXXXXXXXX:YYYYYYYYY" action="http://myblog"&gt;
  <input value="XXXXXXXXXX:YYYYYYYYY" name="cx" type="hidden"/>
  <input value="FORID:11" name="cof" type="hidden"/>
  <input id="q" style="width:600px;" name="q" size="75" type="text"/>
  <input value="MyButton" name="sa" type="submit"/>
</form>
</center>
....