Change the Default Phrase Search Engine in Explorer
Previously, we changed Netscape's default phrase search engine to one of our own choosing.
Several readers wrote to point out that Internet Explorer also supports this feature, and asked if it was possible to edit the default search engine.
Well, yes it is!
When a phrase is typed into the location window, Explorer performs the search like this:
go Macintosh resource editing
The work go tells Explorer to expect a phrase to search , instead of a domain to look up. The phrase is stored in the variable %s, and is then handed off to the search engine.
Here's how to change the search engine:
Open a copy of Internet Explorer and find the STR# resources.
Open them with a double-click.
 Scroll down the list of STRings until you reach ID# 1000, Shared Strings.
Open ID 1000 with a double-click.
Inside ID 1000, there are several hundred strings!
Scroll down to number 344, where you'll see the Microsoft search engine. (Notice the %s at the end).
This is the string you will replace with your prefered search engine as outlined last week. The one additional thing to remember, is to keep the variable %s at the end of the search URL.
For example, if you want to use Lycos as your engine, enter -
http://www.lycos.com/cgi-bin/pursuit?adv=0&cat=lycos&matchmode=and&query=%s into string 344.
As always, when you're finished, close all ResEdit windows and save your work. Explorer will now use ypur favorite search engine for phrases typed into the location window.
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