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JSI Tip 9280. How can I use the command-line to cause any text that I type into the Internet Explorer 6 address bar to be the arguments for a MSN search?

In tip 5446, we directed Internet Explorer 6 address bar searches at specific search engines. In tip 6672, we used the GUI to establish the default Internet Explorer 6 address bar search engine.

Using REG.EXE, built into Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and later, or installed in Windows 2000 from the Support Tools on the operating system CD-ROM, I have scripted MSNabs.bat to make MSN the default address bar search.

The syntax for using MSNabs.bat is:

MSNabs

MSNabs.bat contains:

@echo off
setlocal
set key=HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\SearchUrl
call :quiet>nul 2>&1
endlocal
goto :EOF
:quiet
reg add "%key%" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "http://search.msn.com/results.aspx/Q/%%s"
reg add "%key%" /V provider /T REG_SZ /F /D "MSN"
reg add "%key%\MSN" /VE /T REG_SZ /F /D "http://search.msn.com/results.asp?q=%%s"
NOTE: See How can I configure Internet Explorer 6 so that pressing the Search button opens the MSN Search?



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