Adding Live Search Maps As An Internet Explorer Search Provider

If you have Internet Explorer 7, you may be aware of the ability to add custom search providers to your browser. This allows you to add not just Live, Google and Yahoo!, but the likes of specific web site searches such as ESPN, Facebook or Target (yes, the retailer)! I figured there’s enough map lovers out there who may just want to search the Virtual Earth-based consumer site Live Search Maps right from the comfort of their own browser. So, how do you do it?

Well, first make sure you have IE 7. It might work on IE 8, but I’ve yet to return to it since Beta 1 when Virtual Earth 3D didn’t work right - I AM the team’s evangelist and this stuff MUST work right when I demo it! Well, in the browser search box, click the down arrow and you’ll see a list of the currently installed providers. It’s important to clarify that you need to select the Internet Explorer Search Box and not the Live Toolbar, MSN Toolbar, Google Toolbar, Yahoo! Toolbar, etc, etc. Only the Internet Explorer Search Box does this write up pertain to.

Next, click the "Find More Providers" link from the list. This will transport you to the Windows "Add Search Providers to Internet Explorer" list page. You’ll see a list of providers you can just click to add to your Internet Explorer Search Box. We’ll be creating our own, so after you’ve added your favorites continue reading.

Source- Virtual Earth Blog