Bears Live Search - Advanced AJAX Search Module for Joomla 5

🚀 What Makes Bears Live Search Special?

Bears Live Search isn't just another search module - it's a complete search experience transformation for your Joomla 5 website. Built from the ground up with accessibility, performance, and user experience as core principles, it delivers instant search results as users type while maintaining full WCAG compliance.

🆕 What's New in the Latest Version

Major Improvements

• Simplified Width Control: Streamlined configuration with single width parameter instead of complex width/max-width combinations
• Enhanced Results Display: Search results now use 100% container width while the search form maintains your configured width
• Improved Language Support: Comprehensive organization of 67+ translatable strings for better internationalization
• Optimized CSS Architecture: Cleaner, more maintainable CSS with better specificity and performance
• Enhanced Accessibility: Improved ARIA labels, skip links, and screen reader compatibility

Technical Enhancements

• Form-Only Width Control: Width settings now apply only to the search form, allowing results to use full available space
• Better Positioning: Improved left/right/center positioning with proper CSS float handling
• Enhanced Border Controls: Comprehensive border radius, size, and color customization options
• Icon Flexibility: Choose from Joomla icons, FontAwesome icons, or no icons at all
• Search Mode Options: Select between inline results or full page transformation modes

🔍 Comprehensive Search Features

Advanced Search Capabilities

• Live Search: Results appear instantly as users type
• Smart Filtering: Filter by category, author, date range, and search criteria
• Multiple Search Modes: Any words, all words, or exact phrase matching
• Flexible Sorting: Sort by newest, oldest, popularity, or alphabetical order
• Configurable Results: Set results per page and character limits
• Pagination Support: Navigate through multiple result pages seamlessly

Display Options

• Inline Results: Show results directly below the search form
• Page Transformation: Transform the entire page to display search results
• Flexible Positioning: Float left, right, or center the search module
• Responsive Layout: Automatic adaptation to different screen sizes

⚙️ Easy Configuration

Basic Settings

• Results Character Limit: Control how much text appears in each result (default: 300 characters)
• Results Per Page: Set the number of results to display (10-200 range)
• Show Search Criteria: Choose when to display advanced search filters
• Search Results Display: Select inline or separate page display mode

Layout & Positioning

• Module Position: Float the module left, right, or center
• Form Width: Set the exact width of the search form (results use full width)
• Margin Controls: Fine-tune spacing for form, results, and module container
• End Position: Choose where results appear in separate page mode

Styling Options

• Border Customization: Set radius, size, and color for the search form border
• Icon Selection: Choose from Joomla icons, FontAwesome, or no icon
• Custom CSS Classes: Add your own CSS classes for advanced styling
• Template Integration: Seamlessly blend with your site's design

♿ Accessibility Excellence

Bears Live Search sets the standard for accessible search functionality in Joomla. Every aspect has been designed and tested to ensure compatibility with assistive technologies.

WCAG 2.1 Compliance Features

• Skip Links: Allow screen reader users to jump directly to search results
• ARIA Labels: Comprehensive labeling for all interactive elements
• Keyboard Navigation: Full functionality without mouse interaction
• Focus Management: Clear visual focus indicators and logical tab order
• Semantic HTML: Proper heading structure and landmark regions
• Live Regions: Search results announced to screen readers as they update
• Status Messages: Loading states and errors properly communicated

Screen Reader Compatibility

• ✅ NVDA (Windows)
• ✅ JAWS (Windows)
• ✅ VoiceOver (macOS/iOS)
• ✅ TalkBack (Android)
• ✅ Dragon NaturallySpeaking

📦 Installation & Setup

System Requirements

• Joomla: Version 5.0 or higher
• PHP: Version 8.0 or higher
• Browser: Modern browser with JavaScript enabled
• Server: Standard Joomla hosting requirements

Quick Installation Guide

1. Download: Get the latest version from our GitHub repository
2. Install: Use Joomla's Extension Manager → Upload Package File
3. Configure: Navigate to System → Manage → Modules
4. Create Module: Add new Bears Live Search module instance
5. Position: Assign to your desired template position
6. Publish: Enable the module and configure settings

Quick Start Configuration

1. Basic Setup: Set your preferred results per page and character limit
2. Choose Position: Select left, right, or center alignment
3. Set Width: Configure form width (e.g., 400px, 50%, 30rem)
4. Display Mode: Choose between inline or separate page results
5. Customize Style: Configure borders, icons, and spacing

🎨 Customization & Styling

CSS Classes for Developers

Template Override Support

Developers can create template overrides by copying the module template to their theme:

⚡ Performance & Optimization

Built for Speed

• Optimized AJAX: Efficient database queries with minimal server load
• Smart Caching: Built-in caching system for improved response times
• Lazy Loading: Results loaded on demand to reduce initial page load
• Minimal Footprint: Lightweight CSS and JavaScript files
• Progressive Enhancement: Basic functionality works without JavaScript

Caching Options

• Module Caching: Enable/disable caching for the module output
• Cache Duration: Configure cache time in seconds
• Smart Invalidation: Cache automatically updates when content changes

🌐 Browser & Device Support

Desktop Browsers

• ✅ Chrome (latest)
• ✅ Firefox (latest)
• ✅ Safari (latest)
• ✅ Microsoft Edge (latest)

Mobile Browsers

• ✅ iOS Safari
• ✅ Chrome Mobile
• ✅ Samsung Internet
• ✅ Firefox Mobile

Accessibility Tools

• ✅ Screen readers (NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver)
• ✅ Voice control software
• ✅ Keyboard-only navigation
• ✅ High contrast mode

👨‍💻 Developer Information

Architecture Overview

• MVC Pattern: Clean separation of concerns
• AJAX Handler: Dedicated helper class for search operations
• Template System: Flexible template override support
• Language System: 67+ organized translation strings
• Custom Fields: Extensible field system for configuration

File Structure

mod_bearslivesearch/
├── mod_bearslivesearch.php          # Main module entry point
├── mod_bearslivesearch.xml          # Module configuration & metadata
├── helper.php                       # Search logic & AJAX handling
├── tmpl/default.php                 # Default template
├── media/
│   ├── css/bearslivesearch.css     # Module styles
│   └── js/bearslivesearch.js       # AJAX functionality
├── fields/endpositions.php         # Custom position field
├── language/en-GB/                 # Language files
│   ├── en-GB.mod_bearslivesearch.ini
│   └── en-GB.mod_bearslivesearch.sys.ini
└── README.md                       # Documentation
            

Extensibility

• Hook System: Plugin-friendly architecture
• CSS Variables: Easy theming with custom properties
• Event System: JavaScript events for custom functionality
• Template Overrides: Full template customization support

🔧 Troubleshooting Guide

Common Issues & Solutions

Debug Mode

Enable Joomla's debug mode for detailed error messages and performance information:

1. Go to System → Global Configuration
2. Set Debug System to "Yes"
3. Set Error Reporting to "Maximum"
4. Check for detailed error messages at the bottom of pages

🤝 Support & Community

Getting Help

• Documentation: https://hallhome.us/software
• GitHub Issues: Report bugs and request features
• GitHub Discussions: Community support and questions
• Email Support: troy@hallhome.us for direct assistance

Contributing

• Bug Reports: Use GitHub Issues with detailed reproduction steps
• Feature Requests: Submit ideas with clear use cases
• Pull Requests: Follow coding standards and include tests
• Translations: Help translate into other languages
• Documentation: Improve guides and examples

Community Guidelines

• Be respectful and constructive in all interactions
• Provide detailed information when reporting issues
• Search existing issues before creating new ones
• Follow the code of conduct in all community spaces

📥 Download & Installation

Installation Methods

• Extension Manager: Upload the ZIP file through Joomla's Extension Manager
• FTP Upload: Extract and upload files to the modules directory
• Git Clone: Clone the repository for development purposes