Theming advanced search

Use hook_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id)

For an example see the location_search modules location_search_form_alter(), which is where the advanced form is added to the search form.

You could do things like:

<?php
/**
 * Implementation of hook_form_alter().
 */
function mymodule_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id) {
  if ($form_id == 'search_form' && arg(1) == 'location') {
    if (isset($form['advanced'])) {
      // Uncollapse fieldset by default.
      $form['advanced']['#collapsed'] = FALSE;
      // Move the fieldset to the top.
      $form['advanced']['#weight'] = -10;
    }
  }
}
?>

i put this in my template.php in my theme

function search_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id) {
if ($form_id == 'search_form' ) {
if (isset($form['advanced'])) {
// Uncollapse fieldset by default.
$form['advanced']['#collapsed'] = FALSE;
// Move the fieldset to the top.
$form['advanced']['#weight'] = -10;
}
}
}

and it doesnt change anything, the advanced search is still collapsed. I put the them name instead of search that doesn work either
Is there somewhere else I'm supposed to put it?

thank you

The hook_form_alter function should go into a custom module.

For example, you create a module called my_search_customisations (you can call it something better I'm sure).
Then in that module you have

<?php
function my_search_customisations_form_alter(&$form, &$form_state, $form_id) {
  if ($form_id == 'search_form' ) {
    if (isset($form['advanced'])) {
      // Uncollapse fieldset by default.
      $form['advanced']['#collapsed'] = FALSE;
      // Move the fieldset to the top.
      $form['advanced']['#weight'] = -10;
    }
  }
}
?>

If you are unfamiliar with creating modules there is mush info on it at http://drupal.org/node/206753

okay, i made a module which does this, I am attaching it. how can I publish this so other people can use it?

If you go to your account profile page there is a tab called "Your projects".
If you go there there will be a list of your existing projects and a link to add one.
You can add a sandbox project there.

Then you can refer people to that sandbox.
If you want to can also promote it to a full project. To do this you first have to have it approved by posting a project application issue at http://drupal.org/project/projectapplications

There is more detailed information at http://drupal.org/node/1011196 and its sub-pages.