Theme Drupal 6 Search Results

In drupal 6, the variable $result is available in search-result.tpl.php.  The commented section at the top of this file makes no mention of this variable, so if you want to do something as simple as showing the created date on a node instead of the modified date, then you're in for a bit of researching (unless you read this blog post!).
 
So, if you want to modify how search results are displayed, then you need to:
1) Copy search-results.tpl.php and search-result.tpl.php from /modules/search to your theme's folder.
2) Use the $result object as needed within search-result.tpl.php
3) Don't forget to clear the theme registry by visiting admin/build/themes
 
Here's my search-result.tpl.php file:
 

<?php
// $Id: search-result.tpl.php,v 1.1.2.1 2008/08/28 08:21:44 dries Exp $

/**
 * @file search-result.tpl.php
 * Default theme implementation for displaying a single search result.
 *
 * This template renders a single search result and is collected into
 * search-results.tpl.php. This and the parent template are
 * dependent to one another sharing the markup for definition lists.
 *
 * Available variables:
 * - $url: URL of the result.
 * - $title: Title of the result.
 * - $snippet: A small preview of the result. Does not apply to user searches.
 * - $info: String of all the meta information ready for print. Does not apply
 *   to user searches.
 * - $info_split: Contains same data as $info, split into a keyed array.
 * - $type: The type of search, e.g., "node" or "user".
 *
 * Default keys within $info_split:
 * - $info_split['type']: Node type.
 * - $info_split['user']: Author of the node linked to users profile. Depends
 *   on permission.
 * - $info_split['date']: Last update of the node. Short formatted.
 * - $info_split['comment']: Number of comments output as "% comments", %
 *   being the count. Depends on comment.module.
 * - $info_split['upload']: Number of attachments output as "% attachments", %
 *   being the count. Depends on upload.module.
 *
 * Since $info_split is keyed, a direct print of the item is possible.
 * This array does not apply to user searches so it is recommended to check
 * for their existance before printing. The default keys of 'type', 'user' and
 * 'date' always exist for node searches. Modules may provide other data.
 *
 *   <?php if (isset($info_split['comment'])) : ?>
 *     <span class="info-comment">
 *       <?php print $info_split['comment']; ?>
 *     </span>
 *   <?php endif; ?>
 *
 * To check for all available data within $info_split, use the code below.
 *
 *   <?php print '<pre>'. check_plain(print_r($info_split, 1)) .'</pre>'; ?>
 *
 * @see template_preprocess_search_result()
 */

if($type == "node"){
  $info_split['date'] = format_date($result['node']->created, 'small');
  $info = implode(' - ', $info_split);
}
 
?>
<dt class="title">
  <a href="<?php print $url; ?>"><?php print $title; ?></a>
</dt>
<dd>
  <?php if ($snippet) : ?>
    <p class="search-snippet"><?php print $snippet; ?></p>
  <?php endif; ?>
  <?php if ($info) : ?>
  <p class="search-info"><?php print $info; ?></p>
  <?php endif; ?>
</dd>