Any firefox users want a better DU toolbar?

[BlooInBloo]

I was bored today, so I started learning javascript. I decided I wanted a better DU toolbar; here's the proof-of-concept:



(I also changed the Search button to go straight to Advanced Search, but you can't see that in a picture)

Javascript is pretty easy - I figure on making cooler things happen, like a completely individually configurable toolbar. I'm also thinking of putting the toolbar in its own frame (ie, when you scroll down a page, the toolbar doesn't disappear on you.)

I just thought I see if any of you folks were interested in anything along these line, and I'd see what I could whip up.

Lemme know if there's anything you guys would like to see, and I'll see what I can come up with, and release the code. It's greasemonkey, so it'll only work on firefox. I think there's an IE-adapter, but I seem to recall hearing that it doesn't work so well.

[gollygee]

1. That's awesome!

is this available now? If so, how do I get it!? :D

[Madspirit]

2. k&r and More Than Cool!!...n/t

[AndyTiedye]

3. How about an editing toolbar

I get so tired of typing |div class="excerpt"|

[uppityperson]

4. That would be really nice also.

Great idea, thanks.

[BlooInBloo]

5. That's a good idea... I was thinking about incorporating this guy's code....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=311&topic_id=456&mesg_id=459

Basically just rig it up so that his rich-editing-box basically replaces the normal text entry box. Would that suffice for the need you're talking about?

[AndyTiedye]

12. Yes. Something Like That Would be Great

[BlooInBloo]

16. Cool. That'll be my project after I get the fully configurable toolbar going then....

... I'll probably release the toolbar-version first, and then later do the rich-text-editing-box. Unless a better idea occurs to me between now and then. Thanks!

[DKRC]

17. You could be lazy like me

and simply copy and paste it ... :)

[AndyTiedye]

24. I Do That, But Still...

[FogerRox]

29. try this from the bloggers group it works well.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=311x456

[wildhorses]

6. wo0t

:applause:


love it!!!

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

7. Bloo, Don't Care About Any Disagreements We've Had. I Think You Fuckin ROCK For This. Seriously.

No matter how much people argue with each other, at the end of the day only one things matters to me, and that's whether or not someone brings any value. I think what you just did here is of MONUMENTAL value, and I think you're awesome for caring enough to do it.

I'd love to have this. How do ya get it? Out of curiosity, is it something you can have linked on the Firefox plug-in page?

Everything you did would be valuable, including the advance search function. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

:yourock:

[BlooInBloo]

13. lol! Some smart guy said that the things that unite us are strong than those that divide us...

... Perhaps this is a small example.

It isn't "available" anywhere yet. I had the thought, without thinking deeply about it, of making a bit more stuff happen before "going public" with it. Right this second, it really is nothing more than what I described: gd/lounge/avd search. My shallow thought was a couple days/week of functionality additions, based upon any suggestions DUers had, before putting it out there. If people care enough, there's no reason I couldn't release it now-ish, I suppose.

[Spiffarino]

15. O/T, but I have to tell you

Your avatar has me laughing my ass off.

[Nomad559]

8. With Opera

you can just drag the shortcuts to your toolbar.



:)

[BlooInBloo]

9. With firefox as well....

... I personally don't prefer to take up all-the-time space with du-specific buttons. But peoples' tastes are certainly allowed to vary on that.

[Control-Z]

28. You can change

the name (and the amount of space it takes up) with any link you drag onto the Firefox tool bar.



Right click on the link in the tool bar and delete the name completely from properties (if there is a recognizable icon, like Yahoo or DU). Otherwise, just abbreviate. Saves a lot of space to add more links.

[Lex]

11. Yes, with Firefox I have the same type of shortcuts embeded in my toolbar.

Easy-peasy.

[originalpckelly]

10. Hell, this is cool!

I didn't even know it was possible!

[Spiffarino]

14. Good on ya, OP. Firefox kicks butt.

I have no idea why people are still using IE as their primary browser. If you absolutely have to have IE or you need ActiveX to run a page, just install an IE tab add-on and switch browsers...and never leave Firefox!

All you IE users need to get Firefox, learn how it works, load your favorite add-ons and experience internet the way it ought to be.

[DKRC]

18. Looks great!

I'm a new convert to FF and love it.

[Wiley50]

19. Hell Yes! Thanks! Be Sure To Put me on the list and send a link N/T

[alittlelark]

20. That would be waaaay cool!

Thank You in advance if you can do this!:*

[Warren DeMontague]

21. Neat!

Count me in.

[BlooInBloo]

22. k. I'll pm everyone who expressed interest in this thread tomorrow about it.

[Laurier]

23. Awesome, Bloo n/t

[Kat45]

25. Sounds good.

I'd like to hear more about it.

[Omphaloskepsis]

26. You can use this to turn a greasemonkey script into a Firefox extension.

http://www.letitblog.com/greasemonkey-compiler/

That way you don't need Greasemonkey.. It installs like a normal extension.

[BlooInBloo]

27. Ah - interesting. I'll look into it - thanks for the find!

EDIT: Yup, there it is, in 6.4 of the user guide!

[in_cog_ni_to]

30. I LIKE! I've always wanted a direct link/icon for GD! Right now I have GD Bookmarked

and it's on my toolbar so I can come here directly. However, when I visit other forums...which is rare, I have to go to the list of forums to get back here unless I open GD from my Bookmark toolbar again or Backspace 500 times.:). I like the Search button change too. I ALWAYS go to Advanced Search first. Nice job!

How do I get it? I have Firefox and am Computer illiterate...so can you give it to me in plain English?...no tech stuff because I don't understand it.:(

[BlooInBloo]

31. How to get it, for anyone who's interested...

I tried to PM everyone who looked like they were interested in this thread. Apologies if I either missed someone, or hit someone who wasn't looking for it.

Below are instructions on how to get it going. Please let me know if there are any improvements that could be made in the instructions. I'll eventually make the process itself simpler, too - this two-step process is the price you pay for being an early-adopter :)

Please do also let me know about any bugs you find with the toolbar-addon, or anything additional you'd like to see. This is just an exercise for me to learn Javascript, so anything goes - if I can't do it, I'll let you know. :)

================
INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Firefox users only need bother trying anything that follows.

2) Go to this site, and install the Greasemonkey Firefox extension:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748

I think you'll have to re-start Firefox after installing the extension; I forget for sure.

3) Go to this site, and click "Install this script":

http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/10210

4) At this point, you should just be able to go to DU, and see 2 new buttons, and a different Search destination.

5) If you want to get rid of the script, on the Firefox menu, do the following:

Tools -> Greasemonkey -> Manage User Scripts -> Click "Add GD Button" -> Click Uninstall
================

I'll be making about a jillion improvements to this over the coming weeks, so I'll need some way to notify everyone. For now: when it's updated, I'll (a) update the script site from 3) above, and (b) Put it in my DU journal/on GD. I don't think you can do mass-PMs, so that's not an option.


I hope you find this useful,

BiB

[FogerRox]

32. interesting, my laptop is in the shop right now, though I have bookmarked this...hmmmmm