Shadowcat on 8/3/2006 at 01:08
There are some genuinely brilliant extensions out there, and it's easy to miss hearing about them. So. Post your favourites, with a quick description.
Greasemonkey - Allows you to to write/install scripts that customise particular web pages/sites according to your own preferences. Loads of useful pre-made scripts to download. Requires technical knowledge to write your own, however...
...Platypus will write them for you! This is the best extension I've installed in ages. Open the Platypus toolbar, use its controls to edit the web page you're looking at, press "save" and it generates a Greasemonkey script that will execute your changes every time you load that page. Simply edit the target pages from within Greasemonkey's script manager to make it affect, say, the entire site. I use it to strip away the useless fluff from numerous sites I visit.
Be aware, of course, that future changes to the design of a site might conflict with your greasemonkey scripts, so don't forget that you're using it :) Also remember that you can just right-click on or around the menus and navigation buttons to quickly toggle toolbars like Platypus on and off.
Aardvark - does not generate scripts, but is a faster way to modify/remove components of a web page on a one-off basis. I find it useful to have both installed. I manually added a hot-key to activate Aardvark more quickly, but hopefully a future release will add this by default.
Web Developer - Simply awesome toolbar.
OpenBook and Add Bookmark Here - Vastly improves the process of adding a new bookmark. (Firefox's default behaviour here is horrible).
Linkification - Automatically turns plain-text URLs into links.
Autohide - Make your full-screen mode actually full-screen.
MileWideBack - Just click anywhere on the far left border of the browser to go back a page. Surprisingly convenient. You can also spin the mouse wheel to change tabs.
Image Zoom - Manipulate the images in a web page.
NoScript - Whiite list-based Javascript blocker, plus other features. Only run scripts / plug-ins on the sites you want. Good interface makes it easy to use and to temporarily or permanently allow access to a given site if required.
Tab Mix Plus - Must-have comprehensive improvements to tabbed browsing.
AdBlock Plus - Can be useful even if you don't want to remove adverts (e.g. I use it to strip avatars and signature images out of some forums).
ImgLikeOpera - Handy toolbar button/menu to switch image-viewing modes.
XE Currency Converter - Another handy toolbar button, if this is a feature you need regularly.
Options Menu - Not all extensions have options. This provides a menu listing only the ones that do. Select from the menu to go to the options screen.
Download Statusbar - A better-integrated download window.
DownThemAll - An altogether better download manager, built into the browser. Supports resuming.
Cookie Button in the status bar (one of a set, depending on your preferences) - change your cookie preferences for the current site from a quick-access menu.
TrashMail.net - Adds context menu option to generate and paste a new temporary email address into a web form. You can set how long the address is active, and also how many messages it will forward to you before deactivating. Love it.
Update Notifier - Keep up to date with all your extensions :) Adds some useful menu options to the top-right update icon.
All-In-One Sidebar - I wasn't sure I'd like this, but it's sufficiently unobtrusive. Makes the sidebar more useful, basically. Right now my extension list is in the sidebar while I write this post.
ScrapBook - I've yet to actually utilise this, but it seems excellent. It's basically a manager for saved web pages. Use the menu to 'capture' the current page (or set of tabs) and then access them again later via the same menu. Stores the pages in your profile folder.
edit: Okay, this is very cool. As well as the convenient interface, it also allows you to edit (remove elements), highlight, and attach little moveable notes to the saved pages. Awesome!
I have a bunch of others installed, and a heap more noted that look useful (I get the RSS feed for new/updated extensions), but these are the ones I have now that I think everyone should at least be aware of.
On a related note, remember that you can click "Add Engines" at the bottom of the seach bar menu. Note especially the "mycroft" link at the bottom of the web page you will be taken to; there are simply masses of options available from there. If you regularly want to do a quick search for some kind of data, there may well already be a search engine plugin available for it (and you can make your own without too much difficulty if you're so inclined).
Searching for the "Firefox Extensions" search-bar plugin at mycroft might be a useful thing to do right about now, for instance :)
edit: I forgot to mention another of the very best
Menu Editor - An easy to use interface for editing Firefox's menus! Re-order items, or stop them from being displayed altogether. With lots of other extensions over-crowding the tools and context menus, this extension is just magnificent. You can't add your own sub-menus or move items between menus, but those features are future possibilities.
Para?noid on 8/3/2006 at 02:12
There are some genuinely brilliant people out there, and it's easy to miss hearing about them. So.
Stitch - Great guy, takes a lot of thought with what he posts and is always gold. Gotta drop the crap obession though.
fett - Trying to carve a niche as the grumpy old man, but we know that that position will forever remain with theBlackman.
StrontiumDog - Is all grown up now! A bit like Tony but not as stupid, and not like half-baked like system shocker.
Paz - Knows a lot about football and politics, but no one really has much to reply to him because he makes sense and they know it, in only a way that English people can.
Gingerbread Man - Has been posting drunk lots lately, I swears.
Agent Monkeysee - Keeps going on these silly little holidays and we don't see him for like months on end what is up with that?
Onion Bob - Originally images, is now words! Possibly cleverer than Monkeybutt but we can't tell at this stage.
Unicaa - Refuses to do anything but one-liners on the forum!
MsLedd - Is such a flirt! Parents spent a lot of time working in the formative years, maybe.
David - Is becoming more leinent with people. It could be the calm before the storm. Or perhaps he's waiting for the right time to ask for someone to send him a BIGTEXT script. :mystery:
lowmoralfibre - Is now in compliance with EU standards, but doesn't post enough.
Davangel - Is totally a lurker these days. Much like Unciaa and Jones What's up with that? :(
SDM - Was once innocent and sweet, but is developing a heavily cynical approach with increasing dry humour and lots of "get out", much like TF and AR Master but that last guy takes exception because he was never innocent and sweet, just crazy in the face.
Strangeblue - There are two schools of thought on the premier TTLG chick, the other being MsLedd. Who could truly know?
RBJ - Is very agressive these days and I want to give him a backrub.
Para?noid on 8/3/2006 at 02:17
Oh, and
agwpt is about to <a href="http://www.ttlg.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102090">kill himself</a>.
Shadowcat on 8/3/2006 at 02:28
Yeah, thanks for that. Could a CC mod please split that into a different thread, please? You can delete this reply afterwards.
:tsktsk:
Para?noid on 8/3/2006 at 02:31
Sorry but this thread is about forum members, rite? I mean not that I've heard about many of the ones you mentioned but I rarely step outside of Comm Chat. Aardvark is a good chap, though! :D
Paz on 8/3/2006 at 02:34
Para?noid - is an internet hero, whether he is synching up Smiths/Cocteaus/Kate Bush albums on IRC for GOOD TIME FRIDAY LOLS, derailing threads or simply indulging in Awesome Internaut Adventures™ such as discussing how excellent at sex Kate Bush must surely be.
Iggles - is always coming up with wacky new ways for me to waste my life! Be it Planetia or Settlers of Catan, Iggles is always keen for everyones free time to be as unproductive (yet entertaining) as possible. Also looks cute in a little bear hat. Awww.
Shadowcat - I don't know this guy, but he seems kind of grumpy?
(I have a special secret to share: the idea of a forum populated by people called XE Currency Converter, Cookie Button in the status bar and Options Menu makes me giggle like a foolish infant.
"Fuck you All-In-One Sidebar, you dirty warmonger!"
"Oh sure Image Zoom, abortion is fine if you're a BABY KILLER like TrashMail.net")
Scots Taffer on 8/3/2006 at 02:34
Quote Posted by Shadowcat
Yeah, thanks for that. Could a CC mod please split that into a different thread, please? You can delete this reply afterwards.
:tsktsk:
Inline Image:
http://i2.tinypic.com/qytnvk.jpgShadowcat on 8/3/2006 at 02:51
Quote:
this isnt how it works
Well a CommChat mod will read this thread at some point, so I thought I'd kill two birds with one stone: simultaneously requesting a fix-up, and letting Para?noid know that I thought he was being an idiot. Seemed a reasonable approach to me, perhaps aside from the suggestion that they could also delete my post. Obviously I can do that myself.
Fringe on 8/3/2006 at 02:59
Shadowcat - Needs to realize the threadjack can't be stopped.
