Gear Browser Search Plugin

[Abby Normal]

I'm not sure if this really fits anywhere, but this seems the closest fit.

I wanted to create a FireFox search engine plugin for the equipment browser here. I tried using the Mycroft project form first and only succeeded in listing a broken plugin there. I think it's because my search URL uses some special characters that the Mycroft form doesn't convert to URLencoded, which is a must for the XML file required. But I digress:

I've attached the necessary XML file in this post. Download it and dump it into your searchplugins directory (mine is under C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox) then restart your browser. You can use it by selecting it from the dropdown on the search toolbar, but that gets to be a pain because then you might forget to set it back to Google or whatever your preferred default is.

It's best used in combination with the Context Search plugin found here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/240

What's it for?

What I do is when I see an MD unit I want, I select the model number then (in combination with the context search plugin) I right-click the selected text and go down to "Search for" which expands to a list of all my search plugins.

Why bother having a special plugin instead of just searching Google?

This just reduces it by one step for me. The search plugin actually uses Google but adds a couple search terms that singles out minidisc.org AND it also adds a special parameter that executes Google's "I Feel Lucky" function, which automatically sends you to the first result rather than leaving you on Google's search results page.

I'm not saying this will be terribly useful to many people. I will use it a lot and I thought I'd share just in case someone else finds it beneficial.

narp

minidiscorg_gearbrowser.xml

[bobt]

cool, thanks, I usually kept two browsers open when I did that, should save a step, should work on Mozilla no? will try it,

Bob

[Abby Normal]

If you mean some other Mozilla derived browser besides Firefox--possibly. I don't think it'll be harmful to try.

[Abby Normal]

Here's what it looks like when I use it with the Context Search:

It creates a new tab and if it gets a good enough match it goes right to the appropriate equipment page. In this particular case it didn't actually work because I selected the D at the end. The equipment browser doesn't have the "D" in its title for this model.

Edited June 29, 2009 by narp

[Azureal]

attached the necessary XML file in this post. Download it and dump it into your searchplugins directory (mine is under C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox) then restart your browser.

Any ideas where this file might go on an OSX machine?

[Abby Normal]

I don't have a Mac to try this, but you should check under

~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/

I think what you'd need to do then is find the profile you use and drill down into that, then create the directory "searchplugins" underneath of it if it doesn't already exist. That would be where you'd put the XML file.

Any ideas where this file might go on an OSX machine?

It sure would be nice if I could come up with a way for this to install neatly without making people get all old-school. Maybe the next version of FireFox will offer that support.

Edited July 3, 2009 by narp

[Azureal]

I don't have a Mac to try this, but you should check under

~/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/

I think what you'd need to do then is find the profile you use and drill down into that, then create the directory "searchplugins" underneath of it if it doesn't already exist. That would be where you'd put the XML file.

It sure would be nice if I could come up with a way for this to install neatly without making people get all old-school. Maybe the next version of FireFox will offer that support.

Very cool narp,

I'll try that later today, I did a little searching for similar XML files and located the path you mention. I did not create the directory however and that may be the key.

I'll figure it out and let you know how things work out.

Incidentally, I think this is an awesome solution, I am constantly searching the browser for the details of one disk or another, it will be awesome to be able to just highlight it and right click, select search browser and come right up with a link to exact unit I want!

Thanks for your efforts!

[Abby Normal]

Don't forget that to use that functionality you also need to add the Context Search plugin from mozilla's addin page. I posted the link above. Also, to finish installing any plugin, including the search plugin I composed, you'll need to exit all instances of your browser and restart.

Very cool narp,

I'll try that later today, I did a little searching for similar XML files and located the path you mention. I did not create the directory however and that may be the key.

I'll figure it out and let you know how things work out.

Incidentally, I think this is an awesome solution, I am constantly searching the browser for the details of one disk or another, it will be awesome to be able to just highlight it and right click, select search browser and come right up with a link to exact unit I want!

Thanks for your efforts!

Edited September 15, 2009 by Abby Normal