PC Guide Firefox Plugin

[pave_spectre]

Not actually a suggestion but it's site related.

A search plugin for Mozilla/Firefox now exists that allows searching of The PC Guide forums. Given the current interest in alternate browsers I thought it was worth mentioning.

At the moment it can only be downloaded from My Site (http://pavespectre.netfirms.com) under "Miscellaneous Items". It has been submitted to Mycroft (http://mycroft.mozdev.org/) but has not yet shown up there.

So far it seems to work fine. It did crash Firefox the first time I used it but hasn't been a problem since, so I suspect the two are unrelated.

[Paleo Pete]

Good idea, but...

How many people have tested this on different machines, with different software compatibibity issues, different system specs, different surfing habits, and various levels of ability?

Before being turned loose on the general public, it needs to be thoroughly tested under a good range of different circumstances. Until then, keep it among techs who know what to do if it causes unexpected problems.

I just use the Search button on the forums, either in another tab (linux) or a different browser window (winderz). Never saw a need for a plugin, but it might be well liked by a lot of other folks, who knows...just make sure it does its thing well and is stable before dropping it in the public's lap. If it turns out to have problems, it's the forums' reputation on the line, that's where they heard about it...and it's the search target...We'll catch the heat for it, deserve it or not.

[shanmuga]

I am extremely fond of these search plugins for Mozilla based browsers, which saves few keystrokes and couple of clicks. I have downloaded your PCGuide plugin to my XP machine and it seem to work well. Nice job pave_spectre, Thanks.

[Sylvander]

OK, the files are in the "searchplugins" folder and "Firefox V0.9.1" is running the "PC Guide".

What now?
I see no problems and have been able to use Firefox to "Google Search" with "Search the PC Guide" option button selected [or is it chosen?].
Is that it done?

By-the-way:
Does anyone know how to put a "TinyURL" link on the Firefox toolbar?
I tried dragging the icon from the website onto the toolbar window, but it didn't work.

[shanmuga]

I am not sure that I am getting you right. :) When you install a search plugin right, you should be able to perform the search of the choosen site from the searchbar itself. Please see the attachment.

Regarding TinyURL, you should download and install the particular extention first from http://tinyurl.com/5c8of. Then customize toolbar > put the tinyurl icon wherever you want in the toolbar.

[shanmuga]

Sorry here is the attachment. If the above tinyurl doesn't work, here is the direct link. http://update.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?application=firefox&id=126&vid=319

[Sylvander]

I got TinyURL installed in Firefox and working.
The 1st link didn't work, but the 2nd did.

At first I couldn't figure out what/where the "search bar" was to be found, but with the help of the Mozilla Firefox help files it finally clicked that it was the little search window that I thought was strictly a "Google" search window.
I noticed a tiny arrow beside the google "G".
When I clicked on that a drop-down list-box appeared with google and the PC Guide Icons in the list plus "Find on this page".

[shanmuga]

Yes, you can get any number of search plugins, to all kinds of sites imaginable at http://mycroft.mozdev.org/ .

[ixl]

Sorry for the lag in responding to this, I've been away.

It looks quite neat, pave_spectre! I will definitely have to check it out. :)

c

[classicsoftware]

Ok, let's pretend I'm really dumb. How in gXFDG's name to you install this. Does it only work on XP?

Can you give step by step instructions?

[PrntRhd]

Classic,
Which version are you running? IF 9.0 flavor, go to Tools> Extensions> Get More Extensions, and choose from the list,> and click Install now. It downloads and installs automatically. Some extensions may require closing and re-opening Firefox, it will tell you if that is required. This is for all Windows OS's.

Edit:
Nevermind, I don't know what you are trying to install, Pave's first file or the Tiny URL thing.

[malcore]

You need a program that can manage decompressing .gz files and extracting .tar files. Winzip will do it, or 7Zip or Ultimate zip.

I used 7-Zip. I did it in two steps. 1. I decompressed the .gz file, or extracted the .tar archive file. 2.I then extracted the two files pcguide.png and pcguide.src from the .tar file into the "search plugins" folder in my Firefox directory. Restarted Firefox, there it was in the pull down box in the search bar.

Should work on any Windows version. .tar archives compressed in .gz format aren't windows friendly, but with the right program, not a problem.;)

[pave_spectre]

Originally posted by malcore
Should work on any Windows version. .tar archives compressed in .gz format aren't windows friendly, but with the right program, not a problem.;)

I'd forgotten about the two step thing, so used to dealing with tar.gz files. :rolleyes:

There is also a zip format on the site now, to make life a little easier.:)

[malcore]

Just ran across this, EZGZ (http://www.psychology.nottingham.ac.uk/staff/cr1/gz.html) , small .exe file which allows Windows users to drag a .gz , .tgz or a .tar.gz file into the .exe and it will immediately extract all files. Then just move them where you want. Also allows Windows users to compress files in these formats using 1 to 9 compression.

[classicsoftware]

Thanks Guys,

Works like a charm.

Now maybe you can hlp me install a spell checker for Firefox

[shanmuga]

This seems to work well for many.

http://www.exchangecode.com/spellbound/

[classicsoftware]

Right now, I'm Firefox impaired, nut learning quickly. What an unbelievable program. The amazing thing is, it is so NOT a part of Windows, you don't need to re-start the OS to use it.

[Sylvander]

I just visited the George Michael site at www.aegean.net/ and I cannot get it to work with IE, but it does with Firefox. :confused:

He has closed his forum to put an end to attacks on him and his supporters using "negativity".