GoogleResultsWalker Firefox addon
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Description
This Firefox addon enables fast navigation of google results, while still retaining the google "feel". Navigate the results using the mousewheel, and mouse over a result to display it in a window to the right. Try it, it's fast and fun!
Documentation
When you search using google, the results page will be changed as follows.
- The results on the lefthand side will be placed in a scrollable container. Google results are 48 "small" characters wide. The container will be sized to hold the results exactly as google provides them.
- A second container is placed in the remaining space on the right. Hover over a result link with the mouse and it will be displayed in the righthand container.
There are two checkboxes in the bar above the results: [ ] Preview [ ] Hover
- Turn off Preview to remove the Google Results Walker preview window, and restore the results as they were.
- Turn off Hover to disable hovering. To view a preview, click the "Preview" link at the end of the result block.
Markup buttons will be provided to allow you to "tag" important results with a color, or remove uninteresting results. The markup is temporary - if you refresh the page, you will start with the original unmarked results again.
Use a high resolution (1024x768 or higher) to really get the most out of this addon. If you run at a very high resolution of 1600x1200 or higher, you will most likely be able to see the full result page. Good times!
Addon Compatibility
I've tried this with the following addons, mostly with success. Let me know if there's something specific that doesn't work for you.
- NoSquint - Improves Firefox's text resizing ("zooming"). Makes a great companion for Google Results Walker. Zooming out on the page is a great way to make the preview fit better. Without this addon, Firefox 3.0.1 forces a text size reset when you load a new preview - EXTREMELY annoying! I may try to get Google Results Walker to prevent this silly resize, but until I do, there's the excellent NoSquint addon. I recommend setting the zoom to 100% after you install, instead of the default 120%.
- CustomizeGoogle - Be careful, this add-on includes a "stream results" option that pulls down more than the first page of search results. I typically ask google for 100 results, and with this option on, I was pulling down thousands of results at a time. Before long, google was suspecting spyware involvement, and I had to answer some captchas to get to results. Also watch out for "Show favicons for web pages", it can really slow things down. I recommend this add-on with "stream results" and "favicons" turned off.
- GooglePreview - Seems compatible, even though we're both mucking with the same results. In fact, the two add-ons seem to complement each other pretty well. The preview thumbnail is small and can be out of date, but it gives you a quick visual cue. Then, for the real deal, you can pull up a live preview. Note that unlike GooglePreview, Google Results Walker doesn't know anything about your searches (it doesn't need to). But I wouldn't worry, GooglePreview's privacy policy is reassuring. Recommended.
- Fasterfox - This add-on includes link prefetching (controversial topic!) that makes for even faster mouseovers (and massive bandwidth usage!). Has this fallen out of favor? If I was connected to the backbone, I'd probably be all about combining this one into the mix. Let me know about your experiences.
- Googlepedia - This addon uses the same right-hand whitespace that Google Results Walker uses. I don't see how these two can be made to play together. I will try to make Google Results Walker get out of the way of Googlepedia when the preview checkbox is off...
- Surf Canyon - similar goals - need to test compatibility, check features, etc.
- Better Search - similar goals - need to test compatibility, check features, etc.
- McAfee Site Advisor - I got a report that there's an issue with Google Results Walker interfering with Site Advisor's green tick mark. I'll have to look into this...
- The usual popular ones (Adblock Plus, ColorfulTabs, TabMixPlus, Greasemonkey, etc.) seem fine.
Feature Requests
Personally, I need this addon, and I'll be maintaining it into the foreseeable future. But I've decided to try a digital-economy experiment: my development on the addon will be strictly dictated by donations. If you're the first to donate $5 and you want a flashing hot pink border, I'll give it my best shot. Fly me, I'm yours. Updated daily.
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| Prevent preview window from taking over entire browser window | (may not be permitted by Firefox) |
| Googlepedia compatibility | |
| McAfee Site Advisor compatibility | |
| Improve initial size/resize of results container | |
| Provide buttons to zoom in/out results | |
| Add Options to split preview into 1, 2 or 4 panes and each roll over puts the preview in the next pane |
| Click here to join in. There will be a "Request" field at the end of the process. Tell me your bidding. |
Send gripes, hellos, patches, death threats, love letters to: resultswalker@gmail.com
Changelog
0.5.13 09/30/2008
Preferences are saved. This version is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, but you have to log in to get it from Mozilla.
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| Allow preferences to be saved | $20 |
0.5.12 09/29/2008
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| More international google URL support (eg google.fr, google.md) | $10 - fredisland |
0.5.11 09/25/2008
- Removed a stray alert call.
0.5.10 09/25/2008
- Google's results page changed format today, in the footer. Walker updated to keep in step (sorry, bad pun).
0.5.9 09/24/2008
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| Allow walking of results for international google URL's (eg google.com.hk) | Requested by Jackie C - "This is a great extension. Thank you very much." |
0.5.8 09/22/2008
- Includes better removal of google gunk when the preview is on. All gunk is fully restored when the preview is toggled off. :>
0.5.7 09/17/2008
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| Handle font size change | Handled by NoSquint addon, see compatibility notes |
| Make Preview window resizable | Just turn off preview to get it out of the way. |
- Added results markup, allowing results to be marked with a color or entirely removed from the results list (until the next search).
- Added preview link at end of each result. You can now toggle off hovering and decide when you want a preview.
0.5.6 09/07/2008
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| If browsing in preview window you can get far away from the original google result. Create a way to open the current preview window in a new tab, window, current tab, etc. | Just right-click in frame and use the frame menu. |
| Toggle on/off addon (big button linked to a preference?) |
- Added preview toggle. The add-on will now get nicely out of your way whenever you like.
- Hovering is properly disabled when preview is toggled off.
0.5.5 09/05/2008
| Request | Donation |
|---|---|
| Toggle on/off mouseover with a big lightswitch | $5 |
- Updated icon, description.
- Added subtle highlight to hovered results.
- Added hover toggle.
- Added Dan, Gary to contributors.
- Determined that CustomizeGoogle "stream search results" with 100 results will quickly get you banned by Google! Proceed with caution...
0.5.4 09/02/2008
- fixed default "no results" page
- reduced size of javascript
0.5.3 09/01/2008
- updated to skip table#nav in height calc if it doesn't exist (before it would error out)
- removed "get lucky" autoload until I can prevent iframe from taking over window
0.5.2 09/01/2008
- iframe resized on window resize
0.5.1 08/30/2008
- two-columns, sized correctly on first view (but not on window resize)
0.0.1 2008
- originally named "google unsucked", not very nice
ancient past 01/14/2004
- Birth: the original (currently broken) perl webscrape version was called GoogleFramed