SelectionQuery

Version 2.0
By Tisza Daniel

CONTENTS

  • Description
  • Features
  • Installation
  • Screenshots and Configuration
  • Bugs
  • Contact
  • License

    1. Description

    SelectionQuery is a Mozilla Firefox extension.
    Are you tired of copy-paste chains while browsing?

    By using SelectionQuery you can add own items (queries) to the
    right-click menu, which can perform a preset query.
    If you also enable appending for a query, the currently selected text
    will be appended to your preset query.

    Other configurable features include auto showing the menu on
    text selection, previewing the query on hovering over a menuitem
    and opening the selected text as if it was an url.

    2. Features

    Basic:
    - Presetting of (GET & POST) queries as menuitems on right-click menu.
    - Optionally appending the selected text to a preset query.
    - Rearranging the order of preset queries.

    Opening:
    - Opening the query in a new tab or window.
    - Opening the query in front or in the background.

    Auto show:
    - Auto showing the queries whenever text is selected. (Optional)
    - Showing 'Copy' within the auto show menu. (Optional)

    Preview:
    - Previewing the query when hovering over the menuitem. (Optional)
    - Setting the size of the preview panel.
    - Setting the delay before showing the preview.

    Other:
    - Showing 'Open URL...' in the right-click menu. (Optional)
    - Showing 'Written Query...' in the right-click menu. (Optional)
    - Showing 'Close tab' within the right-click menu. (Optional)
    - Changing window title to current URL (Optional)
    - Auto hiding of the menu bar (Optional)
    - Showing 'Open Selected Url' which treats the selected text as a query. (Optional)
    (Hovering shows a preview of making a query of the selection,
    real links can also be previewed by right-clicking on them)

    3. Installation

    SelectionQuery requires version 1.5 or greater of Mozilla Firefox
    Installed as an add-on / extension to Mozilla Firefox.

    WAY 1:Choose 'File' -> 'Open File...' and open selectionquery.xpi

    WAY 2:Choose 'Tools' -> 'Add-ons' and drag selectionquery.xpi over the add-on window.

    4. Screenshots and Configuration

    The following image shows the basic use of SelectionQuery, it's raison d'être.

    1. User selects some text on a web page
    2. The right-click menu comes up, either by auto showing (configurable option), or by a right-click.
    3. By clicking on a preset query 'Merriam-Webster', the selection is appended to the query and executable by a click
    4. On the right is a preview window (configurable option), which shows a preview of the query

    The true power of the system lies in the combination of 'preset query' and 'append selection'.

    Let's see next what the configuration looks like.
    The next image shows the SelectionQuery Manager, which is used to configure all options.
    There is a list of all preset queries with 'Name', 'Query', 'Appending selection' and 'POST param name' values.
    (1) The NAME is what is shown in the right-click menu.
    (2) The QUERY is the most important, as this defines what address is retrieved, when this menu item is selected.
    (3) APPENDING SELECTION describes what is done with the selected text. There are three choices:
    • Don't append
    • Directly to query, makes a GET query
    • As POST param value, makes a POST query.
    (4) POST PARAM NAME sets the parameter name for POST queries. Parameter value is the selected text.

     - Adding new queries is done with 'Add new'
    - Changing the values of an existing query is done by selecting it in the list and clicking on 'Change'
    - Removing an existing query is done by selecting it in the list and clicking on 'Remove'
    (5) SHOW IN MENU sets whether this query is visible in the right-click menu.

    Rearranging the queries is done by dragging and dropping them in the list



    The next images show examples of the three different queries:
    PLAIN LINK QUERY


    GET QUERY


    POST QUERY


    Sometimes there is a situation, that a link is written just as plain text on a web page and it's not possible to click it. SelectionQuery can help,
    just select the link's text and use the optional feature 'Open Selected Url' as in the next image.
    Note that if the selected text is a valid url, the preview feature will also work.



    If you'd like to preview a real link, then you don't even need to select it. Just open the right-click menu
    and if the right-clicked element is a link then 'Open Selected Url' works as expected.



    The following image shows the optional menuitems:


    Open Url opens a popup, where the address can be typed. Supports autocompletion.


    Written Query opens a popup, where the search words can be entered. Then the chosen SelectionQuery can be activated. Supports previewing.


    Autohiding of the menu bar.


    5. Bugs

    Not yet :)
    Bugs, Comments and Feedback are of course all appreciated.

    6. Contact

    Name: Tisza Daniel
    Email: dadatis@gmail.com
    Homepage: http://www.uwasa.fi/~k83660/

    7. License

    In short, SelectionQuery is under GPLv3.
    Please see COPYING.txt for more information.