88191 - Suggestion for Unix CLI-Like Functionality Within URL Bar

Status: VERIFIED WORKSFORME

(SeaMonkey :: Location Bar, enhancement)

Description

[Izel Sulam]

A little-known browser plugin for IE adds a very interesting, extensible
functionality to IE. This functionality would be a very welcome addition to the
Mozilla URL bar.

The browser plugin is called "Web Accessories for Internet Explorer 5.0" and
adds a bunch of useless functionalities along with this very useful functionality.

The feature works as follows: Using a preferences menu, the user associates a
keyword with a URL string that expects a search parameter. (The user is supposed
to be able to define an unbounded number of keyword / URL associations.) For
example, let's say I associate the keyword "mame" with the incomplete URL
"http://www.mame.dk/home.phtml?search=".

Then when I type "mame bird" into the URL bar and press Enter, the browser
automatically takes me to "http://www.mame.dk/home.phtml?search=bird" which
effectively is equivalent to having gone to http://www.mame.dk and having
entered "bird" into the search box and having clicked on the search button.

This CLI-like functionality saves pageviews, bandwidth, and wrist strain. I find
it very useful. I also expect that it will find many fans among the CLI-friendly
Linux crowd, much moreso than the CLI-averse Windows crowd.

I have keyword / URL associations defined for multiple languages for the
WorldLingo automatic translation service, for download.com, mame.dk, and a bunch
of other sites. Heavy web surfers like myself can find much use for this feature.

Comment 1

[Izel Sulam]

Here's what I believe is a good way to implement the functionality.

The keyword is associated with an incomplete URL string, in which an unbounded number of parameters have been marked with the %n syntax (or any other similar syntax).

For example, let the keyword "search" be associated with the incomplete URL string "http://www.random.site.com/search.pl?name=%0&date=%1&price=%2"

Then when the user enters the string "search foo 2000 15" into the URL bar, and presses Enter, the browser would go to "http://www.random.site.com/search.pl?name=foo&date=2000&price=15"

Unspecified parameters would be left blank. For example, for the above definition, "search kungfoo" would make the browser go to "http://www.random.site.com/search.pl?name=kungfoo&date=&price="

Comment 2

[Gilles Durys]

It looks like this : http://www.mozilla.org/docs/end-user/keywords.html

Comment 3

[Izel Sulam]

Already implemented with keywords - just discovered this - never mind.

Comment 4

[Claudius Gayle]

this should really be Resolved Invalid..but whatever.
IMHO Custom Keywords are the coolest unhyped feature - and they've
been there since day one.