Using Google Toolbar features without toolbars

Using Google Toolbar features without toolbars

Google Chrome does not have or use the Google Toolbar, because like Firefox the features are built-in or accessible from the browser by other means such as extensions.  Firefox has another powerful tool and that is keyworded bookmarklets.  Let's first examine what was in the Google Toolbar that Firefox users might have been using.

Highlights

• The Google Toolbar will not be updated for Firefox 5 or later Firefox versions. [1] Google finally decided that their Problematic Extension is beyond repair for the little benefit added for Firefox users.  Google as with other browsers is eliminating or making toolbars less accessible.
• Google published a list of Google Toolbar extensions and Firefox extensions and features that can be used instead of the Google Toolbar see Toolbar not available for Firefox 5 or newer versions : Install or uninstall - Toolbar Help.  We can start with that list and as Firefox users we can add more specific information rather than generalized searches.
• Google's list mainly involves extensions, but Firefox users can make much better use of Bookmarklets than Google or any other browser today, because of keyword shortcuts.  But keyword shortcuts and particularly their names are a personal thing and there are those who will not even learn some rudimentary keyboard shortcuts let alone many of those keyboard shortcuts that are actually available.  Customizing existing keyboard shortcuts by (rebinding your keys) can be done with the "keyconfig" extension.  For users who don't want to think of keyword shortcuts they can add bookmarks to the bookmarks toolbar to use like buttons.
• There are many Firefox extensions that have the same names as the Google Toolbar features because they are or refer to Google features that can be invoked by browsers: GBookmarks, Sidewiki (see below)
• There are so many Firefox extensions to choose from so that if you lose use of one, you can often find a similar substitute.
• Firefox -- Release Dates projected version release dates, these dates are of interest to those who need to know when updates are pending, which should be everyone.

Web Features

• Dictionary (kws), a great many dictionary bookmarks are available, mainly it is a matter of choice as to what dictionary/dictionaries to use.
• RSS feeds
• Thesaurus (kws), a great many bookmarks are available mainly a matter of which thesaurus to use.

Google Tool features

Starting from a list supplied by Google. [2]

• AutoFill: See available add-ons to fill out forms.  [fill web forms]
  Basically AutoFill is built-in to Firefox, but extensions may add additional features, such as pass-wording the saved data; otherwise, make sure you do not discard saved form data (Tools&nbsp> Options&nbsp> Privacy&nbsp> Settings).

• Bookmarks: See available bookmark add-ons  [bookmarks sync].  To access your Google Bookmarks visit www.google.com/bookmarks.
  • GBookmarks Google Bookmarks for Firefox, 25.6KB

• Find in page: Use the built-in feature in Firefox by pressing Ctrl-F (in Windows and Linux) or Command-F (on Mac).

• Gmail notifications: See available Gmail add-ons  [Gmail].

• Highlight Search terms:
  • "ColorResults" (11.3 KB) extension, highlight Google search terms Google as long as the user is scrolling the page
  • "GoogleEnhancer" (22.5kb) extension, many optional features, auto next page, highlighting search terms, etc.

• McAfee Site Advisor: (search related) used with Google search is disabled via blocklist for version 3.3.1 and below.

• Page sharing: Consider using other add-ons for sharing  [share web page].
  • [AddThis] to make sharing and bookmarking simple. Have all your favorite web 2.0 social networking, bookmarking, blogging, and e-mail services at your fingertips. Share any page, anytime, with anyone.  Share interesting things you find on the web. [3]
  • "Sidebar Companion for Google Sidewiki" extension, comments about web pages

• Site thumbnails on a new tab: Try out some of the other add-ons for generating site thumbnails  [tab thumbnails].

• Shorten link references: be aware that many people would rather have the actual link than use another website to to get to the page they want to go to.
  • goo.gl bookmarklet Bookmarklet:Bookmarklet Search Engine create a goo.gl bookmark. [4]
  • tinyurl bookmarklet

• Spell-check: Use built-in spell-check in Firefox.
  Firefox has a builtin spelling checker, for some it works instantly, others have to create a persdict.dat file in their profile -- Spell checking - MozillaZine Knowledge Base. 
  Additional tips and information in these two links because you can do a lot more with the spelling checker than just check multi-row text boxes.
  • Spell Check
  • Spell Check Jumpstart

• Translation, Page translation: See available add-ons  [language translate].
  Use of keyword bookmarklets is all that is really necessary:
  • tr: translate current page to English (Google translate)   (See additional details below)
    javascript:location='http://translate.google.com/translate?u='+encodeURIComponent(location);
  • tr:s Translate selected text: (Google translate)
    (See details below)
  • tr:text translate text to English (Google translate)
    (See details below)
  • When you see an extension that is 1KB (compressed download size) there is a good chance, you could use a simpler bookmarklet instead.  There are also a number of great extensions that are simply collections of bookmarklets converted to an extension with a user interface added.

• Web history access: You still need to be logged into your Google account and have it enabled in your account, but by installing this user script (bookmarklet), as explained by Google Operating System, you'll get more personalized search results and a convenient log for everything you've looked at. [5]

Translate bookmarklets

Create a bookmark as follows.  It will translate to whatever language you have set for yourself (English).

Name:       tr: translate from fr, de, etc.
Location: http://translate.google.com/translate?u='+encodeURIComponent(location);
Keyword: tr:
Description: translate from (fr, de, etc.).  Test page http://web.de/ and http://web.nl/

There are no spaces in the javascript code.  Shown here or in those below (%20 is a space).
After creating the bookmark, right-click on the e bookmark and fill in the keyword

To invoke simply type  tr:  into the Location Bar.

---

Name:       tr:s translate selected text to English (Google translate)
Location: javascript:q=""+(window.getSelection?window.getSelection()%20:%20%20document.getSelection%20?%20document.getSelection()%20:%20document.selection.createRange().text);%20if%20(!q)%20q%20=%20prompt("Enter%20your%20search%20here",%20"");%20if%20(q!=null)%20location="http://translate.google.com/#auto%7Cen%7C"%20+escape(q).replace(/%20/g,%20"+");%20void%200
Keyword: tr:s
Description: translate from (fr, de, etc.)

To invoke simply make a selection then type  tr:s  into the Location Bar, and press "Enter"

---

Name:       tr:text translate text to English (Google translate)
Location: http://translate.google.com/#auto%7Cen%7C%S
Keyword: tr:text
Description: translate from (fr, de, es, etc.)

Bad examples for these: (Good Morning.  Have [a] nice day.)
tr:text  Guten Morgen.  Haben schönen Tag.
tr:text  Bonne matin.  Avez belle journée.
tr:text  Buenos días.  Tenga un buen día.

External links

• Q841081 Will a Replacement for Web Page Translation be Available for Firefox 5 | Firefox Support Forum | Firefox Help