A browser toolbar with perl

dreamy has asked for the wisdom of the Perl Monks concerning the following question:

Is there a simple way
to build client sided toolbars
for the various browsers (mozilla, IE)?

(something like the Google Toolbar,
but just simplier)

I've found only some tutorials
about doing that with .net,
but i think it might be possible
do that naturally perlish.

On the other hand, i had an idea
how to 'fake' it by setting up
a proxy, that adds a toolbar
(html-table, with various controls)
above each page served...
This will surely bring up some
problems (frames, colors etc) ..
but could be done.

dreamy

Comment on A browser toolbar with perl

Replies are listed 'Best First'.
Re: A browser toolbar with perl by dingus (Friar) on Dec 02, 2002 at 08:15 UTC
You may want to look at protozilla for Mozilla. Also take a look at the Mozila Googlebar for a good example application You will still have to do some XUL / Javascripting but you should be able to back end into perl no problem at all. I've no idea what the IE interface looks like so I can't help you there. Dingus `Enter any 47-digit prime number to continue.`	[reply]
Re: A browser toolbar with perl by Anonymous Monk on Dec 01, 2002 at 19:01 UTC
As you dscribed, you may be able to do this with frames, I have not looked into how they did this, but I have run into a number of search engines that open the search results in frames. Then any sites visited from within the framed site stays in the frame basicly leaving you a control fram at the top. Getting out of the frame can be a pain at times.	[reply]
Re: A browser toolbar with perl by deadkarma (Monk) on Dec 01, 2002 at 17:06 UTC
I too, would love to see an answer for this!!	[reply]
Re: A browser toolbar with perl by deadkarma (Monk) on Dec 02, 2002 at 04:41 UTC
How about javascript: style link shortcut/bookmark? I used to use them myself for googling before google/mozilla had search toolbars. basically it's a javascript oneliner with the URL being like such: `<a href='javascript: where = prompt("what?", ""); window.location = "h +ttp://domain/script.cgi?query="+where;'>LINK</a>` [download] This might not be a solution, depending on what you're are trying to do.	[reply] [d/l]
Re: A browser toolbar with perl by iburrell (Chaplain) on Dec 02, 2002 at 17:32 UTC
The Google Toolbar is an ActiveX control and is IE specific. You could concievably write one in Perl but it wouldn't be the best way to do it. As someone else mentioned, you can add components to Mozilla with some JavaScript and XUL. There is also creating bookmarks that are JavasSript links. The Google Buttons work like this. If you want to write something that extends the browser and runs on client, Perl is probably not the right choice.	[reply]