This is almost certainly already here somewhere. I can't figure out how to find this by searching.
Implemented either via firefox extension or small program, a bit of code which takes either selected text (in the Firefox case) or clipboard text (in the second case) and opens a new browser with the text as the URL.
Useful for when people paste links instead of linking them.
Lazy, yes, as all it does is save you Ctrl-C Ctrl-T (firefox) Ctrl-V Useful if you are surfing with just the mouse and too lazy to head for the keyboard, or if you're on a mobile device with an inconvenient keyboard.
Problem with the second case is running the program. Binding it to a keyboard shortcut defeats the purpose, finding an icon for it on the desktop could be equally inconvenient. Perhaps a system tray icon.
Kudos to boysparks for reminding me that this will also need to work in other software, such as notepad and when ms word doesn't properly format a URL.-- ericscottf, Mar 03 2008 Enso http://www.humanize...sowebsearchanywherei think enso can do this [ironfroggy, Mar 04 2008] Installed programs can add to context menus, I'm just not sure if they can add to the context menu of a specific program, but I would think it is possible.-- marklar, Mar 03 2008 Sounds like it might need an OS that parses all URL-like text into links - which means any unusual punctuation or esoteric emoticons get the treatment. but maybe!
As it stands, in firefox - 1. select text intended as link 2. drag to URL bar 3. hit enter/click arrow thing 4. Robert is your mum's brother. (Your aunt's name is unrepeatable in good company.)-- navel-gazer, Mar 03 2008 holy-moly, navel-gazer, i had no idea that firefox treated text as drag and dropable to the address bar. Thanks! I'll be thinking of you next time i don't need my left hand to operate an unlinked address...... :)
I'm gonna leave this idea up, though, as it still stands for other software, like notepad, wordpad, even some email clients (i still use pegasus - which only links when it feels up to it)-- ericscottf, Mar 03 2008 Hmm. Try this.
Select some text. Hold down the middle mouse button. Swipe the mouse. Try to end the swipe inside your current selection.
Voila, a web page opens.
Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn't. It's working for me on the halfbakery site viewed through Firefox.
Normally it works when I least expect and/or want it.-- mylodon, Mar 03 2008 With Google's toolbar installed (on IE), you can highlight and right-click text to search for that selected text in Google. Using it as a URL can be a monumental leap forward from that technology.
It also provides "send to" shortcuts for: Blog, SMS and Gmail. Shouldn't be too hard to have it "send to" a browser.-- half, Mar 03 2008 Deef: I'd rather not have to buy a mac to do what i want.
Mylodon: Your method does nothing for me but activate the scroll thing.
Half- I'm so sorry that you use IE. my sympathies. Did you know that firefox is free now? (Firefox does what you are describing, btw)-- ericscottf, Mar 03 2008 [ericscottf]
Scroll wheels should be banned. But most allow you to click. Try clicking without scrolling. Then dragging.
I dislike the feature though even with a regular middle button, it's real fiddly.-- mylodon, Mar 03 2008 Thanks, but I have no issues with IE. I've never been attacked or exploited because of it, the performance is at least on par with Firefox.-- half, Mar 04 2008 // i don't need my left hand to operate // I suspect you will be suggesting a right-click tissue dispenser next.-- marklar, Mar 04 2008 What [Jutta] says.-- zeno, Mar 04 2008 You're a bit of a crawler, aren't you, [zeno] ?-- 8th of 7, Mar 04 2008 I love having a scroll wheel. In CAD software, it makes a tremendous difference in speed.
I've tried your push button but don't scroll (was the first thing i did) and i can't get it to work.
That aside, i love navel's method. works like a champ.
So we still have the problem of this idea not being present in things like notepad, ms word, etc. Any ideas on how to activate a small program without minimizing all windows to find an icon on the desktop or involving a keyboard shortcut?
I am thinking system tray or start menu icon in the main chunk of start menu real estate.
Anyone have a better idea? I might just bake this later today...-- ericscottf, Mar 04 2008 //how to activate a small program// I typically keep useful shortcuts in the QuickLaunch area (beside the Start button). Create the shortcut on your desktop, then drag-n-drop into the QuickLaunch. A shortcut there only requires a single click to operate (instead of the usual desktop double-click).-- neutrinos_shadow, Mar 04 2008 When macs can run solidworks and autocad natively, i might consider using one.
That aside, one could put a browser in the send to context menu, however, that appears when clicking on an icon, not on text inside notepad/word/whatever, so it wouldn't be very useful.-- ericscottf, Mar 05 2008 random, halfbakery