Filed under: Internet, Productivity, Mozilla, Search, Browsers
URL Alias adds superpowers to the Firefox address bar
Good things really do come in small packages, as is the case with the URL Alias Firefox addon.
I originally installed it looking to make the address bar more launcher-like. For example, I wanted http://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox to open when I type mail or http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SPORTS05 when I enter wings.
I prefer using words or abbreviations I can remember easily instead of hotkey combinations, and this experimental addon is the perfect tool for the job.
Since URL Alias also supports a variable (yep, just one), you can do a whole lot more with your aliases than just save keystrokes.
To manage aliases, type the following in your address bar: chrome://urlalias/content/urlalias.xul [enter]
Suppose you want to set up a Google search alias for results from downloadsquad.com.
dls http://www.google.com/search?q=%s%20site:downloadsquad.com
The %s is replaced by whatever text you enter after the keyword: dls firefox addons will return results for all matching DS posts. Change the alias text and url, and set up as many site-specific searches as you like.
Let's use it with Compfight to find Flickr images. Piece of cake.
cf http://www.compfight.com/#search_type=tags&query=%s&commit=Search&license=&original=1&safe_search=3
Most torrent sites offer a search plugin or toolbar, but why bother? URL Alias works for that, too:
nt http://nowtorrents.com/torrents/%s.html
Along the same lines, you can easily set up an Amazon product search alias:
amazon http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=%s&x=0&y=0
All that's required is a little investigating. Perform a search on your site, then locate the text you input in the URL. Copy and paste the URL into your alias list and replace that text with %s.
Its simplicity and power make URL Alias a fantastic addon, and it's already become one of my favorites. I'm amazed that it has so few downloads to date, but I hope that you'll give it a try after reading this post and share your thoughts.
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
Lee Mathews said 3:53PM on 12-01-2008
Right you are, Kyle...I've tipped my hat previously in the above comments, but thanks again!
Next time I'll Ask DLS first ;-)
Cam said 3:55PM on 12-01-2008
Or you can use Phrase Express and add this functionality to any browser.
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V said 4:54PM on 12-01-2008
Just like everyone is pointing out... Unless this add-on does something else... Why would you bother cluttering up your Firefox for a functionality that's already built on it by default?
.-
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WolvenSpectre said 5:48PM on 12-01-2008
I have been using this in Opera for years now... I was wondering when the other browsers would catch up.
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ryzza007 said 5:52PM on 12-01-2008
IE7Pro has this and other features for IE
www.ie7pro.com
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Captain_Hairy said 9:49PM on 12-01-2008
Yubnub.org
Seriously, integrate it into your browser as your default search engine and it turns the address bar into a command line for the Internet. I use it so much that I find using browsers without that set to be infuriating.
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MrMuggs said 1:59AM on 12-02-2008
Also, in FF because you can use simple keywords I would highly recommend this plugin:
http://twofoos.org/content/smartsearch/
It adds the keyboard searches that you create to the right click menu.
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Danny Peck said 1:33PM on 12-02-2008
I think a better thing to do is create a keyword shortcut at the search box over at YubNub.org (right-click on the text-box and choose "Add a Keyword for this Search" -- I use the letter Y.
Then, from my URL bar, I can type "y goog this searches google" or "y netflix this searches netflix" or y imdb, y weather, y 30b, etc, etc, etc.
Really invaluable.
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Øslø said 4:30AM on 12-29-2008
There is ANOTHER Opera feature that wasn't marketed well and enough so almost no one knew about and that Firefox or some add-on gets the credit for "the great new idea".
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