Delica Canada Toolbar (for Firefox and Internet Explorer)

[mark]

Version 1.00 of the Delica Canada Toolbar (Firefox browsers only for now) is now available for download at http://www.delica.ca/Toolbar/firefox/install.html

Version 1.00 contains links to the main section of the website (Active Threads, Photos, Calendar, etc), as well as a Google search box.

This version is for Firefox only, but an Internet Explorer version will be available shortly.

Please post any bug reports/new feature requests to this thread!

-Mark

[TardisDeli]

Cool Mark ! I downloaded it easily, looks useful.

For Others here's my hints: I had to click to give permission to my firefox during download when it gave the message about my permission settings, then agreed to let it restart my browser, then ignore the error 404 message but just click into the delica page you want, et voila. This looks much easier for the non-techy folk amongst the Tardis Crew to navigate the site.

Thanks, Christine.

[Profister]

Installed. What is that login manager for? I clicked on it, went to 'configure' and nothing happened.

[mark]

Ah - fixed now (please reinstall).

By the way, the Internet Explorer version is now ready for testing too:

DOWNLOAD FIREFOX TOOLBAR

DOWNLOAD INTERNET EXPLORER TOOLBAR

Mark

[konadog]

OK, I'm generally scared of my computer so have no idea what this is about. What will downloading this do for me? And what is Firefox? - I am driving a Mac, btw (thank God!). Very grateful for any further explanations. Thanks!

[mararmeisto]

Okay, going to übernerd-out here... how about a Safari toolbar?

[TardisDeli]

OK, I re-installed it, all OK, looks same as before. Only difference is the Login Manager option disappeared (as Profister noted it didnt do anything in the old version). tx, christine.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Cool.

Falco.

[mark]

Re Konadog's post:

have no idea what this is about. What will downloading this do for me?

A Toolbar is an add-in for an internet browser (e.g. adds menu buttons, etc at top of page). Unlike visiting a webpage (which stays in view only until you surf to a different page), a Toolbar is visible whenever your browser is open. Toolbars are very easy to install (you would simply click on the link, and then your brower will ask you to authorize the download/install of the Toolbar from Delica.ca)

The function of the Delica Canada Toolbar is simply to provide members with an alternative way to access the various sections of the Delica.ca site. "Version 1.00" includes: link to forum index page, link to active-topics page, link to Club Calendar, link to Delica Photos, and a Google Search bar.

From a user's perspective, the main advantage to surfing using the Toolbar is that the aformentioned links remain visible regardless of your position on the page (i.e., avoids the need to scroll up/down). If Toolbar doesn't work for you, uninstalling is easy.

And what is Firefox?

Mozilla Firefox is a popular browser (second in popularity only to Internet Explorer). Currently 48.8% of this website's visitors use Internet Explorer, 35.4% use Mozilla Firefox, 14.6% use Safari, and the balance use other browsers (Opera, Netscape, Camino, Playstation 3, etc.)

Re mararmeisto's post --

Okay, going to übernerd-out here... how about a Safari toolbar?

Unfortunately Toolbar Studio (the software that I used to generate the Firefox/IE versions) doesn't have the capability to generate Safari toolbars.
However, if somebody has the capability to create a Safari version, I'd be happy to host the installer on this site.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Hi Mark,

Just wanted to say that I think you are putting a lot of effort into this website ~ and for the benefit of all us Delioids. Nice work, man. Thank you very much for putting all these tools at our hands and enabling us all to meet each other in an otherwise world of cold, boring and greedy sheople. It is ultimately because of You, Mark, that I am about to blow $300.00 and go and meet some more cool people and discover another corner of the world that is British Columbia. Okay, all kidding aside.

I just wanted to say thank-you and that the work you are doing for this community is excellent.

Well done, mate!

Falco.

[mark]

Thanks Falco -- I'm having tons of fun administering this website (certainly don't consider it work), and I'm pleased to hear that some of these enhancements are turning out to be useful!



DC Toolbar Version 1.02 is now released. Changes include:

- "Expandable" menu from the Delica Forum button;
- Google Search button improved (prompting text clears when you click on the input box.

Future improvements (for later versions) include

- Private Message Notifier
- Automatic Toolbar Updates
- Cosmetic enhancements


(Version 1.02 Screenshot)


Download Links
DOWNLOAD FIREFOX TOOLBAR
DOWNLOAD INTERNET EXPLORER TOOLBAR

[mark]

Delica Canada Toolbar V1.03 now released.

Fixes/Changes since V1.02:

1. Automatically checks for update every 24 hours (useful if forum structure changes; or if new feature added e.g., automatic message notification).

2. Internet Explorer version was causing some problems for some users -- this seems now to be resolved.

[mararmeisto]

Instead of adding a toolbar, what about making the forum RSS feed capable? Is that even possible?

[mark]

This site actually already has an RSS Feed (showing latest topics). A short-term goal of mine is to improve the existing feed somewhat (e.g., in particular convert the BBCodes to proper image links, etc). If there are any other specific RSS feeds you'd like to see, let me know and I'll do my best.

The intent of the Toolbar is to provide an alternative (albeit somewhat nerdish perhaps) way for people to navigate the forum. In any event, Toolsbars, RSS Feeds, etc need not be an “either-or” choice – some may make use of one-or-both features, and others might prefer just to surf site the “conventional” way without any bells or whistles.

[Profister]

Hey Mark,

Are you aware of Delica toolbar being incompatible with Firefox 3.0?

Sergiy.