Fetch Text URL

Description

Sometimes there are webpages with URLs that aren't in "clickable" link form, especially in forums or text documents like the episode capsules at SNPP.com. Thus, if you want to open it in Firefox or Mozilla, you have to highlight it, copy it, maybe open a new tab or select the location toolbar, and then paste the link. Using keyboard shortcuts in Windows, this involves ctrl-c, ctrl-t or ctrl-l, ctrl-v, and enter. If you're lazy like me, then the Fetch Text URL extension allows you to simply highlight the text URL and open it from the context menu by right clicking.

Download

Get the Fetch Text URL extension. Compatible with Firefox 1.0+ and Mozilla 1.6+, not tested on other builds. (12 KB)
Alternatively, grab Fetch Text URL at Update.Mozilla.org.

Features

Open links in a new tab, current tab, or new window by highlighting the URL and using the context menu (right-click).
Icons help identify which context menu item to choose. (But if you don't like them you can turn them off.)
Recognizes and handles the http, https, and ftp protocols.
Customize which items to display in the context menu and how they are displayed through extension options or about:config.
Automatically fixes malformed URL protocols. For example, some links are written as "h**p://blah.com" or "htp://blah.com" to avoid direct linking. Fetch Text URL will automatically convert the protocol to http when opening the link. Also removes invalid characters and excess whitespace from the front and end of URLs in text such as "(http://blah.com)" or " [http://blah.com]" which allows for sloppy highlighting within a reasonable tolerance.

Screenshots

Fetch Text URL 1.6 on Firefox's Default theme

Fetch Text URL 1.6 on Mozilla's Modern theme

Fetch Text URL Preferences (only on Firefox)

Using Preferences

For Firefox: Access preferences through Tools > Extensions. Click on the Fetch Text URL item to select it, then click on Options.

For the Mozilla Suite: There is no extension manager in Mozilla, but you can manually edit the preferences in about:config. Type about:config in the location bar and press enter. Set the search filter to "ftu" to view the relevant preferences.

Preference Name	Type	Meaning of Values
ftu.currentTab	Boolean	True: Display 'open URL in current tab' in the context menu. False: Opposite of the above.
ftu.displayURL	String	Set value to "showurl" to display context menu items as 'Fetch "http://www.site.com"'. Set value to "hideurl" to display as 'Fetch text URL'.
ftu.newTab	Boolean	True: Display 'open URL in new tab' in the context menu. False: Opposite of the above.
ftu.newWindow	Boolean	True: Display 'open URL in new window' in the context menu. False: Opposite of the above.
ftu.showIcons	Boolean	True: Show icons in the context menu. False: Hide icons.

Change Log

Fetch Text URL 1.6.1 (2006-10-10)

Updated for Firefox 2.0 RC2

Fetch Text URL 1.6 (2005-11-29)

Updated for Firefox 1.5
New preference option to hide icons.
All highlighted whitespace now removed.

Fetch Text URL 1.5.2 (2005-10-21)

Updated install.rdf and .js for Firefox 1.5 Beta

Fetch Text URL 1.5.1 (2005-05-15)

Open text URL in new window now on by default.
Minor code changes and fixes.

Fetch Text URL 1.5 (2005-04-30)

Now works in frames.
Tweaked location of context menu items to appear before context-bookmarklink.

Fetch Text URL 1.4 (2005-04-20)

Icons added to the context menu items.

Fetch Text URL 1.3 (2005-04-12)

Automatically removes invalid characters and excess whitespace from the front and end of highlighted text.

Fetch Text URL 1.2 (2005-03-18)

The https and ftp protocols are no longer considered to be malformed URLs.

Fetch Text URL 1.1 (2005-03-02)

Preferences added for customization.
Ability to open text URLs in a new window added.
Choice between two types of displays added.
Opening links in the current tab in Mozilla now works properly.

Fetch Text URL 1.0 (2005-01-05)

Fetch Text URL released.

Author Info

Written by Jeff Chien

E-mail: JeffChien@mail.utexas.edu

Jeff's Programs

Credits

Roachfiend's Guide to Creating Firefox Extensions
Context menu item visibility code derived from example at MozillaZine Developer Knowledge Base.
Thanks to MozillaZine forum member asqueella for help getting highlighted text to appear in context menu.
Thanks to MozillaZine forum member cyberrus for help with changing the visibility of icons.
Context menu item graphics and logo donated by an anonymous contributor.