One of the mos useful Firefox extensions has to be the Greasemonkey extension. This extension lets you download scripts from userscripts.org or write your own to change different aspects of a website.
I use GMail & Google Reader the most and I find these Greasemonkey scripts a life saver! I am listing them here so it will be a helpful reference for me and hopefully you as well.
Update: This list started out to be a Top 15 but I keep adding useful ones here so it helps everyone out in finding some of the best ones out there.
Gmail Scripts
- Gmail Macros: This script provides extra customizable keyboard shortcuts and macros. It is one of the popular scripts loved by GMail users.
- Gmail Air Skin: Provides a cleaner GMail layout that is easy on our eyes and other little modifications.
- Gmail Conversation Preview Mod: This is such a time saver for me. You can right click on an email and read it from the main page. It does act a little quirky sometimes but useful nonetheless.
- Gmail – Insert HTML Signature: I use my Feedburner banner as my email signature and I get quite a number of hits through that. But, Gmail doesn’t support HTML signatures and hence this script. This script even lets you have multiple HTML signatures. My new favorite way of adding HTML signature in GMail is with the Black Canvas Gmail Signatures Firefox extension. It is feature rich and provides the most easy to use HTML signature options for the power GMail user. (updated 8/19/08)
- Gmail Full Width: As the name implies, it removes the advertisements in the Gmail window and makes the email messages full width. Improves readability a ton.
- Gmail Signature Float: Ever been annoyed by the fact that your signature gets attached all the way at the bottom of all previous messages instead of your current message? This script fixes it. Also, it enables HTML signature and in fact I have started preferring this over the other especially if you just use one.
- Gmail with different attachment icons: I love to see the kind of attachment in a mail even without opening it. Works well with the Conversation Preview script.
- GMail Contact List: Gmail should have this to start with. It adds a contact list by the To field.
- Gmail Box for Google Reader: Adds a Google Reader subscription box with individual feed counts to your Gmail inbox.
- Gmail Sublabels: Now you can have sub-labels in Gmail by adding a subfolder separator ::
Folders4Gmail: This one is much better! (Thanks to Ryan) You can organize labels into subfolder like hierarchy. Create a parent label like Home and then create sublabels like Home\Bills, Home\Receipts, etc. - GMailAgenda: GMailAgenda adds Google Calendar in the right side of your Gmail view making it easy to keep track of your appointments. A very promising script with new features coming soon. (updated 8/19/08)
(updated 02/10/09) Gmail 2.0 is here. So, don’t forget to check out the updated Gmail 2.o Greasemonkey Scripts. Also, find out how you can easily pimp your Gmail.
Google Reader Scripts
- Google Reader Preview Enhanced: You can now replace the Gmail article summary with a frame containing the original blog item. There is a button to toggle back and forth between two views.
- Google Reader for wider screens: Widescreen LCDs are the norm these days. I don’t have one at home but I do at work and this script really helps to utilize the extra real estate you have.
- Google Reader + del.icio.us: You can feed items to del.icio.us online bookmarking service from within Google Reader.
- Auto Add Feed to Google Reader: Instead of jumping through hoops every time you want add a feed to Google Reader, this script lets you add directly.
- Google Reader Print Button: For those of us who sometimes prefer to print articles to read on the road or keep as a reference, you can add a print button to your Google Reader to facilitate this.
- One-Click Unsubscribe: It adds a quick one-click unsubscribe button to the Google Reader interface. Easy to clean up your overloaded Google Reader feeds. (added 02/28/08)
- Google Reader Filter: A great script for regex (regular expression) users to filter out or highlight keywords with grey or lime accents. (added 03/13/08)
- Auto Add Feed to Google Reader: As the name suggests this script lets you add the feed you just clicked on directly to Google reader without having to jump through hoops. A must have. (added 03/13/08)
- Mark Until Current as Read: Shift-Y to mark all entries above the current entry as read. Shift-I to mark all entries below the current entry as read. (updated 10/22/08)
- Remember the Milk Cow in Google Reader: Adds a RTM cow icon in entries so you can easily add a url to RTM task for later action. (updated 10/22/08)
- Google Reader + Delicious: Lets you tag and post to your delicious account right from your Google Reader account! (updated 11/12/08)
- AddTo Google Reader: Great for sharing non-feed pages in your Google Shared items. Just press F4 to get the share window with notes. (updated 02/10/09)
- Mark Until Current As Read: If you have a long list of unread items and you want to come back later, just do a Shift-Y to make until the current items as read! Very handy! (updated (03/19/09)
- Google Reader Favicon ++: Adds Favicons to feeds and entries in Google Reader making it so easy to spot the feeds of interest. (updated (03/19/09)
Of course, there is the Better GReader Firefox extension fron Lifehacker.com that combines some of the best Greasemonkey scripts for Google Reader into one Firefox extension.
Bonus!
Everyone loves a nice free bonus in a list of 15, right? Well, I just happen to have one for you.
- Google Reader – Read by Mouse: Some people prefer keyboard shortcuts but there are actually a few people who prefer the mouse. You get to add a button to Google reader that toggles to mouse mode. Left-click goes to next item, right-click goes to previous item and middle click gives you other options. Nifty.
Hope you enjoyed this list and found some scripts that you can use. Visit userscripts.org to find more Greasemonkey scripts not just for these 2 apps but for a wide variety of web applications.
Don’t forget to tell us your favorite Greasemonkey script(s). In a list like this one, more often than not it’s the comment section that adds value when readers contribute more scripts that aren’t in the list. So, what are you waiting for?
Update: If you’d like to learn how to use Greasemonkey Firefox extension and how to find and add Greasemonkey scripts, Internet Duct Tape has an extensive guide with lots of illustrative pictures.
Hey nice list of scripts…I didn’t know the feedburner related script…
Sorry man… I can’t add to this list but I have to say that the “Bonus” is very handy… Its all about the mouse baby and how you handle it! LOL!!!!
hey that gmail html script is very handy.
I was wondering how to add my html signature to mails. Now I get the solution.
Thax.
I’ll also chek the rest of them ASAP.
Here’s a bonus from me 😀
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/9372 – You can add emoticons to emails that you send using this script 😀
@indyanK.. thanks! Glad you liked it and welcome to ShanKri-la! 😀
@Garry.. not a problem. There are times that I actually prefer keyboard like in GMail where I am typing a lot and the keyboard shortcuts are a time saver. But, with Google Reader I actually prefer scrolling with the mouse and this script is awesome for that.
@Roxi.. HTML signatures are a must for a blogger to promote his/her blog, IMHO. GMail should have this built-in but until then we can use this script. 🙂
@Shankar.. thanks for the great addition. 😛 I love how smilies can really add to what you are trying to say and leave no room for misunderstanding. Thumbs up!
What about Folders4Gmail! It sounds like it’s the same as sublabels, but that’s one of the most popular Gmail scripts.
Great collection of scripts. Stumbled. 😀
@Ryan.. how did I miss Floders4Gmail so far? I don’t know.. but thanks for mentioning it. I think it works much better than the one above. 😀
@Nirmal.. thanks buddy! Appreciate the stumble.. 🙂
K, you just killed Bloglines (at least for me). I prefer Google Reader, but I really want to be able to print multiple full text items (for catching up with feeds I’ve gotten behind on). Can’t do it in GR so I’ve been using Bloglines for printing.
The Google Reader Print Button script was the answer I was looking for. I had to make a very small hack to it – I’m writing a post explaining what I’ve done. Expect a ping tomorrow.
I’m going to try out some of the other scripts as well. Thanks (again).
Stephen.. I have recently started using Google Reader again after sticking with GreatNews for a long time. I haven’t played with the recent version of Bloglines but I’ve heard good things about it. Just don’t tell Bloglines people that I made you switch. 😈 I like to print stuff for reading now and then too and this script was the answer!I’ll look forward to reading your post about the mod.. you could probably publish your first mod script to userscripts.org!
Just what I needed. My brother asked me for this yesterday. I said I didn’t know. He said, “what kind of tech blogger are you?” haha Now I can give him an answer. Thanks buddy
K, how do you re-call an email in Google Reader? I need to get that email to Bloglines about you back! 😉
I needed to go to an web based reader because feedburner feeds are blocked here in China. That means my desktop reader can’t get your feed! But Google Reader can and Google Reader’s not blocked, hence the switch. I’m going to post about this shortly too!
It’s not worth publishing the mod – it’s way to simple for that (I just comment two lines out) and it’s not finished off nicely. But it gets the job done for me. I figure a post to tell others about in case it can help them is the way to go.
Hey Stephen.. that’s alright if u can’t! 😀 I did about RSS feeds getting blocked in China.. glad to hear you have a workaround.
I checked your hack and it is a great improvement, however small it is. Stumbled your post. 😯
Nice list!! Stumbled!
@Brown.. do you want me to tell him that you are one of the best tech bloggers around? 🙂 Great to hear that you liked it.
@Kyle.. appreciate the stumble! 😀
Darn you K!
Loads more toys to clog my FireFox up with…. can’t resist, must install them all…..
Hi K, Thanks for the compliments and thanks for the Stumble. I really have to start using StumbleUpon. I joined, but I never use it. I’ll get the toolbar back and Stumble you sometime soon (not reciprocating, you just deserve it)
Chris, it’s music to my ears that you are going to load them all! 👿
Stephen, SU is just great. I use it all the time and it is one of the biggest traffic generators for me. I have my SU link in the sidebar.. ping me if you get the tool bar! 😀
For help with Gmail (automation) you can combine iMacros with Greasemonkey
http://wiki.imacros.net/Secure_Gmail_Login
Both extensions play well together.
Hey Stephen.. I had installed iMacros before and seen the power of it but never really took the time to let it help me save time. I have to play with it again. Thanks for the link and taking the time to comment. Welcome to ShanKri-la! 😀
Hey that’s a great list! I’m sure all these greasemonkey scripts will make the use of Gmail and Google reader a charm!
Thanks a lot, ReviewSaurus! It makes it a pleasure but sometimes a rogue script cam slow things down too! But, I haven’t had any problemswith the ones in the list. I use them all..
Oh yeah.. welcome to ShanKri-la!
nice list. gmail air skin looks awesome.
Hello…
Thank you for visiting ReapMoneyOnline. We’re glad we followed your link. I was wondering how we could use greasemonkey to improve our browsing experience and we landed right smack on just what we need to start. Thanks again. 😀
@Syahid, thanks for the comment! That is my favorite gmail skin as well.
@Bong, you have a very informative blog as well and I am very glad that you followed too! Even more so, I’m glad you have found useful stuff to use. Exactly what I’m trying to accomplish here!
You may want to add Gmail Multiple HTML Signatures, which allows you to create a different HTML signature for each email address you have set up in your gmail account. No script editing required.
http://blankcanvasweb.com/gmail2_html_sigs/
Features:
* Works for Compose Mail, Reply, and Forward
* Support for single or multiple email addresses
* Create a different signature for each email address you use in your gmail account
* Signature automatically inserted into message above quoted text
* Signature is automatically replaced when you change the address you are sending from
* Easy setup interface
Jerome,
This is an excellent script! I will definitely add it to the above list as soon as I get a chance to play with it. Thanks for stopping by to let me know. Great effort man. 🙂
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I guess stock is never good enough huh? =)
Great resource Sir, this is so old post and i feel like i have been missing it for long, esp Gmail stuff.
Thank you!
Nice List of scripts. I hope i can try it one by one 🙂
Deperts last blog post..Video Features Google Chrome
Nice list. I haven’t used all of them.My favorite Air Skin.Btw, thanks for the list.:)
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Thanks for the list. I’ve been seeking some things to spruce up my gmail. The folders4gmail is really handy, keeps things nice and organized.
Really good collection of scripts. I love Greasemonkey.
I definetely think the bonus is the best!!
I’ve been looking for a Google reader script and the one you shared is what i’m looking for. This will definitely enhance the Google app that i’m working on. Thanks a lot.