Reviews for ContextSearch web-ext
ContextSearch web-ext by Mike B
Review by Jackie
Rated 5 out of 5
by Jackie, 6 years agoEdit 14-Dec-2018 below -
Dear Developer,
Just now tried out your Dec 14 update to Context Search WE.
Thanks for adding the highlight feature which shows where search terms are located in search results pages. Searching the web is something we do a lot, so we use this addon more than others.
Here is some feedback which I hope will be helpful.
Issues below are based on using Firefox with bing and google searches -
I - Search results from words inside quotes are not highlighted, ie "web analytics"
I - Only the first page of search results highlight the search term, subsequent pages don't.
I - When a search results page is opened the search words are not highlighted.
Find in Page Features suggested -
F - Add a Findbar (find box) option selectable from Context, Quick, and Toolbar menus. A search term in a web search would be copied to the Findbar so users don't have to manually type it like they have to do with the Firefox Find API (ctrl-f).
F - To independently find search words in-page, words not copied via web search, the findbar should accommodate manual entry of search words in the findbar.
F - Include up / down arrows with the findbar which find previous / next instances of search term. Highlight the current instance of the search term with a distinct / unique color to show where the previous/next search is currently.
F - Display the number of matches on the current page next to the findbar.
F - Some webpages include hidden instances of the search word where you have to click "show more," "see complete description," etc., before you can see those instances. In findbar tweak, there was a flashing circle which became a smaller and smaller circle to become a bullseye on such hidden instances. This alerted users to click "show more," etc, to see a hidden instance.
Alternatively, instead of adding a separate findbar search box, the new features could be integrated with the present search box -
Fa - a "P" could be added to the existing search box so that a Page find would be done on the current page when the P is clicked. Instead of a web search a Find-in-Page search would find successive instances of the search term with each successive click of the P.
Fa - Previous/next arrows could be added to the current search box instead of using a separate findbar.
Fa - Number of matches on Page could be shown next to the current search box
Fa - Bullseye over current instance would work same with current search box as with a new findbar.
These features could be integrated with the current web search bar, but it may be better to use a separate findbar. Unforeseen features you may want to add later might conflict with the current search box. Plus, a separate findbar would limit the complexity of the current web search bar and not cluttter it with findbar options. Don't mean to suggest a separate addon for findbar, just a separate findbox accessible from the existing search menus.
Do you have a webage for donations via paypal or something similar ?
Best wishes,
Jackie
Edit 6-Dec-2018 below -
Dear Developer (Mike ?) - Thanks for responding.
The built in Find API you mentioned leaves a lot to be desired:
# Every time we open a new page we have to reopen the Find-API before we can use it. Find-in-page follows search-the-web like drinking water follows being thirsty. Find-in-page should be an automatic part of find on the web.
# Firefox Find-API doesnt put a flashing highlight or circle over search terms found. You cannot see some in-page instances of the search term that FF Find API "finds."
Just as CSWE is a big improvement over the FF API search box, CSWE could also include a big improvement over the FF Find box.
Something that mimics ctrl-F might not be any better than ctrl-f. But if functionality was added so that CSWE used the web search term for subsequent find-in-page searches that would be a complete search function.
Without in-page search functionality, the rest of the search task is relegated to the slow awkward ctrl-f dinosaur.
The flashing circle and highlight colors previously mentioned made finding search terms in pages much easier in find-bar-tweak than by using the FF Find API.
Still, CSWE is a great addon. Thanks for your prompt reply.
Jackie
Original Comment below from 5-Dec-018 -
To me, Context Search web-ext (cswe) is better than the built in Firefox web search. I love it and use it a lot.
Was looking for a find-in-page search tool when I discovered cswe. Had hoped cswe included find-in-page functionality; like find-bar tweak had before it vanished.
Adding capability to find instances of the search term in a results page would be even more awesome.
If I remember right, findbar tweak put a flashing circle around the current instance of a search term in the page, highlighted in green, while other instances were high lighted in blue.
Anyway, thanks for this awesome add-on!
Dear Developer,
Just now tried out your Dec 14 update to Context Search WE.
Thanks for adding the highlight feature which shows where search terms are located in search results pages. Searching the web is something we do a lot, so we use this addon more than others.
Here is some feedback which I hope will be helpful.
Issues below are based on using Firefox with bing and google searches -
I - Search results from words inside quotes are not highlighted, ie "web analytics"
I - Only the first page of search results highlight the search term, subsequent pages don't.
I - When a search results page is opened the search words are not highlighted.
Find in Page Features suggested -
F - Add a Findbar (find box) option selectable from Context, Quick, and Toolbar menus. A search term in a web search would be copied to the Findbar so users don't have to manually type it like they have to do with the Firefox Find API (ctrl-f).
F - To independently find search words in-page, words not copied via web search, the findbar should accommodate manual entry of search words in the findbar.
F - Include up / down arrows with the findbar which find previous / next instances of search term. Highlight the current instance of the search term with a distinct / unique color to show where the previous/next search is currently.
F - Display the number of matches on the current page next to the findbar.
F - Some webpages include hidden instances of the search word where you have to click "show more," "see complete description," etc., before you can see those instances. In findbar tweak, there was a flashing circle which became a smaller and smaller circle to become a bullseye on such hidden instances. This alerted users to click "show more," etc, to see a hidden instance.
Alternatively, instead of adding a separate findbar search box, the new features could be integrated with the present search box -
Fa - a "P" could be added to the existing search box so that a Page find would be done on the current page when the P is clicked. Instead of a web search a Find-in-Page search would find successive instances of the search term with each successive click of the P.
Fa - Previous/next arrows could be added to the current search box instead of using a separate findbar.
Fa - Number of matches on Page could be shown next to the current search box
Fa - Bullseye over current instance would work same with current search box as with a new findbar.
These features could be integrated with the current web search bar, but it may be better to use a separate findbar. Unforeseen features you may want to add later might conflict with the current search box. Plus, a separate findbar would limit the complexity of the current web search bar and not cluttter it with findbar options. Don't mean to suggest a separate addon for findbar, just a separate findbox accessible from the existing search menus.
Do you have a webage for donations via paypal or something similar ?
Best wishes,
Jackie
Edit 6-Dec-2018 below -
Dear Developer (Mike ?) - Thanks for responding.
The built in Find API you mentioned leaves a lot to be desired:
# Every time we open a new page we have to reopen the Find-API before we can use it. Find-in-page follows search-the-web like drinking water follows being thirsty. Find-in-page should be an automatic part of find on the web.
# Firefox Find-API doesnt put a flashing highlight or circle over search terms found. You cannot see some in-page instances of the search term that FF Find API "finds."
Just as CSWE is a big improvement over the FF API search box, CSWE could also include a big improvement over the FF Find box.
Something that mimics ctrl-F might not be any better than ctrl-f. But if functionality was added so that CSWE used the web search term for subsequent find-in-page searches that would be a complete search function.
Without in-page search functionality, the rest of the search task is relegated to the slow awkward ctrl-f dinosaur.
The flashing circle and highlight colors previously mentioned made finding search terms in pages much easier in find-bar-tweak than by using the FF Find API.
Still, CSWE is a great addon. Thanks for your prompt reply.
Jackie
Original Comment below from 5-Dec-018 -
To me, Context Search web-ext (cswe) is better than the built in Firefox web search. I love it and use it a lot.
Was looking for a find-in-page search tool when I discovered cswe. Had hoped cswe included find-in-page functionality; like find-bar tweak had before it vanished.
Adding capability to find instances of the search term in a results page would be even more awesome.
If I remember right, findbar tweak put a flashing circle around the current instance of a search term in the page, highlighted in green, while other instances were high lighted in blue.
Anyway, thanks for this awesome add-on!
Developer response
posted 6 years ago(edit) 12-15
> I - Search results from words inside quotes are not highlighted, ie "web analytics"
This is mostly fixed now. I haven't done extensive testing but results look good so far. The behavior in 1.9.3 is to look for literal " in the search results, which obviously most engines don't interpret as part of the search term
> I - Only the first page of search results highlight the search term, subsequent pages don't.
This one might get messy but I'm trying a few things.
> I - When a search results page is opened the search words are not highlighted.
Do you mean in the search bar itself on the results page? No, the API I'm using doesn't look in text input fields from what I can tell. Doing so with highlighting colors would require some fancy overlays and a lot of time.
I'm working on a basic find bar. From your suggestions it looks like you want a straight-up replacement for findbar tweak. I can use that as a reference but the webextension API is limited and there are some things that simply can't be done.
> Do you have a webage for donations via paypal or something similar ?
I don't, but you can help development by giving feedback at the github site. I don't receive notifications when comments here are edited, making it difficult to keep a conversation going. I think I have a good idea what you're after though.
(edit) 12-6
I took a quick look at some images of find-bar. Looks similar to the 'find' feature in android chrome - highlights text, provides a nav bar representing the document map with found words, etc. FF has an API available but to keep Chrome compatibility looks like I need SVG overlays and other workarounds. I'll look into it but don't expect anything too soon.
(edit) 12-6 #2
Found a library (mark.js) that does a good lightweight highlighting and integrates with CS pretty well. Already tested on page results with simple highlighting. I might get something set up sooner than I thought.
(edit) 12-6 #3
Basic functionality is in the repo. If you're familiar with sideloading for debugging you can test it out. Otherwise wait for the next release and it will be there.
https://github.com/ssborbis/ContextSearch-web-ext
Looks like FF has a find API that can highlight words in a webpage. Are you looking for something that essentially mimics ctrl-F ?
> I - Search results from words inside quotes are not highlighted, ie "web analytics"
This is mostly fixed now. I haven't done extensive testing but results look good so far. The behavior in 1.9.3 is to look for literal " in the search results, which obviously most engines don't interpret as part of the search term
> I - Only the first page of search results highlight the search term, subsequent pages don't.
This one might get messy but I'm trying a few things.
> I - When a search results page is opened the search words are not highlighted.
Do you mean in the search bar itself on the results page? No, the API I'm using doesn't look in text input fields from what I can tell. Doing so with highlighting colors would require some fancy overlays and a lot of time.
I'm working on a basic find bar. From your suggestions it looks like you want a straight-up replacement for findbar tweak. I can use that as a reference but the webextension API is limited and there are some things that simply can't be done.
> Do you have a webage for donations via paypal or something similar ?
I don't, but you can help development by giving feedback at the github site. I don't receive notifications when comments here are edited, making it difficult to keep a conversation going. I think I have a good idea what you're after though.
(edit) 12-6
I took a quick look at some images of find-bar. Looks similar to the 'find' feature in android chrome - highlights text, provides a nav bar representing the document map with found words, etc. FF has an API available but to keep Chrome compatibility looks like I need SVG overlays and other workarounds. I'll look into it but don't expect anything too soon.
(edit) 12-6 #2
Found a library (mark.js) that does a good lightweight highlighting and integrates with CS pretty well. Already tested on page results with simple highlighting. I might get something set up sooner than I thought.
(edit) 12-6 #3
Basic functionality is in the repo. If you're familiar with sideloading for debugging you can test it out. Otherwise wait for the next release and it will be there.
https://github.com/ssborbis/ContextSearch-web-ext
Looks like FF has a find API that can highlight words in a webpage. Are you looking for something that essentially mimics ctrl-F ?