Firefox Extensions of the Day: Link Alert and TargetAlert

[mouser]

Link Alert:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/3199/



This is a clever extension that basically changes your cursor whenever its over a link, to give you a visual indication of the link content.  Especially useful if you're like me and hate being surprised by clicking on a pdf file, etc.

Note that this doesn't change the appearance of links UNTIL you hover over them with your cursor.
A separate extension does that (TargetAlert, see below).

Highlights links to the following:
-New Windows, -Secure Sites, -Email Links, -Javascript, -Word Documents, -Excel Spreadsheets, -PDF Files, -Zip Files, -Applications, -Text Files, -Images, -RSS Feeds, -AIM: Links, -and more...

TargetAlert:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/230



This is a clever extension that changes the links on a page to add small icons next to them that shows the nature of the link.  Especially useful if you're like me and hate being surprised by clicking on a pdf file, etc.

Note that this if you only want the links to show their nature when you hover over them, you should check out another extension (Link Alert, see above).

Provides a visual cue for the destination of a hyperlink by appending a link with an icon that shows what type of file it leads to, or the effects it may have, such as opening a new window or leaving a secure site. Icons can be set to appear only when mousing over a link (default), or they may be added to links automatically when the page loads. TargetAlert makes it easier to locate links to important document types while also providing warnings for links with undesired effects.

[nontroppo]

For opera users, here is the equivalent extension:

http://userjs.org/sc...ancements/link-alert

[iam1ru12]

TargetAlert doesn't work with Firefox 2.0.

[gebeleisis]

TargetAlert doesn't work with Firefox 2.0.

-iam1ru12 (December 09, 2006, 12:48 AM)

Actually it does work (http://www.bolinfest...talert/download.html).
The thing is, for me anyway, that Mr Local Tech Local Install brakes this nice extension. Bump...

EDIT: this is odd. I disabled MLTI and enabled again and...it works. IUHU!

[Scott]

TargetAlert has been able to show icons only on mouseover since "Version 0.8.5 - 6/10/05".  As I understand it, TargetAlert does not "affix" the icons to the mouse cursor the way Link Alert does.  I can't verify this, because I just installed TargetAlert 0.8.9.8, and it doesn't work at all for me.

[Nighted]

I started with TargetAlert myself. Then after the transition to FF 2.0 and TargetAlert not working (maybe from MR Tech Local Install as gebeleisis mentioned, I never tested it myself), as well as the memory leak issue, I switched to LinkAlert which, unlike TargetAlert is very actively developed at the moment. Also, the author is responsive to good suggestions.