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Cool tips for Opera browser

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How to open multiple web pages from Opera Speed Dial?

Friday, 8. May 2009, 00:10:46

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There are several ways to open multiple web pages in Opera.

  • Bookmarking web pages to a folder, navigating to folder from bookmarks menu and clicking Open All Folder Items.
  • Bookmarking web pages to a folder, giving nickname to folder and entering nickname in address field or setting nickname as home page in Tools > Preferences... > General > Home page.
  • Opening web pages, saving them as session File > Sessions > Save This Session... and opening it File > Sessions.

The advantage of sessions over bookmarks is it can store several settings (zoom, fit to width, images, etc.) per tab.

Sessions can be opened quickly by assigning it to a Speed Dial slot.

  • Open web pages.
  • Save them as session File > Sessions > Save This Session....
  • Assign it to a Speed Dial slot.

The path to session file should not contain space. If path has space use DOS name. To find DOS name of a directory/file, open Command Prompt, change path to parent directory of directory/file and type the following command. 

dir /x

Command Prompt to find DOS name
Command Prompt to find DOS name


Directory name DOS name
Program Files PROGRA~1
Documents and Settings DOCUME~1
Application Data APPLIC~1

Opera Speed Dial dialog with path to session file
Speed Dial edit dialog with path to session file

Note the WIN extension at the end of the session name.

Opera Speed Dial with session
Speed Dial with session

Opera will show above thumbnail for session but you can replace it with any image.

[Eric J. Goers via forums]

24 comments

How to change the height of various toolbars in an Opera skin?

Sunday, 5. April 2009, 12:38:48

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The height of toolbars in current default skin is large compared to previous default skin and it can be reduced to increase browsing space.

Create a backup of your current skin or the skin you want to change the height of toolbars.

  1. Extract skin.ini from zipped skin file.
  2. Reduce the values of Padding Top and Padding Bottom under the sections mentioned in the following table. You can also specify negative values.
    Toolbar Section
    Menu bar [Menu Button Skin]
    Main bar [Mainbar Skin]
    Personal bar [Personalbar Skin]
    Tab bar [Pagebar Button Skin]
    Address bar [Addressbar Skin]
    Navigation bar [Navigationbar Skin]
    View bar [Viewbar Skin]
    Status bar [Statusbar Skin]
  3. Update skin.ini in zipped skin file.
    You can't update an active skin.
  4. Activate modified skin from Tools > Appearance... > Skin or using Skin button.

See Opera Skinning article to know more about basics of skinning Opera.

38 comments

Useful User JavaScripts for Opera

Tuesday, 10. March 2009, 09:37:30

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User JavaScript is a powerful tool and it can be used for many purposes, including:

  • Fixing broken scripts on Web pages. Opera uses browser.js to automatically fix incompatible Web pages, out of date scripts, and pages that inadvertently block Opera.
  • Enhancing Web pages by changing or adding your own content to the page.

Installing/Uninstalling User JavaScripts

If you don't have UserJS directory, create a directory with name userjs (preferably inside profile directory) and enter path to it in Tools > Preferences... > Advanced > Content > JavaScript Options... > User JavaScript files

Path to Opera User JavaScript directory
Path to User JavaScript files

  • To install, place User JavaScript file (*.js or *.user.js) inside User JavaScript directory.
  • To uninstall, remove corresponding User JavaScript file from User JavaScript directory.
  • To disable, change corresponding User JavaScript file extension from *.js to *.js.x
You can also use UserJS Manager for Opera to perform above actions.

Download

Download (size: 48.3 KB) all the following User JavaScripts in a single zip file, unzip and place it inside User JavaScript directory.

  1. Autosizer
  2. Breadcrumb URL
  3. Clean URI
  4. Cooliris alike
  5. Gallery crawler
  6. Get feed link
  7. Image thumb
  8. Link alert
  9. Power drag
  10. Linkify URL
  11. View Selection Source
  12. Ultimate Search Highlighter

Useful User JavaScripts

  1. Autosizer
    Autosizer will enhance image viewing in Opera by adding five different sizing modes to images: "Original", "Shrink to Fit", "Maximize", "Fit to Width" and "Fit to Height". "Shrink to Fit" is enabled by default. Simply click on the image to view in next mode or hold down Shift key while clicking to view in previous mode. Move cursor to top right corner to view the menu. See help for more information.

    Opera User JavaScript Autosizer
    Autosizer

  2. Breadcrumb URL
    Breadcrumb URL will place link to each directory of current URL at the top left corner of the page. Useful if you browse without address bar or browse in full screen mode.

    Opera UserJS Breadcrumb URL
    Breadcrumb URL

  3. Clean URI
    Clean URI will recognise links that use redirected URLs (example: http://www.google.com/url?q=http://winmerge.sourceforge.net/ ) and replace them with the direct URL.

    Opera User JavaScript Clean URI
    Clean URI

  4. Cooliris alike
    Similar to Cooliris extension for Firefox and helps to preview links without leaving current tab. Hold Ctrl key and hover any link to open preview window in top right corner of current tab. Size of preview window can be changed to 3 heights by clicking "Restore" icon.

    Opera UserJS Cooliris Alike
    Cooliris Alike

  5. Gallery crawler
    Gallery crawler adds link to next and previous image so pictures numbered sequentially can be viewed without flipping through links, ads and poor page design.

    Opera User JavaScript Gallery crawler
    Gallery crawler

  6. Get feed link
    Get feed link will place feed icons at the top left corner of the page. Useful if you browse without address bar or browse in full screen mode or if you need feed link URL.

    Opera UserJS Get Feed Link
    Get feed link

  7. Image thumb
    Image thumb will show thumbnail in bottom left corner when you hover an image link. Hold Ctrl key to view image in original size.

    Opera User JavaScript Image Thumb
    Image Thumb

    This UserJS breaks functioning of autosizer UserJS.

  8. Link alert
    Link alert identifies links to specific file types, and displays an appropriate icon when the link is hovered.

    Opera UserJS Link Alert
    Link alert

  9. Power drag
    Power drag will help you to resize textareas, select boxes, iframes, objects, images or input fields by holding Shift key and then dragging lower right corner of an item. Double click lower right corner to restore the original dimensions. You can enable the dragging corner always, or use another modifier key.

    Opera User JavaScript Power Drag
    Power drag

  10. Linkify URL
    Linkify URL makes text http/https/ftp URLs clickable.

    Opera UserJS Linkify URL
    Linkify URL

  11. View Selection Source
    View Selection Source allows you to see HTML source of any part of a page, it’s very useful for web developers. If you don't know how to edit menu setup see this and add the following under [Hotclick Popup Menu]. 

    Item, "View selection source"="Go to page, "javascript:opera.getSelectionSource()""

    Opera UserJS View Selection Source
    View Selection Source

  12. Ultimate Search Highlighter
    Ultimate Search Highlighter will show search bar at the top and can show number of search results, jump to next instance of highlighted term or previous (hold Shift key and click on term in toolbar) and supports RegExp highlighting. Move cursor to top to show search bar after timeout period. Get USH button or search field from here or create a search engine with the following. 

    javascript:opera.USH.run(opera.USH.check='%s','newSearch');

    Opera User JavaScript Ultimate Search Highlighter
    Ultimate Search Highlighter

33 comments

How to add/change icon for custom buttons or menu items in Opera?

Sunday, 1. February 2009, 21:38:08

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One can locate a menu item easily and quickly by seeing an icon rather than text.

To add/change icon
  1. Create/find an image in any image format (GIF, JPG, ICO or PNG but PNG is recommended) and resize it to 16 x 16 pixels. If you use large size, Opera will show resized icon. For example, we will add Google favicon as icon for Google Auto Translation menu item.
  2. Place icon image inside a folder (for example, custom_buttons) and add folder to zipped skin file after creating a backup.
  3. Open skin.ini from zipped skin file, add relative path to image with icon name as shown below under [Images] section and update it in skin file. 
    google = custom_buttons/google.ico
  4. To add/change icon for menu item, open menu configuration! file, find menu item and specify icon name. For Google Auto Translation menu item, change 
    Item, Google Auto Translation = Go to page, "http://translate.google.com/translate_c?u=%u"
    to 
    Item, Google Auto Translation = Go to page, "http://translate.google.com/translate_c?u=%u", , , google
  5. Activate modified skin and menu setup or restart Opera.

Similarly, you can add/change icon for custom buttons by editing toolbar configuration file.

Opera custom menu icon
Google Auto Translation menu item without and with icon

The general syntax for a button/menu item is 

Button/Menu item = Command, parameter-1, parameter-2, button tooltip, icon name
If there is no parameter-1 or parameter-2 or button tooltip leave them blank. Since there is no parameter-2 and button tooltip in Google Auto Translation menu item, they are left blank.

To remove icon

To remove icon from menu item, remove icon name and if there is no icon name then you have to specify a dummy name to override the default icon as shown in the following example.

To remove icon for Go to Web Address from hotclick menu, in menu configuration! file under [Hotclick Popup Menu] change 

Item, M_HOTCLICK_POPUP_MENU_GOTO_URL = Go to page, "%t"
to 
Item, M_HOTCLICK_POPUP_MENU_GOTO_URL = Go to page, "%t", , , Dummy

Opera will ignore icons on an action that follows an "&" symbol.

! = You should not modify ui\standard_menu.ini (defaults\standard_menu.ini for versions below 10) file as Opera will overwrite it during update. Create a copy of standard menu and edit it.

You can use existing skin images as icons without modifying skin file.

Updates:
Feb 7, 2009
Aug 2, 2009

77 comments

Full screen mode with toolbars in Opera

Sunday, 25. January 2009, 18:04:43

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Opera full screen mode with tab bar & address bar
Full screen mode with tab bar & address bar

By default, full screen mode doesn't have any toolbars but you can enable them by

  • using following full screen buttons
  • modifying action for keyboard shortcut, F11
  • modifying right click full screen menu item action Enter fullscreen | Leave fullscreen under [Document Popup Menu]
  • creating a new mouse gesture in Application section

Full screen with Action code for keyboard shortcut or mouse gesture! Button#
without scroll bar with scroll bar
Tab bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View page bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Address bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View address bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Status bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View status bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Tab bar & Address bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View page bar, 6 & View address bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Tab bar & Status bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View page bar, 6 & View status bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Address bar & Status bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View address bar, 6 & View status bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen
Tab bar, Address bar & Status bar Leave fullscreen | Enter fullscreen & View page bar, 6 & View address bar, 6 & View status bar, 6 Full Screen Full Screen

! If you want scroll bar in full screen mode, add & Delay, 10 & Enable scroll bars to the end of action code.
# To add, drag & drop button to a toolbar and accept confirmation message.

  • Opera won't show address bar and status bar in inactive tabs.
  • It is not possible to show panel toggle at the edge of the window in full screen mode.

Update: 2009: Feb 2 & 15

73 comments

How to resume an accidentally removed/missing transfer in Opera?

Tuesday, 7. October 2008, 11:08:56

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This tip will help you to resume a download (especially large size) in the following cases.

  • Accidentally removed transfer from the transfers tab.
  • Closed Opera with an intention to resume download next day but transfer is missing when Opera is started.
  • Resuming download with an another high speed mirror.

The following will work when web server allows resuming of broken downloads.

  1. Start download again and save with another name.
  2. Stop transfer after few seconds.
  3. Delete new download file.
  4. Rename old download file with new name.
  5. Resume transfer.

[gun via Opera Desktop Team blog]

Update:
Nov 15, 2008: arnymars posted this earlier in forums.

25 comments

How to change hotclick dictionary/encyclopedia site in Opera?

Friday, 12. September 2008, 15:30:36

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You can change default hotclick dictionary site & encyclopedia site with preferred site.

Opera Hotclick Menu
Hotclick menu

If you don't know how to edit menu setup, see this.

To change dictionary site, under [Hotclick Popup Menu] replace 

Item, MI_IDM_SELDICTIONARY = Hotclick search, 50
with 
Item, MI_IDM_SELDICTIONARY = Go to page, "http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/%t"


To change encyclopedia site, under [Hotclick Popup Menu] replace 

Item, MI_IDM_SELENCYCLOPED = Hotclick search, 51
with 
Item, MI_IDM_SELENCYCLOPED = Go to page, "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Search?search=%t"


Go to your preferred dictionary/encyclopedia site → Right click on search box → Create Search... → Details >> → Copy address → Cancel. Replace search URL in above code with copied address and change %s to %t.

21 comments

How to delete typed-in addresses without affecting history in Opera?

Monday, 4. August 2008, 14:49:54

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To delete all typed-in addresses
You can use "Clear history of visited pages" option in "Delete private data" dialog but it will delete history. To delete typed-in addresses without affecting history, use anyone of the following.

  • Drag & drop Clear Typed-in button to any toolbar.
  • Create new keyboard shortcut in Application section with action Clear typed in history
  • Add "Clear Typed-in" button to "Delete private data" dialog.

Opera Typed-in Addresses
Typed-in addresses

To remove a (mis)typed-in address

  1. Click this & note path to Opera directory.
  2. Close Opera.
  3. Open typed_history.xml in any text editor from Opera directory. (opera.dir for versions below 9.60)
  4. Remove the line containing unwanted entry & save. (For versions below 9.60, don't delete first line as it contains number of typed-in addresses. There is no need to edit first line because Opera will update it automatically.)

opera.dir
To remove digg.com entry, delete digg.com line in opera.dir file using any text editor

Update: Oct 8, 2008

17 comments

Auto-hide toolbars in Opera

Monday, 30. June 2008, 04:48:14

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You can auto-hide any toolbar in Opera after enabling it via keyboard shortcut or mouse gesture or button.

Buttons

You can add buttons to any toolbar (main bar, tab bar, address bar, navigation bar, view bar, status bar, start bar or panels) except menu bar & personal bar simply by dragging button links to required place. Clicking on the button links without dragging will add the buttons to Tools → Appearance → Buttons → My Buttons for later use.

When you try to add a button, a dialog box with following message will popup. Press OK to add button.

Adding new button with action

[Action]

Do you want to proceed?
To remove a button, right-click on it and select Remove From Toolbar.

You can find several custom buttons in Opera Wiki and TTT-Buttons.

Keyboard shortcuts / Mouse gestures

Create new keyboard shortcuts or mouse gestures in Application section with following action codes.

Toolbar Action code for keyboard shortcut or mouse gesture Button
Short Long name
Menu bar Enable menu bar & Delay, 12000 & Disable menu bar MB Menu Bar
Main bar View main bar, 6 & Delay, 10000 & View main bar, 0 Ma Main Bar
Personal bar View personal bar, 6 & Delay, 12000 & View personal bar, 0 PB Personal Bar
Tab bar View page bar, 6 & Delay, 10000 & View page bar, 0 TB Tab Bar
Address bar View address bar, 6 & Delay, 10000 & View address bar, 0 AB Address Bar
Navigation bar View navigation bar, 6 & Delay, 10000 & View navigation bar, 0 NB Navigation Bar
View bar Set alignment, "Document view toolbar", 6 & Delay, 8000 & Set alignment, "Document view toolbar", 0 VB View Bar
Status bar View status bar, 6 & Delay, 12000 & View status bar, 0 SB Status Bar

To modify auto-hide time, change Delay, X value (time in milliseconds) in above code. You have to edit Toolbar Configuration file to modify button name or delay value.

To hide/show a toolbar without auto-hide use the following.

Toolbar Action code for keyboard shortcut or mouse gesture Button
Short Long name
Menu bar Enable menu bar | Disable menu bar MB Menu Bar
Main bar View main bar, 6 | View main bar, 0 Ma Main Bar
Personal bar View personal bar, 6 | View personal bar, 0 PB Personal Bar
Tab bar View page bar, 6 | View page bar, 0 TB Tab Bar
Address bar View address bar, 6 | View address bar, 0 AB Address Bar
Navigation bar View navigation bar, 6 | View navigation bar, 0 NB Navigation Bar
View bar Set alignment, "Document view toolbar", 6 | Set alignment, "Document view toolbar", 0 VB View Bar
Status bar View status bar, 6 | View status bar, 0 SB Status Bar

If you drag & drop buttons with short name to a toolbar from Tools → Appearance → Buttons → My Buttons, space will be added to button name.

Update:
Jul 1, 2008
Mar 12, 2009

58 comments

How to add more Speed Dials in Opera?

Friday, 13. June 2008, 11:16:59

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Opera has 9 Speed Dials by default but you can add more in Opera 9.50.

  1. Note the path to speeddial.ini file.
  2. Close Opera.
  3. Open speeddial.ini file in any text editor.
  4. Add the following lines and adjust number of rows & columns to your need. If you use widescreen monitor, increase number of columns. Use trial & error method and adjust rows & columns so that Speed Dials will fit on your screen properly. 
    [Size]
Rows=3
Columns=4
  5. Start Opera.

More Speed Dials in Opera
Click on image to view fullsize screenshot

Keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+9 will open Speed Dials 1-9 respectively. To open extra Speed Dials using keyboard shortcut, create new keyboard shortcuts in Application section with action Go to speed dial, X where X is Speed Dial number.

To remove Speed Dial search box,
Above Opera 9.60, Tools > Preferences... > Search > [Select] Speed Dial search engine > Edit... > Details>> > [Disable] Use as Speed Dial search engine
Below Opera 9.60, set Speed Dial Search Type to 0

[RemcoLanting]

Update: Nov 22, 2008

130 comments

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