Bookmarklets - Search the Jargon

Bookmarklets are javascript code snippets that you can add to your browser favorites allowing you to extend the capabilities of your browser, with the power of javascript.

The following bookmarklets allow you to easily consult the jargon file with a single click of a button. Select the bookmarklet of your choice and drag it to your favorites folder. Once intalled, select the text you wish to search on any web page and click the bookmark button. It will automatically open the definition of the term found in the JargonDB. If no text has been selected it will prompt for a term. Pretty handy! ;-)

For your convenience, the code of each bookmarklet is shown below, so you can maybe feel inspired to create more such goodies of your own.

• JargonDB for Netscape/Mozilla/Firefox

  To install, right click the link and add to your favorites and/or personal toolbar.

  Here's the expanded version of the bookmarklet, should you wish to review it:

  q = document.getSelection();
  for(i = 0; i < frames.length; i++) {
    q = frames[i].document.getSelection();
    if (q) break;
  }
  if (!q) void(q = prompt('Search JargonDB for? ',''));
  if (q != null) {
    location.href='http://www.jargondb.org/glossary/'+escape(q)
  }
  

• JargonDB for MSIE and Opera

  To install, right click the link and add to your favorites and/or personal toolbar.

  Here's the expanded version of the bookmarklet, should you wish to review it:

  f = document.frames.length;
  try {
    q = (f ? '' : document.selection.createRange().text)
  } catch(e) {q = ''};
  for(i = 0; i < document.frames.length; i++) {
    try {
      q = document.frames[i].document.selection.createRange().text
    } catch(e) {q = ''};
    if (q != '') break;
  }
  if (q == '') void(q =prompt('Search JargonDB for?',''));
  if (q != null) {
    q = 'http://www.jargondb.org/glossary/'+escape(q);
    void(f ? open(q) : window.location = q)
  }