how do I select alternative browsers to open URLs while using IE?

[Guest]

right now, I have my Firefox at the highest security settings (disabled
JavaScript & no Java) and my Opera at medium security settings (enabled
JavaScript & no Java). there are some links (usually, the ones I don't
trust) that I feel safer opening with my alternative browsers (e.g. Firefox &
Opera) than with IE.

I currently have to copy & past the URL text to the address bar of my
alternative browser. but sometimes, it's an image that's hyperlinked.

I'd like the right click menu to include: "Open with: Firefox" and/or
"Open with: Opera" and/or "Choose Program…" just like when opening other
file extensions.

if this isn't currently possible for IE 6, can it be a request feature for
IE 7?

 

[Rob Parsons]

The only way to specify the browser is with shortcuts or Application Paths.

eg. iexplore.exe "%1"
firefox.exe -url "%1"

On second thoughts you could use windows scripting to add a context menus to
launch a link in a chosen browser, but if you ask me this is
counter-productive as IE's zones have different settings for each zone. You
can quickly change zone settings on the fly by clicking the Internet Zones
icon on the status bar of IE. So if you are unsure about a link you can
quickly chage the security settings before you click it.
I have nothing to do with MS, but I would imagine that you would be asking a
bit much to have it included in IE7 (why add support for a compeditors
product). As I said above, you could do it with a context menu script,
perhaps you could write your own.

 

[Guest]

The only way to specify the browser is with shortcuts or Application Paths.

eg. iexplore.exe "%1"
firefox.exe -url "%1"

I'm not a programmer. I don't know how to do that, unless I have more
detailed instructions.

On second thoughts you could use windows scripting to add a context menus to
launch a link in a chosen browser, but if you ask me this is
counter-productive as IE's zones have different settings for each zone. You
can quickly change zone settings on the fly by clicking the Internet Zones
icon on the status bar of IE. So if you are unsure about a link you can
quickly chage the security settings before you click it.

I wouldn't call it exactly on the fly. it's about the same amount of steps
to copy & past the URL into either Firefox or Opera.

I have nothing to do with MS, but I would imagine that you would be asking a
bit much to have it included in IE7 (why add support for a compeditors
product).

Microsoft has allowed 3rd-party software to open 'standard' (and even their
own) file types with their right-click menu. "Open with" & "Choose Program…"
URLs are suppose to be non-proprietary even by definition "universal
resource locator". why should IE be exclusive to open them? as you said
above & below, it could be done "with a context menu script". that doesn't
sound like major software overhauling/rewriting. if they're allowing it for
other file types, how can it be a "bit much" to request a minor addition to
the right-click menu with IE? I'm not a programmer. so, I don't know how to
add or customize my right-click menu.

 

[Gary Smith]

There is an add-in for Firefox which places an entry on the IE context
menu labeled "Open Link Target in Firefox". There's also one that adds an
Open in IE entry to the Firefox context menu. I don't know od anything
for Opera.

https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/?application=firefox

right now, I have my Firefox at the highest security settings (disabled
JavaScript & no Java) and my Opera at medium security settings (enabled
JavaScript & no Java). there are some links (usually, the ones I don't
trust) that I feel safer opening with my alternative browsers (e.g. Firefox &
Opera) than with IE.

I currently have to copy & past the URL text to the address bar of my
alternative browser. but sometimes, it's an image that's hyperlinked.

 

[Guest]

hi Gary!

thanks!

I saw the "IE View" (which is the opposite of what I want). would you know
of the exact name?

 

[Gary Smith]

It's called FirefoxView (all one word). This URL should get you there:
https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=223

Oddly enough, you can access this page successfully only through Firefox.
Trying the same link in IE produces a message that says "Incompatible
Extension or Extension No Longer Available".

 

[Guest]

hi Gary!

I get the same odd error message with my IE, BUT, it works fine with
Firefox! this link works w/ both browsers:
http://www.iosart.com/firefox/firefoxview

anyhow, OFF-TOPIC, the author, Alex Sirota, is the same author of the 1st &
currently only Fx extension I'm using, PlainOldFavorites! which is the major
reason why I use Fx more than before and still more than Opera. if Opera
finally decides to include a similar feature to Fx's PlainOldFavorites
extension, I know that I'd be using Opera more than Fx!

looks like FirefoxView will be my 2nd Fx extension (but technically, it
isn't a direct extension for Fx); and, it's from the same author of my 1st
Fx extension!

I'm gonna e-mail Alex, if he can make an OperaView version.

thanks again!

 

[Gary Smith]

I decided to try PlainOldFavorites, and it seems to work nicely once
installed, but I got something strange when I first installed it. Upon
restarting Firefox, a box popped up that said, "The dynamic link library
MSVCR71.dll could not be found in the specified path ..." and it listed
the Firefox folder and my entire system path. I clicked OK, got the same
box again, clicked OK, and the install completed. I then uninstalled the
extension and got the same box again, but only once this time, when I
restarted Firefox. Installing from the Firefox estensions site produced
the same results.

The peculiar thing is that there were four copies of that DLL on my
system, but none where Firefox was looking for them. I put a copy in the
Mozilla folder and the extension installed no complaints. The DLL doesn't
seem to be necessary except when installing or uninstalling.

I think I'll leave things as they are for now. Five copies of one module
seems excessive, but I don't have the time to figure how to thin them out.

hi Gary!

I get the same odd error message with my IE, BUT, it works fine with
Firefox! this link works w/ both browsers:
http://www.iosart.com/firefox/firefoxview

anyhow, OFF-TOPIC, the author, Alex Sirota, is the same author of the 1st &
currently only Fx extension I'm using, PlainOldFavorites! which is the major
reason why I use Fx more than before and still more than Opera. if Opera
finally decides to include a similar feature to Fx's PlainOldFavorites
extension, I know that I'd be using Opera more than Fx!

looks like FirefoxView will be my 2nd Fx extension (but technically, it
isn't a direct extension for Fx); and, it's from the same author of my 1st
Fx extension!