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Drag-and-drop from bookmarklet not working in Firefox 13

  • 16 replies
  • 14 have this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by loiemom

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Here is our bookmarklet code snippet:

javascript:var%20r=Math.random()*100;var%20protocol='http://www.vflyer.com/main';if%20%20((location.href).indexOf('https')!=-1){protocol='https://www.vflyer.com/main'};(function(){var%20d=document;var%20s;try{s=d.standardCreateElement('script');}catch(e){}if(typeof(s)!='object')s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text/javascript';s.src=protocol+'/bookmark.jsp?r='+r;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})();

It seems that in Firefox 13, users can no longer drag and drop content from the bookmarklet into the browser. I tried disabling all add-ons but that didn't work. I also saw a thread about the Torbutton extension inhibiting drag-and-drop, but I don't have that extension. Any ideas?

Here is our bookmarklet code snippet:<br /> <br /> <pre><nowiki>javascript:var%20r=Math.random()*100;var%20protocol='http://www.vflyer.com/main';if%20%20((location.href).indexOf('https')!=-1){protocol='https://www.vflyer.com/main'};(function(){var%20d=document;var%20s;try{s=d.standardCreateElement('script');}catch(e){}if(typeof(s)!='object')s=d.createElement('script');s.type='text/javascript';s.src=protocol+'/bookmark.jsp?r='+r;d.getElementsByTagName('head')[0].appendChild(s);})();</nowiki></pre> It seems that in Firefox 13, users can no longer drag and drop content from the bookmarklet into the browser. I tried disabling all add-ons but that didn't work. I also saw a thread about the Torbutton extension inhibiting drag-and-drop, but I don't have that extension. Any ideas?

Modified by cor-el

All Replies (16)

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I'm not sure what you mean about dragging from the bookmarklet. If you click the bookmarklet to run the script, does it create paragraphs, images, or other objects that a user would want to drag onto the current page? Since I don't have a vFlyer account, it's not obvious to me how to re-create the problem.

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Do you mean dragging content from the pop-up iframe that the bookmarklet creates?

Does it work if you use copy and paste instead of dragging?

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Thanks jscher2000. The bookmarklet pulls HTML and plain-text content from the vFlyer account, which the user can then drag and drop into a website such as Craigslist or Backpage to post a listing. I can still copy + paste content from the bookmarklet into the browser window, but not drag and drop.

Thanks!

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cor-el:

Yes, exactly. Thanks for clarifying that better than I did. Copy paste does work, but not drag and drop.

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As stated by jscher20000 we don't have vflyer accounts, if the question is just about dragging any bookmarklet link to the bookmarks toolbar or to any bookmark folder how about choosing something that anyone could test and use. Also question here is using a wiki format so you can't create a bookmarklet in your question that we can test as you can see the code is broken up and only part of it shows up as a link.

There are several sample bookmarklet links on my page Firefox Keyword Shortcuts look near the bottom under the (#related) heading for "HREF visible" with box styling to show it as a bookmarklet, then click on it and it should show the urls or in the case of bookmarklets the JavaScript code. Press "F5" to reset, then drag the "HREF visible" bookmark link to a toolbar, and click on the link in the toolbar. That works for me, does it work for you.

To really make use of the keyword shortcut move the link to an out of the way bookmarks folder (for me the "K" folder on my bookmarks toolbar) using properties give it a keyword of "href:" (capitalization does not matter). Retest by typing "href:" into the location bar.

I would highly recommend installing the "Add Bookmark Here2" extension so you can work better with bookmarks and particularly with keyword bookmarks and bookmarklets.

The extension by it's name is indicating that you select the bookmark folder then use the context (right-click) menu on that folder to bring the bookmarkleet into the folder.

You can create a bookmark with you link code in the location properties of the bookmark so you can make use of the bookmark even if dragging is not working for you currently.

I would have no problem with this in Firefox 12, I will have to restart Firefox to test in version 13.

Okay retested in version 13 and that worked but the bookmarklets for "link:" and "linked" which are alongside the one I used for a demo did not work; obviously Mozilla has broken more things and it would supposedly be for 'security'. I do see one improvement in version 13 and that is when they destroyed "New Tab" this time in the release they tell you how to fix it so it is as before. I'll bet those doing the Beta had to find that out for themselves.


I will have to redo the "link:" bookmarklet to leave out the http:// prefix, otherwise the "link:" . The "linked:" bookmarklet that I have already installed (not the one I dragged) would work on a different page using its keyword shortcut.

Modified by David McRitchie

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Perhaps some security restriction is being tripped when dragging from an iframes on a different host. If it is a security restriction, it might be that the iframe has to be inserted by a script in order to trigger it.

If you check the error console (Ctrl+Shift+j), is there any indication there? You may want to click the Clear button before running the bookmarklet and check for any errors before testing the drag and drop, in case there's an earlier error that bears on this problem.

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As a workaround see if this works, bring up bookmarks sidebar (Ctrl+B in Windows) and use search to find the bookmark or scroll down to the folder and bookmark and invoke from there.

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Thanks everyone for your replies. It does seem like it's some kind of new security restriction in FF13 that's causing the problem, so I'll escalate it to our development team. I appreciate the help and insight!

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Please hurry, I send links to my little Grand sons in the South Pacific about Science and fun things, email and snail mail are their only contacts with the US... This is a really bad development, will any other browser do better than Firefox at this time, June 2012?

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Hi loiemom, are you having a problem with the vflyer service? I am not familiar with it myself. Have you tested other browsers? Perhaps danlenehan can post an update.

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Hi loiemom, I'm afraid I don't understand the issue that you're describing. If it's something related to vFlyer, please email support [at] vflyer [dot] com. If it's a Firefox 13 issue, please check the forums for an answer and if you don't find one, post a new question.

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I sent a long, detailed letter/email to "someone" from FireFox who very nicely got in touch with me by email...so we shall see what happens next. It's obvious to me that I cannot explain my problem in Computereeze in a way that computer folk can understand...Also, I cannot understand the "answers/helps" my questions receive, one seems to have to speak fluent computereeze to get anywhere with any help columns. Phooey :-) if anyone would like to receive a cc of that email, written in English :-) with my explanations please get in touch with me. loiemom@gmailcom. Phoenix AZ 06.26.12

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Here is the email I think I sent to Jesher2000 a few hrs ago.

Hello Jesher2000!

I do not understand all the "computereeze" that most of you speak :-) And I have multiple sclerosis and find a list of instructions hard to follow, especially when I don't know much of the language...I'll try to explain my problem...as when I put my problem in a "Help" place so many answers come back that I don't know how to search through those to find if any might fit my problem. Key words don't always match, and they sure do not filter, ha!

I send my email, using FireFox 13.0.1 and Gmail, with the new Google Chrome (because one has to use it now that the "old" Google email program is dying out/being discontinued.

And. because of my MS, I have short term memory difficulties, so to remember where they are, I keep many links in what I think is my "tool bar" row where I can "put" links so that if I want to go to, say, MightyAntDataWorks.com (my son's and daughter-in-law's very own website) all I do is click on the link I keep there, on/within my tool bar, and I can go to their web site and see the updates and additions they have made regarding their growing-by-leaps-and-bounds software company.

Which reminds me as I type, "MightAntDataWorks.com" used to, until a few weeks ago"turn blue" and become a real live link you and I could click on right now, from this paragraphl. Forgot about this problem/major pain until just now...

So that problem remembered is just now added to my original question/problem...which is:

I can no longer drag and drop from my tool bar into this text, right here, _(insert link)__, the tool bar link to MightyAntDataWorks.com.  In this one sentence I could, until very recently, put/affix? into this one email two opportunities for you and/or me to click on a true, working internet link that would take us directly to MightAntDataWorks.com!  As you see, you cannot do so at this moment, unless they correct this "problem" before I send this on to you.  And as you can see, it is not easily described in English either!

How to list/word this/now these two problems in FireFox's or anyone else's Help is beyond my computering ability, as is finding a direct answer in non-computereeze! I expect to be able to continue to do this, security or not! For heavens sake, why would there be a security problem sending a public link in an email! Duh.... (I'm 67 now and I like the modern use of "Duh..." once in a while. It sure fits here :-)

So, #1, I appreciate so much hearing from you, a real person I expect :-) and #2, this is a good test to see if anyone else can understand what I am asking for. If it is not I expect I will leave either FireFox, which I like the best of all I have tried, or leave Google, don't even know how to send them a copy of this. If you do, maybe you could send it on to them for me, which demonstrates that I don't even know who "owns" these dastardly changes! My missionary son and his family in the South Pacific will be able to link to websites with Video links when they go to the capital city of Vanuatu in just a short few weeks now. And I have numerous waiting to send (news updates, fun stories and animal videos, etc.) to them...maybe I can just attach the whole folder? Another thing I don't know how to do, ha! But I expect it is do-able. But I also used to be able to send links to others frequently, especially to my online Cancer Support Group on a daily basis before, something we all have been doing...ah...they can tell me which browser and email programs to use cause some of them send links all the time! But I would rather fight with FireFox than leave them, so, Who owns the problem would really be good info for me to have to begin with!

I will be looking forward to hearing from you as I have given up finding any answers in the "Help"... BTW, I have tried copying a link into my text, can't make that work either!

Thanks for being interested, I like people who are really interesting because of their interests, and I am the proud Mother of three Computer Geeks! so I won't blame any further wonderings on you, whatever the outcome! According to my sons, Trouble Shooting is not fun - once in a while :-) If all else fails you might get in touch with MightyAntDataWorks.com even! they're getting a cc of this so they will be aware of your needs before you are, perhaps :-) Thanks again,

Lois T. Smith loiemom@gmail.com Phoenix AZ

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Lois T. Smith, again from Phoenix...I see when I send/copy the email I sent it arrived with the link correctily fitted in as a live link, even blue colored. So that is one improvement. Will have to see if it comes through when I go back and forward it to myself... 06.26.12

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Lois cont...no, the copy of my sent email did not come to me with the blue, what I call live, link to MightyAnt. Strange.

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PROBLEM SOLVED!!! Here's a cc of the gmail I just sent off to the FireFox folk...thanks to all you...hope you enjoy the read! L. 06.26.12

Problem solved, thanks to my son...who after reading his own cc of the 06.26.12 gmail I had sent to FireFox called me and went online with me via TeamViewer, into my gmail, using FireFox as usual.

I showed him what my "problems" are, he "played around" for only a couple or three minutes, and quickly showed me what was going on.

Google has made a slight change (as far as they are concerned. For me it is a major change as I, and many others like me, have no idea how software programming engineers think. I just find out "something is different.")

Glenn, of http://mightyantdataworks.com, tells me that as long as I type his website link, he calls it a URL come to find out - always wondered if they are the same thing - as long as I type the URL in with the "htt://" part and/or make sure the dragged-and-dropped URL has that "intro" at the beginning, then I have nothing to worry about. Glenn says Google decided that their software for gmail will no longer recognize that web site link I just typed in as anything in particular, just data.

BUT, here comes the change: now, just lately, when my gmail is sent and received, the receivers' readers in their email programs will still recognize my gmail has a valid URL and act accordingly, also turning the type blue at the same time, to the receivers' great relief that at least their own email reader did not receive the same change in reverse! So, with some English and actually working on the screen together the explanation was found quickly, understood with a slight bit more work, ha! and now I am into trusting my receivers' emails' readers with great abandon...

Now, I have noticed...with great interest and glee...that if my gmail has been saved to draft before it is sent, while it is in the draft tunnel it's URLs are read there by something (could it perhaps be my very own gmail program's reader?)...and whoever reads the gmail then recognizes it as a URL, and "turns it blue" even!, right here on my own screen! before I have even Sent same! You Think? I love it! Aren't these folk amazing!

Thanks to all who were interested, and most of all to my son, Glenn, who knows how to talk to people about their computers in plain English and bails me out every so often too! I have had a lot of fun with this once I decided something just had to be done...I like gmail and Firefox too much to move away!

Lois T. Smith loiemom@gmail.com Phoenix AZ