Bookmarklets
2008-07-03
A bookmarklet is an applet, a small computer application, stored as the URL of a bookmark in a web browser or as a hyperlink on a web page. The term is a portmanteau of the terms bookmark and applet.
Whether bookmarklet utilities are stored as bookmarks or hyperlinks, they are designed to add one-click functionality to a browser or web page. When clicked, a bookmarklet performs some function, one of a wide variety such as a search query or data extraction. Usually the applet is a JavaScript program.
In today's tech day in age, we are a people of instant gratification and last minute kinds of choices and decisions.
Now, I love me some Gmail, but the one things Gmail lacks (but isn't enough for me to jump off the bandwagon) is signature functionality. I have all of my various e-mail accounts forwarded into my one main Gmail account, and I have it set up so that it appears as though I am replying from those various other e-mail addresses. The problem is that Gmail only supports one singular signature, and it appears below the quoted message that you are replying to. This is a problem because my junk e-mail address needs to now have any personal identifying information, whereas my work e-mail address needs a signature reflecting my title, phone number, and company webpage information. You see where this gets complicated, right?
Well, I've found something that helps this a little. It's not perfect, but it's certainly better than my previous solution of just going without a signature and typing required information for every e-mail.
The solution is GeekFG's Online Bookmarklet Creator!
You first use the editor to create a signature. This signature can be as fancy, or not, as you want. It allows web hosted images, links, tables, css, and the like. You then click Go to step 2, and it creates your bookmarklet which you can then drag to your browsers bar, or simply bookmark. Then any time you want to add your signature, simply click the bookmarklet when you are at the compose screen of Gmail, and voila! Magic. Now, as far as I know this is only available in Gmail (and of course any Google Apps for your domain sites).
So the moral of the story is, the next time you want multiple signature for your Gmail account... head on over to GeekGF's bookmarklet creator; I'm pretty sure that, like me, you'll be glad you did!
