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Auto Context Saves Time with Your Right-Click
Posted by Adam Pash at 11:30 AM on April 22, 2008
Firefox only (Windows/Mac/Linux): The Auto Context Firefox extension automatically shows your right-click context menu as soon as you select text on a web page, taking a step out of your workflow if the right-click menu is your go-to toolbox. Once installed, Auto Context also provides extensive options for tweaking your right-click menu to your heart's content. Since I can only think of two reasons you'd select text with your mouse—either you want to copy it or you want to perform a right-click action on the text—I'd heartily recommend that you either install this extension or the previously mentioned AutoCopy extension, which automatically places selected text to your clipboard. Auto Context is a free download, works wherever Firefox does.
Tags: downloads | featured firefox extension | firefox | firefox extensions | linux | mac os x | mouse | timesavers | top | windows
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
ph15h needs followers
Posted 11:46 AM 22/4/08
Seems useful... but I'm those weird people that highlight text when they read just because they like white text over baby blue backgrounds lol. I'll check it out and see if I could never live without it.
ph15h needs followers
SenorDunda
Posted 12:26 PM 22/4/08
No love for Firefox 3 Beta yet.
:-(
SenorDunda
RocketSlug
Posted 1:40 PM 22/4/08
Reminds me of Hyperwords, which is what I used to use.
RocketSlug
CallTechSupport
Posted 1:40 PM 22/4/08
I'm also one of the people that highlights text while reading. Also, it's helpful when you're scrolling a long block of text and need a reference point for how much to scroll.
CallTechSupport
ravindran
Posted 2:29 PM 22/4/08
I think it's available with Opera, by default. It's very useful.
ravindran
Crashproof
Posted 2:47 PM 22/4/08
@CallTechSupport: I was going to say the same thing. It's a handy temporary placemarker.
Crashproof
suprfli
Posted 2:45 PM 22/4/08
I prefer to use the Firefox add-on, SmartSearch: [addons.mozilla.org]
It allows me to customize my searches based on Keyword searches that I create. You right click on the word or highlight it.
Additionally, I like to use QuickDrag to launch URLs or do a quick Google search on a highlighted words. [addons.mozilla.org]
I'm not saying either are better but it's what I prefer and others may want to check those out too.
suprfli
suprfli
Posted 2:43 PM 22/4/08
I prefer to use the Firefox add-on, SmartSearch:
[addons.mozilla.org]
It allows me to customize my searches based on Keyword searches that I create. You right click on the word or highlight it.
Additionally, I like to use QuickDrag to launch URLs or do a quick Google search on a highlighted words.
[addons.mozilla.org]
I'm not saying either are better but it's what I prefer and others may want to check those out too.
suprfli
jtj
Posted 7:55 PM 22/4/08
Not trying to troll here, but this is another feature that's been in Opera for years. Select and right click a word/phrase, and you can search by any of your saved search engines or the dictionary and encyclopedia via Answers.com (which you can also change).
Its not something I use really, but Opera is often overlooked for having so many handy timesaving shortcuts. I use a lot of them without even thinking.
jtj
Ooble
Posted 10:39 PM 22/4/08
I'm one of those people that selects text constantly just to have something to do with my hands. Glad to know I'm not the only one. :)
Ooble
Phoenix Monakhos
Posted 11:06 PM 22/4/08
@SenorDunda: If lifehacker posts my "TIP" you can have it now!
Phoenix Monakhos
drewls
Posted 11:04 PM 22/4/08
I select text constantly too. I guess it's not as rare a phenomenon as we all thought.
I like the idea of being able to edit the right click menu with this. FF has a few very useful extensions that put themselves at the top of the right click menu, which I don't like, because I don't use them enough for them to be above copy/paste
drewls
adam51172
Posted 11:04 PM 22/4/08
I'm a constant double and triple click selector, so this works very well for those purposes, such as copying shell commands, searching for selected text. So one less click for me, plus the menu's smaller than the default right-click pop-up, so a little more handy when working in selected text.
adam51172
Earth KING
Posted 12:03 PM 24/4/08
Sorry to ruin the excitement, but OPERA ALREADY HAS THIS!
Earth KING
artb
Posted 2:00 AM 23/4/08
The extension doesn't really appeal to me, but have you tried using the Nightly Tester Tools extension to make it Firefox 3 compatible? Seems to have worked without problems on all but one of my extensions.
artb
hagfoto
Posted 2:42 PM 22/4/08
I am with the others where I highlight the text I read. Is there an easy way to have the right click menu have the 'Search with' function? Right now, it just shows me search and will use whatever engine is selected in Firefox on the top right. Am I missing an easy fix?
hagfoto
sisina
Posted 12:52 PM 22/4/08
I highlight text when I read, too -- usually the line or two I've just read. It helps me keep my place on the page, which is important when you're multitasking with a toddler around. It's also a quick way to scroll from my laptop touchpad, where I don't have a middle button.
sisina