For its integrity, features and functionality, GMail is the leading webmail application worldwide. For the same reasons, Firefox tends to be the most used browser out there.
As you well know, Firefox can be customized to its full, with the help of plugins and scripts. For example, GreaseMonkey is a Mozilla Firefox extension that allows users to install scripts that make on-the-fly changes to specific web pages. As the Greasemonkey scripts are persistent, the changes made to the web pages are executed every time the page is opened, making them effectively permanent for the user running the script.
Greasemonkey can be used for adding new functionality to web pages, fixing rendering bugs, combining data from multiple webpages, and numerous other purposes. Well written Greasemonkey scripts can integrate changes so well that their additions appear to be natural parts of the web page. I’m going to present the most useful 10 plugins and tweaks to be used with GMail.
Make sure you run decent versions of Firefox and GreaseMonkey before you try to install or run anything shown here. I’ve also included some screenshots of the effects those scripts have on your GMail, so make sure you check them out by clicking the thumbnail to see the large picture.
1. A super clean/white GMail interface
Install instructions | Known issues | Understanding the script
Gmail Super Clean was made to simplify the way Gmail looks. It’s got quite a few customization options. You can change the logo, fonts, show/hide ads and many more, using the User script commands on Greasemonkey. The script is also made public on userscripts.org and statistics show that almost 50,000 people installed it.
2. GMail logo changer
Install / View source
By default, the upper left GMail logo is this. If you got tired of it, this script is exactly what you’re looking for. It will allow you to change the logo to an image of your own, exactly as it happens on the e-mail service from Google Apps.
3. Folders in GMail
Installation Instructions
This is perfect for you if you liked the folder-like sorting options in the other e-mail solutions, but you rather stick to GMail. Now you can have them both by installing this plugin. Have a look at the before-after timeline and if you think it’d work for you, go ahead and try out the script. If you’re not convinced yet, here’s how it works:
If you have two labels, Mum and Dad and you want them to be subfolders of Family, you need to create three labels: Family, Family\Mum and Family\Dad. In the left you can see how the labels will look before the script, and on the right you can see how the script interprets them. Neat, huh? This script is available for IE7 and Opera9, with the help of additional plugins similar to GreaseMonkey.
4. One click conversations
Plugin page | Install the script
One Click Conversations is a java script for enhancing GMail.
GMail view must be set to “standard with chat” in order for this script to work. It adds an icon just to the left of sender name in list view and in message view so you can access it easily. Clicking on icon takes you to the recent conversations with that user. Rolling over icon in message view pops up menu, as found via the “quick contacts” panel.
As you can see, it adds one click access to recent conversations with each of your contacts. The demo below should explain things succinctly. Have a look and see exactly what I’m talking about.
5. HTML signatures (multiple signatures if you want)
View script source / Install script
HTML in GMail signatures has been an issue since the service was started. Some of us use multiple e-mail addresses, therefore we need multiple signatures, and some of them need to be HTML compatible. I noticed this plugin also fixes the signature placement bug. By default, your signature was placed at the end of the message, no matter if you were composing a new one or replying to an existent one. In the second situation, your reply would have been on top and the signature was placed to the bottom, thus being separated.
The plugin actually creates a link that you can click to insert an HTML signature into a GMail message. Like I said, it supports multiple signatures. Just add a variable at the top that has your HTML in it. Then add that variable name to the array “sigs”. If you have one signature, just make sure that one variable name is in the array. If you have more than one, it will prompt you (on insertion) for which one. Otherwise it just inserts it.
6. GMail + Google Calendar
View source / Install script
This embeds Google Calendar to Gmail by adding a “Calendar” link. The position of the calendar link can be changed by editing the source and modifying the CALENDAR_LINK_POSITION constant (if you don’t see the constant, please update the script). Currently it can only be moved from before the Inbox link to after the Trash link. I’ll try to add more flexibility later.
If you want the Calendar menus aligned at the right of the screen, update the script and edit the source. Check the CALENDAR_STYLES part, you’ll see some commented code, just uncomment it. However this isn’t very useful because the popups for Quick Add and the Calendars settings will appear out of the screen, I hope to fix this in the near future.
7. GMail conversation preview
View source / Install script
The script allows you to get a preview bubble when you right click ANY conversation in GMail. It addresses the broken Archive and Trash features. Also contains some personalizations including a Subject bar below the link toolbar.
8. Google Reader integration
View source / Install script
This doesn’t need a description. It’s just a nice integration of Google Reader, along with other author implementations I’m going to mention below.
*Moved Collapse Gmail link to under Compose Mail
* Removed unnessasary spaces
* Added Google Reader favicon to Reader link
* Added a Launch Reader link to open Google Reader in a new window
* Added a Home link
* Made Reader’s labels collapsable
9. GMail label colors
View source / Install script | Official webpage
Ignoring the folders vs. labels debate for now I always wondered why labels in Gmail cannot be color-coded. This script adds that functionality, since it turns out to be very useful (if used sparingly, otherwise too many colors can get overwhelming). To specify a color, simply rename a label to “Labelname #color” (e.g. to make the label “Foo” be red, use “Foo #red” and to make the label “Bar” be orange, use “Bar ##d52″). It works in a similar way to the conversation bubble script, in that it overrides the JavaScript function through which Gmail receives data. It has to jump through some hoops to avoid the HTML escaping that Gmail does; intrepid Greasemonkey hackers may want to look at the source.
10. GMail macros
View source / Install script | Official webpage
Gmail Macros adds additional keyboard shortcuts to Gmail. Some are obvious (and have been done by other scripts) such as “t” for move to trash and “r” for mark as read. However, the author strove to provide a bit more functionality. For example, “p” both marks a message as read and archives it, when you really don’t want to read something (the “p” stands for “purge”). Additionally, the shortcuts can be easily customized by editing the HANDLERS_TABLE constant. More than one action can be chained together by providing a list of action codes (which are contained in the script and were extracted by looking at the generated “More Actions…” menu in Gmail). The other novel feature is for label operations. Pressing “g” brings up a Quicksilver-like display that allows you to begin typing in a label name to go to it (special names like “Inbox” and “Trash” work too). Similarly, pressing “l” allows you to label a conversation with the label of your choosing.
That was it. The world of GreaseMonkey scripts is fairly large, but that’s a good thing. There’s plenty of GMail plugins to choose from, in order to make your life easier and enhance your GMail experience.
7-25-2007 14:18:46
Not to blow one’s own trumpet, but many people also value GTDInbox (50k downloads to date).
It adds task-management workflow to Gmail; enabling you to categorise an email for handling later. The nett effect being more efficient email processing; and never letting an email slip through the net.
It’s at https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3209
Hope its useful to some of you,
Andy
7-25-2007 14:33:02
I use the better gmail plugin for firefox which is a bundle of different greasemonkey scripts and supports alot of the features you talk about.
One thing which I do like about it is the ability to create HTML signatures. I’ve released my first one on my blog. It’s a Digg themed signature. Full details, screenshot and installation instructions are available on my blog: http://foobr.co.uk/2007/07/digg_gmail_template/
7-25-2007 16:08:18
Thanks for the scripts. I haven’t seen some of these. I love the fact you can hack Gmail so thoroughly. Why use any other pop mail?
7-25-2007 16:08:34
Good list !! thanks
7-25-2007 17:03:50
great post! i’m looking forward to using these scripts!
7-25-2007 17:27:48
My biggest beef is that Google doesn’t show some sort of numeric score, like SpamAssassin, on messages it flags as spam. I’d love for my spam folder to be sortable based on how ’spammy’ they think a message is, plus let me filter out messages automatically that score over a specific threshold.
Right now, it looks like I need to come up with an elaborate plan to filter my mail through my hosting provider for my domain mail, and then have Google pull what remains onto its server. /sigh
7-25-2007 17:28:55
Comes close to Google apps. Very good list though it makes Gmail perfect
7-25-2007 17:44:18
Thanks for these excellent tips. Sadly I have not had the luxury of regularly using my gmail because when I log in my internet connection drops. It happens almost 80% of the time. Nobody seems to know why. I am using Firefox. I have no problem with any other sites. Gmail is the only one that knocks off my internet connection. I would be grateful if somebody could suggest a solution as I do enjoy using gmail.
7-25-2007 17:54:42
Nice list. Now..someone needs to write a script that pops up my address book when composing a new mail. This is the most aggravating thing. How am I supposed to know everyone I want to send an email to? I want to see a list!
7-25-2007 18:23:27
The Better Gmail addon rocks them all.
7-25-2007 18:47:01
Or just check out Better Gmail by Lifehacker – no need to install GreaseMonkey (even though gm is a great extension) and 10 and more different scripts:
http://dwarfurl.com/c6d39
7-25-2007 19:26:15
Hello,
I installed several of these scripts as I think the functionality will be amazing. Thanks! One thing I don’t understand, though is that “User Script Commands” is grayed out and unusable. Huh? Any help would be appreciated!
Chris
7-25-2007 19:33:14
Do you have a small gray monkey in the bottom right corner of your browser window? If yes, click it once and it should turn brown, thus activating GreaseMonkey.
7-25-2007 19:52:05
This might be helpful for you guys, as you write a number of emails that might want some flavor? Ever want an email that would self-destruct or send an email you don’t want someone to be able to print? Or a picture of your girlfriend (or boyfriend) that you wish would disappear in 30 seconds? Take back that email you wrote to your boss at 2AM?!?
Check out http://www.BigString.com
It is a new free webmail program. When you send mail from your BigString account, you are protected. BigString is like an automatic shredder for your email. You can self-destruct or change an email that’s already been sent or read.
Have a great day!
Michael
michaelf@bigstring.com
7-25-2007 20:05:41
Nope, he’s brown already and enabled. I don’t get it. I’ve Googled for an answer to no avail. I’ve even added the precise URL for when actually logged into GMail and even that hasn’t worked…
7-25-2007 20:08:14
Wait a tic… By right-clicking on the little Monkey it says “No Scripts Installed!”, but i know that’s wrong because they’re there in the GreaseMonkey Manager! WTH?
7-25-2007 20:11:38
OK… I’ve restarted FF again and now the No Scripts Installed is gone and the three scripts I installed are there in that list, as well as in the Manager. But the User Script Commands is still grayed out.
Wacky. Any ideas?
7-25-2007 20:28:37
Great list! This is just like the things you find at http://www.listafterlist.com/
It is a great place for YOU to find and create lists about anything and everything.
7-25-2007 20:30:45
Thanks for the tips. A factual nitpick re: the first paragraph… I love Gmail and Firefox, but neither is anywhere near the top of their respective field in terms of market share. Both are growing, but Gmail still lags far behind Hotmail and Yahoo Mail, and FF is way below IE.
7-25-2007 20:52:41
wow, Google lets you do this… thats awesome!
7-25-2007 21:13:57
Thanks! The folders tweak is the best! Very useful.
7-25-2007 21:38:51
They all require userscripts/greasemonkey, but you can also do the same effect with a bookmarklet.
7-25-2007 22:24:03
What about EMail This! Firefox Extension (ya ya I’m just feeding my own ego).
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3102
7-25-2007 23:37:34
Hanna: try disabling Javascript or using the plain-Jane HTML version of gmail. Perhaps all the additional server requests (via XHR) is playing havoc with your connection?
7-26-2007 00:19:58
Plaxo 3.0 can be synchronized between Microsoft, Google (GMAIL), Yahoo!, AOL, Mac OSX, Thunderbird, and mobile phones. http://news.taume.com/Technology/Internet/Plaxo-3_0-1687
7-26-2007 01:03:01
I’m not sure how you could have left out this plugin for firefox that checks multiple email accounts: http://www.longfocus.com/firefox/gmanager/
Must have!
7-26-2007 03:35:13
Yes, indeed these are wonderful tools that significantly enhance the overall gmail user experience but comes at a certain cost one in which I wasn’t willing to pay.
I’ve installed most if not all of the gmail tweaks listed here all of which worked perfectly except for the excruciatingly extended time it took for gmail to load
with all of the added features such as the google calendar/reader sidebar taking its toll on resources.
I’m no deer caught in the glare of Firefox’s brilliant headlamps having tweaked my browser’s about:config to
the outer limits of maximum tweakability, if you will, to know what I’m talking about.
Many of the features worked wonderfully without being a drain on resources but with items like google reader,
calendar you’re much better off linking to them
individually with the upside being considerably improved
losd times.
7-26-2007 04:36:38
I don’t use GMail because I need to be able to open different mails in new tabs or windows. GMail only allows you to view one mail (or string of mails) in one window and won’t allow you to spread multiple mails onto multiple windows
Until I can open multiple emails in multiple windows (like every other webmail app allows) GMail is useless to me – are there any scripts that can do that?
7-26-2007 13:51:49
This is exactly what I expected to find out after reading the title o.us poetry. Thanks for informative article
7-26-2007 19:08:45
John wrote…
>I don’t use GMail because I need to be able to open >different mails in new tabs or windows. GMail only >allows you to view one mail (or string of mails) in one >window and won’t allow you to spread multiple mails >onto multiple windows
>Until I can open multiple emails in multiple windows >(like every other webmail app allows) GMail is useless >to me – are there any scripts that can do that?
Ummm, unless I misunderstand what you are asking for, GMail has been able to do that for ages. Open the email you want to tear off into a separate window the normal way, then click on the “New Window” link in the upper right (it has a two pane icon with an arrow in the top pane.) GMail closes the original message view and goes back to the original list, then reopens your message in a new window, complete with the whole conversation. You can open as many messages/conversations in their own window as you want this way.
This also works when you are composing a message and realize you need to refer to another email… just tear of the new email composition window using the “New Window” icon or link, and then browse anywhere in GMail you need to go. Of course, you can always just start your new message in a new window by using the Shift-C hotkey.
This has been a feature of GMail as long as I can remember, and I’ve been a user since the early “invitation only” days. I know it wasn’t in the earliest betas, but it’s been around a long time.
7-26-2007 20:37:26
I’ve been using BigString, and found its a great way to send out emails that self-destruct!
Here’s some info if your interested:
BigString (http://www.bigstring.com), the new free webmail program, offers revolutionary features. When you send mail from your BigString account, you are protected. BigString is like an automatic shredder for your email. You can self-destruct or change an email that’s already been sent or read. Don’t leave your messages sitting in peoples’ inbox forever.
7-27-2007 22:11:54
thanks for putting this all together, I will certainly be taking some time to implement these.
8-10-2007 02:28:33
Great list thanks.
8-15-2007 16:50:26
Thanks for the list and keep up the good work!