How to use Bookmarklets

Bookmarklets are snippets of Javascript that run when you click on a bookmark in your browser instead of opening a new page. They can modify the page you're currently viewing to add new features or functions.

Desktop Browsers

Installation

Option 1: Enable your bookmarks toolbar (Firefox: View -> Toolbars -> Bookmarks bar; Chrome: Three dots menu -> Bookmarks -> Show bookmarks bar, or View -> "Always Show Bookmarks Bar"), then click on the bookmarklet button and without releasing your mouse button drag it with your mouse to the bookmarks toolbar.

Option 2 (Firefox): Right click on the bookmarklet button and choose "add to bookmarks/favourites" from the context menu that appears.

Option 2 (Chrome):

  1. Add the bookmarklet webpage as a bookmark, either by clicking the star in the address bar, via the bookmarks menu, or going to the three dots menu -> Bookmarks -> Bookmark this tab.
  2. Right click on the bookmarklet button and choose "Copy link". This will copy the bookmarklet code to the clipboard.
  3. Right click on the bookmark you created in step 1, either through the bookmarks toolbar or by bringing up the bookmarks manager with: three dots menu -> Bookmarks -> Bookmark manager. Choose "edit"
  4. Paste in the bookmarklet "link" (actually code) that you copied in step 2. If you like, you can also change the title of the bookmark. Then click save.
  5. The bookmarklet should now be correctly installed!

Usage

  1. When you're on a webpage you wish you use a bookmarklet on, click the bookmark in your bookmarks menu. Note: Make sure you've selected any text to be used with the bookmarklet first.
  2. The bookmarklet will run!

Mobile Browsers

Installation

The easiest way to install a bookmarklet on a mobile browser is to synchronise it from your desktop browser to your mobile browser.

If you need to install it directly from your device:

  1. If the bookmarklet provides its source code in a textbox, select all of the text in the textbox. (If it doesn't, you'll have to try synchronising your bookmarklet from a desktop browser.)
  2. Create a new bookmark on your device (it can go anywhere - try bookmarking the bookmarklet's page!)
  3. Edit the bookmark and paste the copied text into the URL field of your new bookmark. It should begin with javascript:

Usage

When on the page you wish to run the bookmarklet:

Option 1 (Mobile Safari): Open the bookmarks dialogue of your browser via the icon and tap on the bookmark.

Options 2 (Firefox, Chrome): Tap in the address bar and start typing the name of the bookmarklet you wish to run, then tap on it once it appears in the suggestions below the address bar.