Gizmos
A Gizmo provides a means of adding functionality to GMS WebMail by interfacing with external data sources. This is more commonly known as mashup technology. A mashup is a small web application that allows the combination of data from more than one source into a single integrated tool.
Gizmos are based on the "greasemonkey" approach - greasemonkey is an add on for
the Mozilla Firefox web browser that allows users to install scripts that modify
web pages on the fly.
By utilising this approach, it means that many of the freely available scripts already written for Greasemonkey and Firefox can be easily adapted to integrate with GMS WebMail.
For a directory of scripts that you could potentially modify for use with WebMail in your environment, see Userscripts.org (opens in a new window).
Full instructions on writing Gizmos, including the available functions, are available in the Gizmos section of the GMS Reference Guide.
From version 15.02 build 3689, support for jQuery is also included to further enhance Gizmo capabilities.
As a starting point we have provided a number of Gizmos within GMS
WebMail, further examples are available within the GMS Accessory Pack.
These examples have been designed to show what can be achieved
using Gizmo technology.
If you need help writing a Gizmo, join the Gizmo mailing list, and ask your question there. You can join the mailing list from our User Groups page.
If you create a Gizmo you would like to share, why not email suggest@gordano.com, and we will make the Gizmo available to other users through the Gizmo Gallery.
The current list of Gizmos includes some which are included in the product by default, the remainder of those listed below are in the GMS Accessory Pack
In the Gizmo gallery below, you can see what options are available to you,
and what effect each of these has when enabled. As the source of all of these
Gizmos is included, you can amend, modify or enhance these in any way you need to!
Gizmo Gallery
Firefox 3 MailTo
When enabled, Firefox 3 users will be able to click on any MailTo link in a website and launch a compose window in GMS WebMail.
Mouse Gestures
When enabled, users can perform mouse gestures to navigate through messages in their mailbox or perform actions on a selected message.
The default actions are:
- Up - moves up a message in the mailbox.
- Down - moves down a message in the mailbox.
- Right - replies to the currently selected message.
- Left - deletes the currently selected message.
Dictionary
When enabled, the Dictionary gizmo adds a button to the menu, which allows you to look up a highlighted word in a message in a dictionary. The dictionary can be specified by editing the Gizmo javascript file.
Whitelist
When enabled, the whitelist button only appears when the Quarantine folder is selected - it takes the currently selected message and moves it to the Inbox, and adds the sender's email address to the whitelist address book, so that future emails from this sender are not caught by anti-spam filters.
Google Translate
updated for v15.01The Google Transalate Gizmo adds a button to the menu that translates the currently selected email from whatever language it was written in, into the language of the logged in user.
The only limitations are the languages supported by the Google Translate API.
Mark Mail
The Mark Mail gizmo adds buttons to the menu that allow a user mark a message as read or unread in webmail. This functionality is common in desktop mail clients.
Unread
The "Unread" gizmo is a user submitted modification of the Mark Mail gizmo that only allows a message to be marked as unread in webmail.
UK Postcodes
Where a UK postcode is shown in an address book entry, clicking on this Gizmo will show a map of the location via a mashup with Google Maps.
Archive
The Archive gizmo adds a button to the menu which will move a selected message or messages to a folder called "Archive".
Empty Folder
The Empty Folder Gizmo enables a menu button that only appears when either the Trash or Quarantine folders are selected - clicking the button will empty the folder of all mail, after asking the user to confirm they want to do so.
Hide Buttons
The Hide Buttons Gizmo adds a + and - button to the menu. These buttons can be clicked to remove (or re-add) buttons from the menu that aren't commonly used.
Skype
The Skype Gizmo detects a Skype contact address within an Address Book entry, and gives an option to start a Skype call or chat session.
PlayTagger
The PlayTagger Gizmo is a wrapper to a del.icio.us script which detects links to MP3 files and automatically embeds a flash MP3 player into the email body.
The script can be found on the PlayTagger home page (opens in a new window).
Video
The Video Gizmo detects links to video files hosted on a selection of popular video websites, and embeds a copy of the video directly into the email body.
Note:
the following Gizmos are supported only in build 3689 version 15.02 or later:
Implements the Twitter API allowing you to see posts from other Twitter users who you are following. It also allows you to post your own Twitter updates and to reply to return comments to others updates. Twitter commands can also be issued as part of you update. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to add a simple menu button
- How to add an item to the Tree
- How to add an item to the Panel
- How to enable Gizmo configuration screens
- How to integrate with an external API
RSS Reader
Implements an RSS Reader within the GMS interface. A configuration screen is included allowing you to subscribe to your chosen RSS Feeds. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to add a simple menu button
- How to add an item to the Tree
- How to add an item to the Panel
- How to enable Gizmo configuration screens
- How to integrate with multiple external sites using AJAX
Mimic
Allows sorting of the GMS tree in a similar manner to Outlook, i.e. it mimics Outlooks behavior. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to monitor the panel for changes
Break
Monitors usage patterns within WebMail and forces users to take a break, useful from a Health & Safety perspective. This is a good example of an Admin Gizmo, which the end user has no control over. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to monitor usage.
- How to extend WebMail functionality.
- How to enable an Admin Gizmo.
Compose Quiz
Interacts with the Send button when composing an email. If you try and send an email within the configured period you have to complete a short quiz before you the message will be sent, Uses can include preventing the sending of messages when you may not be fully alert, or can be used educationally for school pupils. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to monitor usage.
- How to extend WebMail functionality.
- How to use HTML Layers.
Compose
Displays/Hides features within the Compose window, such as the BCC and Attachments fields. There are two examples of this Gizmo, one using GreaseMonkey code and the other using jQuery code. This Gizmo demonstrates:
- How to extend GMS WebMail functionality.
- How to add/remove functionality from a window.