[opensuse] Stupid Google Redirect URL Utility

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Randall R Schulz

8 Jun 2009 8 Jun '09

22:37

Hi, I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages. So I wrote a couple scripts to ease the process a bit. The basic script and the pair as a whole are named for an initialism for Stupid Google Redirect URL: SGRU (which you should feel free to pronounce as "screw"). - sgru [stupid-Google-Redirect-URL] Convert a SGRU to a real URL. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used. - sgruget [stupid-Google-Reirect-URL] Retrieve a the contents of a SGRU using wget. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used. - klip Manipulate the Klipboard from the command line For me, the most common use is to copy-link one of these URLs switch to a shell and run either sgru (if I need the URL) or sgruget (if I want to download). One thing to keep in mind is that wget preserves the modification time returned by the server while simply saving a URL from Firefox does not. So if you're used to seeing newly downloaded files at the top of a time-ordered directory listing, this may surprise you. Although I haven't done it yet, I think assigning a global keyboard accelerator to the default (no-argument) "sgru" invocation would be useful, especially if you like to copy URLs from Google search results pages often. Randall Schulz

Attachments:

klip.sh (application/x-shellscript — 373 bytes)
sgru.sh (application/x-shellscript — 260 bytes)
sgruget.sh (application/x-shellscript — 127 bytes)

Show replies by date

Dan Goodman

8 Jun 8 Jun

23:14

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

So I wrote a couple scripts to ease the process a bit. <snip> ... Thanks for the scripts.

IF I continue using Google, they will come in handy. But what is Google thinking, making their tool slower and dumbed-down, at a time when they are both experiencing network slowdowns, and their biggest would-be competitor is introducing a competitive product (assuming Bing can compete)? (And this is "do no evil" because why? And what else is Google doing with code to try to track me, above and beyond what I am willing to search for on its browser, if it feels that it must not only find out what I searched for, but then connect to it only through them? In short, it MAKES me want to look for an alternative...feels like an attempt to retrofit more data capture on top of "free search".) I accepted the loss of full Boolean search, such as AltaVista once offered, mostly because I could find no other option to do so. And I came to use and like Google, for a variety of reasons, including no viable alternative for what I was losing. But with this, I have an option, and an incentive, to try to do something else. And I have to imagine that a lot of other people who don't want to wait for the added connect time, will also want a bypass option. Should be a piece of PC Mag freeware in about a New York minute. What would be really nice would be a way to connect this up to just open a tab or window using the data extracted by these scripts, rather than stopping at presenting the bare bones URL (although this alone would be a big help, going forward.) Any idea if this would be a feasible extension? Dan G. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

23:36

On Monday June 8 2009, Dan Goodman wrote:

...

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

So I wrote a couple scripts to ease the process a bit. <snip> ...

Thanks for the scripts.

IF I continue using Google, they will come in handy.

...

What would be really nice would be a way to connect this up to just open a tab or window using the data extracted by these scripts, rather than stopping at presenting the bare bones URL (although this alone would be a big help, going forward.)

If you bind sgruget to a global shortcut then you can simply right-click, Copy Link Location and press the <sgruget> key. If you want to open the link in a tab or window, the browser still does that even with SGRUs. If you want to visit links without giving Google feedback about which of the hits you chose, you can use a script (I have one that I use frequently for opening tabs from the command line, but it would need to have a --sgru option added) and bind that script to a shortcut key. Then accessing a URL from a Google search results page in a tab without feedback to Google would be achieved by copying the link and hitting the accelerator key.

...

Any idea if this would be a feasible extension?

I have little doubt a browser extension could do it without all the gyrations outlined above, but that's really just a guess and I've never written a browser extension—for any browser.

...

Dan G.

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Peter Van Lone

23:36

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:14 PM, Dan Goodman wrote:

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Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

I am not sure what you are talking about. Using both FF and Chrome on the windows box I sit in front of at the moment, I can copy the target url of a found google search item. If I try to copy the topmost link itself, I see what you mean: it copies essentially the google find. However, at the bottom of the item listing the actual URL target is printed clearly and can be copied. Since it is not a link, I cannot "save as" but I can easily copy and paste to go straight there. I'll try it with my SLED 11 box when I get home .... Peter -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

23:45

On Monday June 8 2009, Peter Van Lone wrote:

...

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:14 PM, Dan Goodman wrote:

...
Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

I am not sure what you are talking about. Using both FF and Chrome on the windows box I sit in front of at the moment, I can copy the target url of a found google search item. If I try to copy the topmost link itself, I see what you mean: it copies essentially the google find.

That's what I'm talking about.

...

However, at the bottom of the item listing the actual URL target is printed clearly and can be copied. Since it is not a link, I cannot "save as" but I can easily copy and paste to go straight there.

Those don't even include the http:// prefix.

...

I'll try it with my SLED 11 box when I get home ....

Peter

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Felix Miata

23:58

On 2009/06/08 16:45 (GMT-0700) Randall R Schulz composed:

...

On Monday June 8 2009, Peter Van Lone wrote:

...

...
However, at the bottom of the item listing the actual URL target is printed clearly and can be copied. Since it is not a link, I cannot "save as" but I can easily copy and paste to go straight there.

...

Those don't even include the http:// prefix.

After seeing your thread starter I did a Google search for Bing. I copied and pasted the first hit into a chat window. About 2/3 of the way into the complete paste is http://www.bing.com/. So I then copied it back into the Google input box, held the BS key down briefly, and cut the URL. It's clumsy compared to your scripts I guess, but it works on any system you sit down to, whether it has those scripts available or not. OTOH, I think this is good incentive to try Bing for a while. -- "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." Proverbs 23:5 NIV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dave Howorth

9 Jun 9 Jun

10:01

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Monday June 8 2009, Peter Van Lone wrote:

...
...
Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages. I am not sure what you are talking about. Using both FF and Chrome on

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:14 PM, Dan Goodman wrote: the windows box I sit in front of at the moment, I can copy the target url of a found google search item. If I try to copy the topmost link itself, I see what you mean: it copies essentially the google find.

That's what I'm talking about.

If I do a search and then put the mouse above the blue hyperlink for one of the results, Firefox shows the target in the status line. And if I right click and Copy Link Location it saves that target address. That's how I've always done it and it hasn't changed. If I highlight the blue text and right click and Copy, it saves the text that I've highlighted. Which is what I'd expect. If I look at the HTML source of the page that google returned I see an normal <a> element, consistent with what I describe above, no redirection. So I was still confused what you're discussing... Then I tried an experiment. I enabled Javascript for google and discovered all the nasties you're talking about. So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :) Cheers, Dave PS What google have done is evil, no question. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

12:44

On Tuesday Jue 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...

...

So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :)

I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web. What is the reason to want not to run software on your computer?

...

Cheers, Dave

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen

12:56

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday Jue 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

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...

So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :)

I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web.

What is the reason to want not to run software on your computer?

I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (19.7°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

13:09

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Per Jessen wrote:

...

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
On Tuesday Jue 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
...

So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :)

I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web.

...

I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Are you logged in to Google? Possibly Google is legally obligated to present its searches differently in Switzerland?

...

/Per

-- Per Jessen, Zürich (19.7°C)

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen

14:03

Randall R Schulz wrote:

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On Tuesday June 9 2009, Per Jessen wrote:

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I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Are you logged in to Google? Possibly Google is legally obligated to present its searches differently in Switzerland?

No, I'm not logged in. I don't know if there are special obligations for google.ch or for searches from a Swiss IP-address, but I doubt it. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (20.6°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Clayton

13:11

...

...
...
So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :)

I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web.

What is the reason to want not to run software on your computer?

I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Phew... so it's not just me too. I've tested this on Solaris with FF3, and openSUSE 11.1 with the latest FF3 as well... Java/JavaScript IS enabled... I do not use noscript... and nothing is any different with my Google search results using google.com or google.de... the links are the same as they have always been. I've even logged into my proxies and tried it via a UK IP and a US IP... and no changes... same as always. C. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

13:19

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Clayton wrote:

...

...
...
...
So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :)

I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web.

What is the reason to want not to run software on your computer?

I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Phew... so it's not just me too. I've tested this on Solaris with FF3, and openSUSE 11.1 with the latest FF3 as well... Java/JavaScript IS enabled... I do not use noscript... and nothing is any different with my Google search results using google.com or google.de... the links are the same as they have always been. I've even logged into my proxies and tried it via a UK IP and a US IP... and no changes... same as always.

When it started happening a couple of weeks ago, I did some searching (using Google, of course) and found that others had noticed and blogged about this change a bit. I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am. It is also not being used on Google Scholar, which is good for me 'cause I use that heavily.

...

C.

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Clayton

13:26

...

When it started happening a couple of weeks ago, I did some searching (using Google, of course) and found that others had noticed and blogged about this change a bit. I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

It is also not being used on Google Scholar, which is good for me 'cause I use that heavily.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior. A new feature turned on only for some users maybe? Google has done that in the past with new/experimental features... only some users get the feature until it's "debugged" and then rolled out to everyone. C. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dave Howorth

13:32

Clayton wrote:

...

...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior.

I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled. Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

13:38

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...

Clayton wrote:

...
...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior.

I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled.

You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right? If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL. It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with).

...

Cheers, Dave

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dave Howorth

13:44

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Clayton wrote:

...
...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am. I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior. I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled.

You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right? If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL. It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with).

Sorry, I don't understand the intent of your comment. But if it is related, I use View/Message Source to determine which page I'm getting. Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

13:54

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Clayton wrote:

...
...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior.

I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled.

You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right? If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL. It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with).

Sorry, I don't understand the intent of your comment. But if it is related, I use View/Message Source to determine which page I'm getting.

Then you're not going to see it (if you have JavaScript enabled and are logged in to Google). I just looked a the source for a Google search results page and you cannot find any of the result text (link titles or URLs) that appears in the rendered page. Apparently most of the page's DOM is synthesized by JavaScript code. Another interesting aspect of this is that if you just mouse over the search hit link, the address shown in the lower-left-hand corner of the browser is the correct link. But as soon as you mouse down (right or left) on that link it switches to the SGRU. You can see it happen in the link address feedback (at least on Firefox).

...

Cheers, Dave

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

14:01

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
...

I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled.

You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right? If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL. It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with).

Sorry, I don't understand the intent of your comment. But if it is related, I use View/Message Source to determine which page I'm getting.

Then you're not going to see it (if you have JavaScript enabled and are logged in to Google).

Oops. I meant to edit that out. Basically, if see HTML source that you can relate to what you see rendered in the browser, you're not encountering the phenomenon I am.

...

...

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dave Howorth

14:12

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Clayton wrote:

...
...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am. I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior. I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled. You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right? If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL. It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with). Sorry, I don't understand the intent of your comment. But if it is related, I use View/Message Source to determine which page I'm getting.

Then you're not going to see it (if you have JavaScript enabled and are logged in to Google).

Sorry, I'm still not understanding. What is 'it'? What I'm trying to determine is whether I get a page with normal <a> elements containing direct links to the target pages or not. Viewing the source does indeed show me the difference. I think we're talking at cross-purposes but I don't understand what you are trying to tell me. And yes, I already know everything that follows.

...

I just looked a the source for a Google search results page and you cannot find any of the result text (link titles or URLs) that appears in the rendered page. Apparently most of the page's DOM is synthesized by JavaScript code.

Another interesting aspect of this is that if you just mouse over the search hit link, the address shown in the lower-left-hand corner of the browser is the correct link. But as soon as you mouse down (right or left) on that link it switches to the SGRU. You can see it happen in the link address feedback (at least on Firefox).

If you use firebug, you will see that it is making web requests on mousedown events. But I am now capturing the correct URL when I Copy Link Location, even with Javascript enabled. My favourite hypothesis now is that the broken behaviour is a bug that they have now fixed and are part way through rolling out. I'd be interested to know what the source of the google page looks like for other people. Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

14:25

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...

...

Sorry, I'm still not understanding. What is 'it'? What I'm trying to determine is whether I get a page with normal <a> elements containing direct links to the target pages or not. Viewing the source does indeed show me the difference.

I think we're talking at cross-purposes but I don't understand what you are trying to tell me.

Did you follow the thread from the beginning? Here's an example: Search Google for some functional programming terminology: Search Terms: "Catamorphism Anamorphism Hylomorphism Paramorphism" Search URL resulting from submitting those search terms: http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=Catamorphism+Anamorphism+Hylomorphism+Paramorphism&btnG=Google+Search&fp=jdOYMfF-0fs First hit copied from browser window: -==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==- splonderzoek: Latest on the incremental fold and attributes Apr 12, 2009 ... As a learning experience, I implemented the catamorphism, anamorphism, hylomorphism, paramorphism, and zygomorphism for EMu . ... splonderzoek.blogspot.com/2009/04/latest-on-incremental-fold-and.html - Cached - Similar pages -==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==--==- URL displayed by browser when mousing over link of first hit before clicking: http://splonderzoek.blogspot.com/2009/04/latest-on-incremental-fold-and.html URL in clipboard (and browser URL feedback area) after using browsers' Copy Link Location on that link: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2Fsplonderzoek.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Flatest-on-incremental-fold-and.html&ei=a28uSq2GKJ30tAOg34mwCg&rct=j&q=Catamorphism+Anamorphism+Hylomorphism+Paramorphism&usg=AFQjCNFtCb0gtAYCKDT5hVs3pHbK5Vn7lQ Does that clarify the situation? I wrote the sgru scripts to turn that last monstrosity (the SGRU) into the actual URL of the hit. Can you blame me? Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

David Bolt

19:53

On Tue, 9 Jun 2009, Randall R Schulz wrote:-

...

Here's an example:

Search Google for some functional programming terminology:

Search Terms: "Catamorphism Anamorphism Hylomorphism Paramorphism"

Search URL resulting from submitting those search terms:

<http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=Catamorphism+Anamorphism+Hylomorphi sm+Paramorphism&btnG=Google+Search&fp=jdOYMfF-0fs>

...

From here I get a similar link, but pointing to google.co.uk.

...

First hit copied from browser window:

<Snip>

...

URL displayed by browser when mousing over link of first hit before clicking:

<http://splonderzoek.blogspot.com/2009/04/latest-on-incremental- fold-and.html>

That's what I see as well.

...

URL in clipboard (and browser URL feedback area) after using browsers' Copy Link Location on that link:

<http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&ct=res&cd=1&url=http%3A%2F%2 Fsplonderzoek.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F04%2Flatest-on-incremental-fold- and.html&ei=a28uSq2GKJ30tAOg34mwCg&rct=j&q=Catamorphism+Anamorphism+Hyl omorphism+Paramorphism&usg=AFQjCNFtCb0gtAYCKDT5hVs3pHbK5Vn7lQ>

Now this is different. With the .co.uk site I get the same link in the clipboard as was originally shown in the results, rather than this monstrosity. However, repeating the same steps using google.com results in the above link being copied into the clipboard. It looks like the change is made as soon as a mouse button is clicked. Regards, David Bolt -- Team Acorn: http://www.distributed.net/ OGR-NG @ ~100Mnodes RC5-72 @ ~1Mkeys/s openSUSE 10.3 32b | openSUSE 11.0 32b | | openSUSE 10.3 64b | openSUSE 11.0 64b | openSUSE 11.1 64b | RISC OS 3.6 | RISC OS 3.11 | openSUSE 11.1 PPC | TOS 4.02 -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen

14:02

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
Clayton wrote:

...
...
I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior.

I was logged in. I now 'signed out' but still get the evil page if javascript is enabled.

You do realize that it's only the URL that you get if you Copy Link Location or Save Link As.., right?

I didn't at first, but I've just double checked - the URL that I paste afterwards is the same as what I see when the mouse hovers over it.

...

If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search hit URL.

That's definitely not what is happening here. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (20.5°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dan Goodman

14:32

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

... If you just click the search result, the net result is to redirect back through Google to the actual search It's basically transparent to the browser user for simple link clicks and allows Google to get feedback on search quality (something I have no problem with).

But which I, and I'm sure others do, especially when/if uninvited; unannounced; and it slows me down. If I am in fact in a Google "guinea pig" pool, fine. Think I'll try Bing for a week or two... ;-) just for ... I do like Google, for the most part, but I find this shenanigan annoying. Often when/if asked, I allow info to be sent for debugging/QC purposes. Until such time as it gets noticeably in my face...and right now, it is anything but transparent. --Dan G. -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

13:33

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Clayton wrote:

...

...
When it started happening a couple of weeks ago, I did some searching (using Google, of course) and found that others had noticed and blogged about this change a bit. I believe one of them mentioned that it only applied to users logged in to Google itself, which I am.

It is also not being used on Google Scholar, which is good for me 'cause I use that heavily.

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior. A new feature turned on only for some users maybe? Google has done that in the past with new/experimental features... only some users get the feature until it's "debugged" and then rolled out to everyone.

This is true. We used to do this (and I assume they still do) at Amazon. There was a whole infrastructure for this sort of experiment. The manager could could choose what percentage of the users would be part of the experiment.

...

C.

Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Felix Miata

13:56

On 2009/06/09 15:26 (GMT+0200) Clayton composed:

...

I am logged into Google... I still cannot find a way to duplicate this new behavior.

Yesterday I was able to experience the new behavior Randall reported. Today I cannot. Using SeaMonkey, I'm still logged in from before his report. -- "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle." Proverbs 23:5 NIV Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 Felix Miata *** http://fm.no-ip.com/ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Dave Howorth

13:19

Per Jessen wrote:

...

Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
On Tuesday Jue 9 2009, Dave Howorth wrote:

...
...

So I don't think I'll need *more* scripts. I think I'll just go back to having *noscript* :) I suppose that's a solution for some, but I cannot use an inert Web.

What is the reason to want not to run software on your computer?

I do like to run software on my computer :) But I prefer to run software that I installed or otherwise chose to trust. I prefer not to run whatever some unknown person wants to throw at me. I find most uses of Javascript are completely unnecessary. It seems to be a 'me-too' fashion among presumably bored web designers.

...

I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Which google search are you running? It could be that different searches and/or particular hosts in their cloud may be running different software. I get traditional behaviour when I run linux searches. Cheers, Dave -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Per Jessen

13:58

Dave Howorth wrote:

...

Per Jessen wrote:

...
I haven't disabled javascript in my browser, but I get the same behaviour that Dave describes. I.e. the links are fine.

Which google search are you running? It could be that different searches and/or particular hosts in their cloud may be running different software. I get traditional behaviour when I run linux searches.

I just googled "dielsdorf". But over google.ch. /Per -- Per Jessen, Zürich (20.5°C) -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Peter Van Lone

11:34

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:45 PM, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

...
However, at the bottom of the item listing the actual URL target is printed clearly and can be copied. Since it is not a link, I cannot "save as" but I can easily copy and paste to go straight there.

Those don't even include the http:// prefix.

LOL! And that bothers you, why? This just seems hilarious to me ... Google's big evil plan requires that you slightly modify your behavior in order to not participate in the evil plan, but you would rather fuss with writing scripts and getting huffy than ... just ... copy the text at the bottom of the search result? Oy ... -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

12:46

On Tuesday June 9 2009, Peter Van Lone wrote:

...

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 6:45 PM, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...
...
However, at the bottom of the item listing the actual URL target is printed clearly and can be copied. Since it is not a link, I cannot "save as" but I can easily copy and paste to go straight there.

Those don't even include the http:// prefix.

LOL! And that bothers you, why?

Because no program can use such a fragment of a URL to access it.

...

This just seems hilarious to me ... Google's big evil plan requires that you slightly modify your behavior in order to not participate in the evil plan, but you would rather fuss with writing scripts and getting huffy than ... just ... copy the text at the bottom of the search result?

I said nothing about anyone being evil. I don't personally care if Google keeps track of which of the hits they produce I actually use, it's just the way they're now doing it that gets in my way. It's very inconvenient not to be able to readily access the actual URLs of the search hits the produce.

...

Oy ...

Meaning what? Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Ted Markowitz

14:23

Randall, WRT the Firefox extension you suggested: I think there might be something like what you're thinking of already. I use Greasemonkey (https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/748), which is a Javascript re-writer, and along with it one of the scripts from http://userscripts.org, i.e., something called "GoogleMonkeyR" (http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/9310). Among other things it does like multi-column layout of the search results, etc., it also adds a "Trackless" link to each of the search results with all the Google-cruft removed from the URL. //ted Randall R Schulz wrote the following on 06/08/2009 06:37 PM:

...

Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

So I wrote a couple scripts to ease the process a bit. The basic script and the pair as a whole are named for an initialism for Stupid Google Redirect URL: SGRU (which you should feel free to pronounce as "screw").

- sgru [stupid-Google-Redirect-URL] Convert a SGRU to a real URL. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used.

- sgruget [stupid-Google-Reirect-URL] Retrieve a the contents of a SGRU using wget. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used.

- klip Manipulate the Klipboard from the command line

For me, the most common use is to copy-link one of these URLs switch to a shell and run either sgru (if I need the URL) or sgruget (if I want to download).

One thing to keep in mind is that wget preserves the modification time returned by the server while simply saving a URL from Firefox does not. So if you're used to seeing newly downloaded files at the top of a time-ordered directory listing, this may surprise you.

Although I haven't done it yet, I think assigning a global keyboard accelerator to the default (no-argument) "sgru" invocation would be useful, especially if you like to copy URLs from Google search results pages often.

Randall Schulz

-- ------------------------------------------------------------------------ *TED MARKOWITZ* WWW: www.unh-ececs.net/tjm http://www.unh-ececs.net/tjm email: tmarkowitz@newhaven.edu phone: 1-203-984-6565 fax: 1-203-655-2400 *Dept. of Electrical & Computer Engineering and Computer Science Tagliatela School of Engineering University of New Haven West Haven, CT 06516 * -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

David Haller

21:06

Hello, On Mon, 08 Jun 2009, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

Uh? I get just simple links (using .com from Germany). Do you have JS actived / allowed for google?

...

- klip Manipulate the Klipboard from the command line

What if you don't have KDE with klipper running? ==== works with XFree86 3.3.6 and xorg 7.4 w/ ==== #!/bin/bash --norc -x # needs klipper running or xselection installed if test $# -lt 1 -o $# -gt 2 ; then echo "klip: Usage: $0 paste|get / copy|put [ <string> ]" >&2 exit 1 fi have_kde=$(dcop klipper >/dev/null 2>&1; echo $?;) if test $have_kde -eq 0; then get="dcop klipper klipper getClipboardContents" set="dcop klipper klipper setClipboardContents" else get="xselection PRIMARY" set="xselection PRIMARY --" fi case "$1" in paste | get) $get ;; copy | put | set) if test $# -eq 1 -o "$2" = "-" ; then $set "$(cat)" else $set "$2" fi ;; esac ==== HTH, -dnh -- When you say "I wrote a program that crashed Windows", people just stare at you blankly and say "Hey, I got those with the system, *for free*". -Linus Torvalds -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Matthias Titeux

11 Jun 11 Jun

10:29

Le Tuesday 09 June 2009 00:37:51 Randall R Schulz, vous avez écrit :

...

Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

So I wrote a couple scripts to ease the process a bit. The basic script and the pair as a whole are named for an initialism for Stupid Google Redirect URL: SGRU (which you should feel free to pronounce as "screw").

- sgru [stupid-Google-Redirect-URL] Convert a SGRU to a real URL. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used.

- sgruget [stupid-Google-Reirect-URL] Retrieve a the contents of a SGRU using wget. If no command-line parameter is given, the contents of the Klipboard is used.

- klip Manipulate the Klipboard from the command line

For me, the most common use is to copy-link one of these URLs switch to a shell and run either sgru (if I need the URL) or sgruget (if I want to download).

One thing to keep in mind is that wget preserves the modification time returned by the server while simply saving a URL from Firefox does not. So if you're used to seeing newly downloaded files at the top of a time-ordered directory listing, this may surprise you.

Although I haven't done it yet, I think assigning a global keyboard accelerator to the default (no-argument) "sgru" invocation would be useful, especially if you like to copy URLs from Google search results pages often.

Randall Schulz

I presume that your are using www.google.com. What is weird is that this new google behaviour is not (yet ?) implemented in other google sites (tested www.google.fr; www.google.co.uk; www.google.nl; www.google.es). I assume that unfortunately it will change in few days....or is a US specific feature ? Cheers -- / \ /_!_\ My e-mail address has just changed. Please note the new one : matthias.titeux@inserm.fr _____________________________________________________________ Matthias Titeux, PhD Département de génétique des maladies cutanées et allergiques dans des modèles animaux et chez l'homme. INSERM U563 - CPTP Pavillon Lefebvre, 5ème étage CHU Purpan BP3028 31024 Toulouse cedex 03 __________________________________________________________ -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

12:56

On Thursday June 11 2009, Matthias Titeux wrote:

...

...

I presume that your are using www.google.com. What is weird is that this new google behaviour is not (yet ?) implemented in other google sites (tested www.google.fr; www.google.co.uk; www.google.nl; www.google.es).

I assume that unfortunately it will change in few days....or is a US specific feature ?

Cheers

It clearly is not global to all Google's search services or all its regional or national operations outside the U.S. It may be experimental and deployed only to a fraction of its users (of certain services) or something else. It's still happening for me, though. Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

Randall R Schulz

19:25

New subject: [opensuse] Re: Stupid Google Redirect URL Utility

On Monday June 8 2009, Randall R Schulz wrote:

...

Hi,

I am most peeved by Google's recent change that make it impossible to copy URLs or Save Link As... from the search results pages.

...

For those still interested in this aracana: - "Google Search Prepares for Switching to Ajax" http://googlesystem.blogspot.com/2009/04/google-search-prepares-for-switchin... Randall Schulz -- To unsubscribe, e-mail: opensuse+unsubscribe@opensuse.org For additional commands, e-mail: opensuse+help@opensuse.org

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participants (11)

Clayton
Dan Goodman
Dave Howorth
David Bolt
David Haller
Felix Miata
Matthias Titeux
Per Jessen
Peter Van Lone
Randall R Schulz
Ted Markowitz