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Mozilla Firefox - Plugins and Extensions

Shorten an URL for Social Networks with Goo.Gl

SUMMARY: Click the Goo.Gl Lite button to place a shortened URL in the clipboard for distribution.

When telling friends, coworkers, and family about web pages to visit via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, or other social networks / mediums, URL shortening services have become common. This way instead of having someone copy or retype a very long URL, they can instead enter a much shorter web address.

Google has gotten into the act with their very own shortener, goo.gl. For added convenience, Mozilla Firefox users can install the "goo.gl lite" add-on. This makes available a toolbar button that, when clicked, contacts this service and places a shortened URL in the clipboard for distribution.

1. Visit the following page from within Firefox:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/55308

2. Click the "Add to Firefox" button.

3. The "Software Installation" dialog box will eventually appear. Click "Install Now" as soon as the button is enabled.



Installing the goo.gl lite add-on



4. Once the add-on has installed, click the "Restart Firefox" button. Depending on your configuration, Firefox may note that it will try to restart your windows and tabs.

5. Next, add the button to your toolbar.


6. Select the "View" menu.

7. Select "Toolbars", then "Customize".


8. The "Customize Toolbar" dialog box appears. Drag the Goo.gl toolbar button to the Firefox toolbar.

9. Close the "Customize Toolbar" dialog box.


Now, once you have visited a web page with an URL you wish to distribute, click the Goo.gl button. The URL will appear in your clipboard, and a notice of this will appear directly below the Address Bar.



Goo.gl Lite notifying you of an URL copied to the clipboard



This tip was written regarding Mozilla Firefox v3.6 and goo.gl lite v1.3. Screenshots, instructions, and features for other versions may vary.

Return to the Mozilla Firefox - Plugins and Extensions page.

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The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides information and links to public-domain, open source, freeware, shareware, and commercial software available for download. < more >