Hi,

my question is how do you edit what is written at the bottom of a broswer (changes when you hover over a hyperlink). Picture for better idea. E.g When a form uploading a file, change it to "file uploading"...etc.

Thanks,

Hayley

In IE <=6 and firefox, you can do that with a bit of javascript

<script type="text/javascript">
window.status="wathever you want"
</script>

<a href="link.htm" onmouseover="javascript:window.status='hidden!';" onmouseout="javascript:window.status='';">a link</a>

However, as far as I know, this isn't possible anymore with IE7.

It always annoyed me when site owners messed with my status bar.

You can do it with IE 7 - just few people will ever see the status bar b/c it's turned off by default. I've turned it on b/c I like to be able to preview a link target before clicking on it (yes, I know people can fake it, but most don't).

Now, it's becoming common for sites to add their own status bar at the bottom by using a fixed-position div. This is especially true on Ajax sites where changes may not always be noticeable. An example is QuickBooks' online system and Scriptaculous' (e.g. http://wiki.script.aculo.us/scriptaculous/show/Usage ).

Messing with my status bar is one of the easiest ways to get me to leave and never come back. It serves no useful purpose.

What's inside the window you can do what you want with. If you mess with anything outside the window you've lost me as a visitor forever.

I personnaly use it only when debugging javascript.

That allows me to see logged message without using a alert() popup which is pretty disruptive.

Apart from that, I don't see it a so big deal that having the status bar text changed, and if you don't want it, use firefox and tell it you don't want to allow web site to change the status bar text.

Simple as that...

Debugging javascript is a reasonable use and I do use Firefox so I can block a site from changing the status bar.

For me it's a trust issue with the site. I see certain parts of my browser as off limits. For example sites that change the size of the browser as I have it open. I see things inside the window as a space sites can change and do what they want. When it crosses over to things like the status bar or bookmarks or anything outside the window it makes me wonder what else that site might want to change on my computer. And that removes trust for me.

I don't really see what's gained by adding your own message to the status bar, but I do know you will lose people like me if you change it. I also know there are other people who feel similar to the way I do.

My thoughts are why change the status bar when the potential loss far outweighs the limited gain.

@Tripy for debugging javascript you SHOULD use firebug
there is no tool like this, I insist you should try it

messages on the status bar are passe nowadays, only for that, one ought to leave the site and never come back (and maybe go find where vangogh is hanging out and chat a little )

I'm always up for a good chat.

Firebug is a cool extension and worth installing if you use Firefox for development. And if you aren't using Firefox for development you should be.

@Tripy for debugging javascript you SHOULD use firebug

And when you have to debug safari, opera, ie6 and ie7, how do you do ?

I was unaware Firefox prevented the status bar text from being changed. Personally I thought it was useless to do so in IE anyway.

@Tripy, I hope that when you DO debug your application it works in all modern browsers, but I could be wrong (I am guilty of not even testing on browsers others than IE, FF, OPERA)

To be correct, I don't develop, I'm porting an 5 years old application to modern technics.

And for that, I often need to debug what is existing to know what it does, before re-implementing it in a correct dom programming.

And no, it would not be easier to develop it from scratch....
Don't ask. I wish it could..