How do you detect the toolbar?

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How do you detect the toolbar?

Brett_Tabke

5:27 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

There was a snippet of js running around that allowed one to detect various toolbars. Anyone know where that was at?

amznVibe

5:31 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

did that work by examining the extra code added to the refer? or is it an activex check?

Brett_Tabke

5:33 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

Here is what I found in my notes, but it doesn't work.

<b>Google Toolbar installed</b>? <tt> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript"> </script> </tt>

Brett_Tabke

5:34 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

grrr - found the site:

[gemal.dk...]

amznVibe

5:55 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

for the library, its as "simple" as this to detect the Google Toolbar

note that this only works if the client is not blocking active-x,
however the Google Toolbar can be installed and working fine even with active-x blocked

amznVibe

6:08 am on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

am I imagining things or can I actually cause your
toolbar PR display to turn off by adding this to a webpage?

I thought this was fixed after 1.1.58? or is it because my page is running locally?

using a timed-closing pop-under, a site could mess with you

Brett_Tabke

1:27 pm on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

When I try it, I get:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Google Toolbar Already Present
The Google Toolbar is already installed on your system. We appreciate your enthusiasm!
Where is it?
The Google Toolbar should appear as a toolbar in your browser window (look for the Google logo on the left hand side). If it is not there, try the following:
Make sure it isn't tucked over to the right on the same line as another toolbar at the top of your browser window.
Go to View > Toolbars and make sure the Google option is checked.
Note: Older versions of Internet Explorer call all their add-on toolbars "Radio". So if you see two 'Radio' options, click on the second one. If you have this problem, you may want to update your version of Internet Explorer. Either way, the toolbar will work properly.
Consult our FAQ.
Try restarting Internet Explorer.

�2002 Google

amznVibe

1:56 pm on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

yes you get the text, but open a new copy of IE and then look for the PageRank bar, its gone, turned off

if the window isn't closing, just increase the timeout another second or two

okay, simple demonstration version:
PR off [toolbar.google.com...]
PR on [toolbar.google.com...]

my point is, any website can do this to you, its not just a local control

JonB

10:06 pm on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

i have toolbar and ie6 and [gemal.dk...]

said that no toolbar instaled or it cant find it .

Brett_Tabke

10:12 pm on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

yes, it appears that the js does not work with later versions of the tb.

Key_Master

10:15 pm on Jan 8, 2003 (gmt 0)

Google has changed the classid. The above looks new and might work.

You can always find the current classid by clicking on:

Tools> Internet Options> Settings> View Objects

You can also remove the toolbar from your system manually from there assuming it is unable to remove itself.

Key_Master

2:24 am on Jan 9, 2003 (gmt 0)

I did a little more digging into this and came up with a solution. I used the classid buried in the GoogleToolbar.dll file. This script will detect a toolbar using the newer classid but can't give the version.

<html>
<head>
<title>Google Toolbar Detection</title>
<object id="detection" classid="clsid:00EF2092-6AC5-47c0-BD25-CF2D5D657FEB"></object>
</head>
<body>
<script language="javascript" type="text/javascript">
if (typeof(detection.Search)!= "undefined") {
document.write("Google Toolbar Installed");
}
else {
document.write("Google Toolbar Not Installed");
}
</script>
</body>
</html>

amznVibe

2:46 am on Jan 9, 2003 (gmt 0)

I am running 1.1.66 of the toolbar (what's the newest?) and the old activex id works to detect version for me as long as my firewall/filter is down (normally I have it stop activex)

I wonder what version changed the id, and can both id's be used? I guess try the first, if it fails try the 2nd then give up.

Good work on finding the new id, can I ask what you used to discover that? -aV-

Key_Master

3:19 am on Jan 9, 2003 (gmt 0)

Good work on finding the new id, can I ask what you used to discover that?

Good 'ole TextPad. :)

Brett_Tabke

6:37 pm on Jan 9, 2003 (gmt 0)

Thanks KM.

That's pretty amazing that you can turn off the pr from the page.

amznVibe

11:59 am on Jan 10, 2003 (gmt 0)

That's pretty amazing that you can turn off the pr from the page

aha! so I wasn't imagining things... I've already alerted the google toolbar people but no reply from them in 3 days :(

Brett_Tabke

8:33 pm on Jan 10, 2003 (gmt 0)

It's probably marked as a security concern and like most software companies, they don't comment or reply to security feedback or notices - they just fix the problem as soon as is warranted.