Install Greasemonkey Scripts In Internet Explorer

Martin Brinkmann
Nov 16, 2008
Updated • Dec 9, 2012
Internet Explorer
|
11

Greasemonkey is a browser extension for Mozilla Firefox which can run so called userscripts that can change elements and information on websites in real-time. Some prime examples include link checkers, removing elements on a website or embedding price comparison information on shopping pages.

Since then Greasemonkey has been expanded and - at least - been partially supported by other browsers such as Greasemonkey Opera or Google Chrome Greasemonkey.

Microsoft's Internet Explorer on the other hand has seen some efforts in the past to include Greasemonkey support but most tries (Greasemonkey for IE, IE7 PRO..) fell short of delivering compatibility with the vast resources that the Greasemonkey repository at Userscripts.org offered.

The Internet Explorer plugin that came closest to supporting userscripts was Trixie. Trixie has not been updated in the last three years but it still works surprisingly well. There are however a few restrictions in place that make some scripts incompatible with Internet Explorer; This unfortunately means a trial and error approach to test if a script is working.

The only reliable method would be to install the script and see if it does what it says. Trixie requires the Microsoft .net Framework. It adds an entry in the Tools menu of Internet Explorer after installation which can be used to activate and deactivate scripts.

Scripts have to be downloaded and moved into the Trixie home directory on the hard drive. All scripts need to be placed in the scripts subdirectory of Trixie. Internet Explorer has to be restarted before the newly added script will be displayed in the Tools menu.

Update: Trixie is no longer available, the website where it was offered on has been removed and is now returning a server not found error message. Even worse, I'm not aware of any comparable solution for Microsoft's Internet Explorer. If you want to use userscripts, your best bet is to use a browser such as Opera, Firefox or Google Chrome.

Advertisement

Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. VitAl2013 said on August 4, 2012 at 12:38 pm
    Reply

    It’s not work for my scripts.

    I use jquery, but even if I add jquery inside my script – it’s not work.

    Also this plugin have no any mechanism for understand is your script work in this period of time or not.

  2. jason404 said on November 23, 2010 at 2:33 pm
    Reply

    Is there still no updating program to use Greasmonkey in IE?

    I’m using the IE9 beta, but I cannot find anything more up to date than the three tools mentioned on your post.

    1. Clarkey said on January 6, 2012 at 9:52 pm
      Reply

      Hi,

      I’m experiencing the same problem – using IE9 now but Trixie won’t work.. real annoying as I have created a set of tools for my team, and others, at work so it creates a sort of overlay menu to give the user extra options (for example ‘quick css’ which enables us to view a file on the server but use the local versions of the css files, and to refresh the css files without reloading the page) – unfortunately we have just started supporting IE9 but it’s the 1 browser we cannot use the script in :(

      Have you found another way to use user scripts in IE9 since your post in 2010? If so please let me know what it is.

      Regards,
      Clarkey

  3. Joshua Issac said on August 29, 2009 at 2:17 am
    Reply

    You do not have to restart Internet Explorer to use newly added scripts. Open Tools>Trixie Options, and click “Reload Scripts”.

  4. Joshua Issac said on November 24, 2008 at 11:24 pm
    Reply

    Thank you for the information.

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.