The Firefox extension Wired-Marker adds text highlighting capabilities to the web browser. The tool becomes available via the context menu and the Tools menu after installation.

A total of eight different markers are available by default with the option to create additional markers easily. Each marker is represented by its own distinct color and a main folder, useful for working on different projects.

Text is highlighted by a right-click and the selection of one of the available markers. The markers can be renamed for easier recognition.

The add-on saves the highlighted text automatically and will display it every time the page is opened in the web browser.

Previously highlighted text is also available in the sidebar. All textual information that have been highlighted are recorded and available by clicking on a marker and selecting the properties of an item. That’s helpful considering that the notes remain stored in the browser even if the page they have been highlighted on gets deleted.

A double-click on a previously saved item will open the web page at the beginning of the highlighted text. This can be used to bookmark specific positions on web pages.

highlight text

Another interesting observation is the fact that the extension displays a highlight-bar at the right side of the screen that can be used to jump to highlighted areas of that page.

highlight

The add-on comes with a search form to search the text that has been highlighted. Other options are to access text sorted by date it was highlighted or by project folder if those have been created.

The options of Wired-Marker contain additional settings that include how images should be handled, and if text should be merged with previously highlighted text. There is also an export option to txt and HTML files.

Wired Marker is a useful application for researchers and other users who work with text on a daily basis. The add-on is compatible with Firefox 3.6 and available at the Mozilla add-on repository.

The information are stored in a local databases which can be moved to different computers without problems. The add-on for Firefox is highly customizable. It is possible to create additional databases and manage pretty much everything.

Two features make Wired-Marker stick out a little bit from similar add-ons like Yawas. A scrollbar can be displayed that lets the user quick-jump between marked text snippets. That comes in very handy when reading large texts. The default colors and names can be changed as well. Instead of using Color1, Color2, Color3 you could change them to Important, Source and Critical or whatever you like.

The main use for Wired Marker is in my opinion research. It really only makes sense to use it on large texts, essays for instance.