Can gedit open links in a Web browser by clicking on it?

Question

I'm looking for a keyboard shortcut to quickly open links in a text file with a Web browser. Is there a trick or a plugin out there?

Accommodative

There probabliy isn't, but it's pretty easy to write your own plugin if you know python. You could for example start from the select word function of line_tools.py in this toolbox. Just edit if not re.match("\w", char) so it selects a url and get your browser to open it. – Angelicaangelico

Answer 1

You can do this with the External Tools Plugin that ships with Gedit. Select Tools > Manage External Tools. Create a new tool by clicking the little + icon in the lower-left and name it "Open Link" (or whatever you want). Use the following code within the Edit box (assuming you're using Firefox):

#!/bin/sh
xargs -I '{}' firefox '{}'

Then specify your shortcut key and make sure the Input is set to Current word. You can now open a link if the cursor is anywhere in the word (the URL) by choosing Tools > External Tools > Open Link or using your keyboard shortcut.

Gossamer

Answer 2

I use Jean-Philippe's Open URI Context Menu plugin. It doesnt have a shortcut key but uses a simple right-click to open the link.

Just upgraded to Gedit 2.8 and version 2 of this plugin is way faster now.

Pipestone

Answer 3

Modern versions of gedit have the appropriate plugin built-in. Simply go to ☰ → Preferences → Plugins and enable "Open Links".

You can then right-click any link and a new context menu entry "Open Link" will be at the very top.

Benison