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Gmail Signatures (Getting Started)

You are probably viewing this page because you have just installed or upgraded this Firefox extension. If you still need to install the extension, please see the Install Guide.

What's New

• version 1.12.06(b) [firefox] - released February 26, 2010
  • Updated add-on description
  • Removed check Blank Canvas web site for updates 
  • Fixed bug: No preview update on address change

• version 1.12.6 [chrome] - released February 19, 2009
  • First version for Google Chrome
  • Only  has English language at the moment

• version 1.12.05b - released February 18, 2010
  
  • Massive improvement in signature insertion methods
  • Fixed bug in insertion of duplicate signatures when editing drafts
  • Better detection of insertion above / below quoted text
  • Empty signatures no longer insert extra line breaks
  • Added optional button to remove the signature from the current message

• version 1.12.04b - released February 18, 2010
  • New "beta" designation
  • Faster official Firefox add-on update for future versions

• version 1.12.04 - released February 15, 2010
  • Fixed error thrown in detection of edit signature box
  • Hash strings around signature are no longer displayed accidentally under some circumstances
  • Signature position now updates in current message when saving options
  • Re-implemented missing "Delete Signature" button when editing signature
  • Removed error alert when main element not found unless using JavaScript alert debug mode
  • Implemented fix for Gmail labs chat box on right

• version 1.12.03 - released February 12, 2010
  • Fixed html not showing up in edit box when loading previously saved signatures
  • Fixed inability to save signatures that resulted from jQuery isolation fix in v1.12.02
  • Fixed preview pane bug that resulted from jQuery isolation fix in v1.12.02

• version 1.12.02 - released February 12, 2009
  
  • Re-implemented the options window when looking at your list of add-ons. (was lost in v1.12.01)
  • Added debug mode setting to options window in add-on list
  • Added useful links tab to options window in add-on list
  • Resolved conflicts with other add-ons by sand-boxing jQuery within an iFrame

• version 1.12.01 - released February 12, 2009
  • Fixed install error in Firefox 3.6
  • Removed large alert error from com.BlamkCanvas.GmailAPI unless debug mode is set to JS alerts

• version 1.12.00 - released February 11, 2010
  • Reworked all code from scratch and made it much more manageable
  • Improved javascript isolation to better prevent conflicts
  • Implemented jQuery for faster coding and better scalability
  • Developed custom Gmail API to replace the official API broken by Google's last Gmail release
  • Greatly reduced dependancy of Gmail's Greasemonkey API (now only used for basic detection)
  • Fixed bug where signatures of different users would replace each other if both were using the add-on
  • Implemented new method of handling Gmail in multiple tabs and multiple accounts
  • Improved stability (for real this time)
  • Cleaned up signature preview area so that it no longer looks like an editable box
  • Cleaned up signature options section and added link to Facebook page
  • Re-implemented the reinsert button by request
  • Now only checks Blank Canvas web site for new version once every 24 hours instead of every time Firefox starts
  • Added option to disable checking the Blank Canvas web site for updates
  • Modified translation handling to use English strings instead of crashing if local translation not found
  • Updated base English translation template file
  • Updated donation interface

Getting Started

The Blank Canvas Gmail Signatures add-on does not have a traditional option screen. You will be able to see that it is working by going to your Gmail account, and clicking on "Compose Mail". On this page, you should now see a new section of signature tools as follows:

These signature tools will give you access to the features that the add-on has to offer. You can create a separate signature for each address you have set up, and up to four signatures for each address. If don't have any "send as" addresses set up, your Gmail address will be in place of the drop-down "From" selector that you see in the image above.

Creating a Signature

To create a signature for the currently selected address, click on the "Create Singature" button. This button will say "Edit Signature" if the address already has a signature. Clicking on this button will open the edit signature interface shown below. This consists of two boxes, the HTML signature code (top) and signature preview (bottom). The signature code box is where you actually create your signature, while the bottom box will show you what your signature will look like when you save it.

Enter your signature using HTML and click the "Save Signature" button when you are done. Your signature will be saved and automatically inserted into your message.

If you don't know any HTML, check out the HTML Tutorial as a starting point.

Alternate Signatures

You can create up to four signatures per address using the signature selector drop-down. Open the drop-down and select the option for which you would like to create a new signature. (You can customize the labels of these signatures in the options window.)

Once you have selected the signature you want to create, repeat the steps for creating a signature as described above. After creating your new signature, it will automatically be inserted. You can change which signature is used by changing the signature selector as shown in the image above.

Options & Settings

Clicking on the "Options" button will open a window that allows you to customize the add-on and provides useful information.