Editing K-Meleon (section)

== Customization ==
Customization of K-Meleon's interface is possible using text-format configuration files called configs.<ref name="Ventura2002" /> The [[Menu (computing)|menus]], [[keyboard shortcuts]], and more can all be customized via K-Meleon's configuration files.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/microsoft/102551-eu-browser-ballots-boutique-options |title=Wild Wild Web – the browser ballot's lesser-known options |last=Geere |first=Duncan |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Pocket-lint |access-date=10 September 2022 |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910203005/https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/microsoft/102551-eu-browser-ballots-boutique-options |url-status=live}}</ref><ref><!-- K-Meleon developer -->{{cite book |title=K-Meleon 1.x Reference |chapter-url=http://freenet-homepage.de/CoolMcKluus/software/kmeleon/project/reference/cfgfiles/index.html |access-date=9 February 2023 |date=27 November 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923123801/http://freenet-homepage.de/CoolMcKluus/software/kmeleon/project/reference/cfgfiles/index.html |archive-date=23 September 2009 |last=Kohler |first=Klaus |chapter=Configuration Files}}</ref> These configs can call upon macros,<ref name="Doozan2001a" /> a type of extension that can be opened in a text editor.<ref name="FileInfo" />

A simple [["Hello, World!" program]] could be written in K-Meleon's macro language that would pop up a small window with the message "Hello world!".<ref>{{cite book |title=K-Meleon User's Guide and Reference Manual |last1=Erikson |first1=Ulf |last2=Holman |last3=Mutch |last4=Moses |last5=Sachner |last6=Zarneth |publisher=K-Meleon Documentation Project |access-date=22 December 2022 |archive-date=9 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209102506/https://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/manual/macro-lang.html |url-status=live |date=2002 |chapter=§ 7.7 Macro Language |chapter-url=https://kmeleon.sourceforge.net/manual/macro-lang.html}}</ref>

<syntaxhighlight lang="apache">
HelloWorld{
        alert("Hello world!");
}
</syntaxhighlight>

To trigger the macro, a keyboard accelerator could be created by adding the code below to the accelerator config, causing the macro to launch if the <kbd>Ctrl</kbd>, <kbd>Alt</kbd>, and <kbd>H</kbd> keys are pressed at the same time.<ref name="Doozan2001a"><!-- K-Meleon developer -->{{cite document |last=Doozan |first=Jeff |date=2001 |title=Macro Definition File for K-Meleon 0.6 (macros.cfg) |publisher=K-Meleon |type=Documentation}} Doozan described the accelerator syntax to add a macro command as "Sample Usage: in accel.cfg KEY = macros(example)" with "example" being the name of an individual macro sections enclosed in brackets.<!--Note for locating macros.cfg: This definition file is not found in non-beta versions of K-Meleon. If you need to access it without installing the browser a very similar version is in the 0.7 source code available at this link https://sourceforge.net/projects/kmeleon/files/k-meleon-src/0.7/ --></ref>

<syntaxhighlight lang="clojurescript">
CTRL ALT H = macros(HelloWorld)
</syntaxhighlight>

Custom toolbars offer more options, but the syntax is similar. The example below would create a new toolbar with a button to trigger a macro.<ref name="Doozan2001"><!-- K-Meleon developer -->{{cite document |last=Doozan |first=Jeff |date=2001 |title=Toolbar Definition File for K-Meleon 0.6 (toolbars.cfg) |publisher=K-Meleon |type=Documentation}} Doozan documents the formatting as "ToolBar Name {&nbsp;Button Name {&nbsp;command id (required)&nbsp;}&nbsp;}" with many optional parameters including size, "Tool Bar(16,16){	= NAME OF TOOLBAR* (WIDTH, HEIGHT), DEFAULT=(16,16)", and bitmap "image file[s]" for various states.</ref>

<syntaxhighlight lang="Apache">
NewToolbar{
   !NewButton{
	   macros(HelloWorld)
   }
}
</syntaxhighlight>

This combination of configs and macro modules provides control over much of the browser.<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Computers in Libraries |publisher=[[Information Today]] |url=https://utswmed-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2152.5/1144/rw_cil_2004_06.pdf?sequence=1 |last=Wayne |first=Richard |title=An Overview of Public Access Computer Software Management |access-date=4 September 2022 |date=June 2004 |pages=28–29 |archive-date=4 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220904073300/https://utswmed-ir.tdl.org/bitstream/handle/2152.5/1144/rw_cil_2004_06.pdf?sequence=1 |url-status=live}}</ref> It also creates a [[learning curve]] for customization that is not present in most browsers. A [[CNET]] review criticized K-Meleon because it "requires some knowledge of computer code to get the most out of it".<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/tested-five-web-browsers-youve-never-heard-of/ |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |title=Tested: Five Web browsers you've never heard of |date=7 August 2009 |last=Lanxon |first=Nate |website=[[CNET]] |access-date=12 September 2022 |archive-date=12 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220912064811/https://www.cnet.com/tech/services-and-software/tested-five-web-browsers-youve-never-heard-of/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Popular browsers use systems like [[Add-on (Mozilla)#WebExtensions|WebExtensions]], where there is a separation between users and extension developers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions |publisher=Mozilla |title=Browser Extensions |access-date=19 March 2023 |work=[[MDN Web Docs]] |archive-date=July 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200719033959/https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Mozilla/Add-ons/WebExtensions |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Safari web extensions |url=https://developer.apple.com/documentation/safariservices/safari_web_extensions |publisher=Apple |access-date=21 March 2023 |archive-date=March 18, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318095833/https://developer.apple.com/documentation/safariservices/safari_web_extensions |url-status=live}}</ref>

Because of its flexibility, K-Meleon was useful for environments in which the browser needed to be customized for [[Public computer|public use]], such as [[public library|libraries]] and [[Internet café]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/microsoft/102551-eu-browser-ballots-boutique-options |title=Wild Wild Web – the browser ballot's lesser-known options |last=Geere |first=Duncan |date=1 March 2010 |publisher=Pocket-lint |access-date=10 September 2022 |archive-date=10 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220910203005/https://www.pocket-lint.com/apps/news/microsoft/102551-eu-browser-ballots-boutique-options |url-status=live}}</ref> It allowed administrators to hide some features from patrons.<ref name="Jesdanun2002">{{cite news |last=Jesdanun |first=Anick |title=Mozilla an adaptable browser |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4jcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HNAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4076%2C213768 |newspaper=[[Spartanburg Herald-Journal]] |location=Spartanburg, South Carolina |pages=E1, E8 |language=English |publisher=Kevin Drake |date=16 June 2002 |access-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-date=March 20, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230320023313/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4jcfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HNAEAAAAIBAJ&pg=4076,213768 |url-status=live}}</ref> For example, a library could hide interface elements like the address bar or limit the computer's access to an online resource like the [[library catalog]].<ref name="Ventura2002">{{cite journal |url=http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA232354 |title=Does Your Library Need a Different Browser? |first1=Andrew |last1=Mutch |first2=Karen |last2=Ventura |journal=NetConnect |publisher=Library Journal |date=15 July 2002 |archive-date=11 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011081015/http://libraryjournal.com/article/CA232354.html}}</ref>