Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

HTMLHelp Forums _ Markup (HTML, XHTML, XML) _ Annoying skype problem

Posted by: Gunto Dec 12 2009, 12:59 PM

Hello there.
In internet explorer, in a computer that has Skype installed on it, Skype makes all telephone numbers in webpages into Skype buttons with a Skype menu!
Here is an example.
http://thebrowserhighlighter.com/images/tool_skype.gif
There are two problems with this:
1) As a result, Skype takes control of the style, it changes the font, the size, and adds a Skype button near it!
2) The second problem is that Skype also "thinks" IDs and or catalog numbers are PHONE numbers, and does the same thing to them!

Is there a way to disable Skype from doing this (not in MY computer, in the HTML itself)?

Posted by: pandy Dec 12 2009, 01:40 PM

I read somewhere that converting the numbers to numeric references, like 12345 , should take care of it, but I haven't tested that. I suspect there is some nifty JavaScript floating around, it usually is, but I haven't found one.

I guess in a way we shouldn't do this and leave it up to the user, but I agree that those buttons are a little over the top.

Posted by: Christian J Dec 12 2009, 05:27 PM

Apparently it's Skype's IE toolbar (bundled with the actual Skype software) that causes this. There are also extensions for Firefox and Chrome.

According to http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=78380 you can prevent it with the following META tag:

CODE

or simply insert a hidden underscore to confuse Skype:

CODE

+123 456 <span style="display:none;">_</span> 789

Posted by: pandy Dec 12 2009, 06:14 PM

That easy... that's nice of them. Good use of Meta.

Posted by: Christian J Dec 13 2009, 05:55 AM

According to http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=78380&view=findpost&p=504562 the exact META tag string seems critical:

QUOTE

it would not work with XHTML tags:
<META name="SKYPE_TOOLBAR" content="SKYPE_TOOLBAR_PARSER_COMPATIBLE"/>
it would not work with different attribute order
<META CONTENT="SKYPE_TOOLBAR_PARSER_COMPATIBLE" name="SKYPE_TOOLBAR">

Both above connstructions are correct according to the (X)HTML specification so why it does not work?
Because of condition check
var reg_exp = new RegExp('<META name="SKYPE_TOOLBAR" CONTENT="SKYPE_TOOLBAR_PARSER_COMPATIBLE">','i');.

Note how the regex string (from the Skype toolbar code?) searches for HTML syntax, while the code example officially suggested by http://forum.skype.com/index.php?showtopic=78380&view=findpost&p=369832 uses XHTML.

https://developer.skype.com/jira/browse/SCW-65 (07/Mar/07 07:15 AM) also mentions a META tag bug on complex pages in Firefox.

Posted by: Brian Chandler Dec 13 2009, 09:27 AM

QUOTE(pandy @ Dec 13 2009, 08:14 AM)

That easy... that's nice of them. Good use of Meta.

I think it's an appalling use of "meta". Or rather the whole approach is wrong. Once hundreds of people have written widely promulgated pieces of junk to mess up web pages, should my pages all start with 100+ meta tags to remove the junk? No, if people install junk, they should get junk. I agree it is actually a good idea (here and there) to provide help to the clueless so they do at least understand the source of the junk.