[expert] Opening Netscape when it's already running

[Turadg Aleahmad]

In Mandrake 6.0, the /usr/bin/netscape script just runs the appropriate
netscape executable, even if it's already running.  This causes an error
message about the ~/.netscape/lock file and if you continue you "will be
unable to use the disk cache, global history, or your personal
certificates."

I found a facility in Netscape that lets you control the running
process. I modified the /usr/bin/netscape script to make use of this and
attached it below.  If Netscape is running, it will command it
appropriately.  If it is not, it will act as before.

I would be quite surprised if I was the first to think of this.  I
suspect that this functionality has been considered and forgone for some
reason.  If that's the case, I'd like to hear about it.  If people do
find this script useful, let me know and I will improve it.

#!/bin/sh
## /usr/bin/netscape
## modified to command the currently running Netcape if there is one
## 990727 Turadg Aleahmad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
## origin Mandrake 6.0

which=""

PREFIX=$(dirname $(dirname $0))

if echo $0 | grep 'navigator' >/dev/null; then
    which=netscape-navigator
elif echo $0 | grep 'communicator' >/dev/null ; then
    which=netscape-communicator
elif [ -x $PREFIX/lib/netscape/netscape-communicator ]; then
    which=netscape-communicator
elif [ -x $PREFIX/lib/netscape/netscape-navigator ]; then
    which=netscape-navigator
else
    echo "You don't seem to have netscape installed."
    exit 1
fi

# If Netscape is already running, don't try invoking a new one
# 990727 Turadg Aleahmad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
# Reference: http://home.netscape.com/newsref/std/x-remote.html
if [ -L ~/.netscape/lock ]; then
    # If the command name contained 'mail'
    if (echo $0 | grep 'mail' >/dev/null) ||
    # or the command was for Communicator but had mail as its argument
    [[ $which == netscape-communicator ]] && [[ $1 == '-mail' ]]; then
    # Open the Netscape Mail Inbox
    exec $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which -noraise -remote 'openInbox()'
    elif [ -z "$*" ]; then
    # Open a new web browser
    exec $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which -noraise -remote 'openBrowser()'
    else
    # Open the argument as a URL
    exec $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which -noraise -remote "openURL($1,
newwindow)"
    fi
    exit 0
fi

if [ -z "$*" ]; then
    HOMEPAGE=/usr/doc/HTML/index.html
    if [ -f $HOME/.netscape/preferences.js ]; then
        if grep "browser.startup.homepage" \
                $HOME/.netscape/preferences.js > /dev/null; then
            HOMEPAGE=""
        fi
    fi
    exec $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which $HOMEPAGE
else
    exec $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which $*
fi

echo "An error occurred running and $PREFIX/lib/netscape/$which."