MedBetterBUY 5.1 Chrome extension maintenance update

Version 5.1 of the MedBetterBUY Chrome extension has been released to the Chrome Web Store.

This update patches a filtering issue caused by a recent eBay change, and should restore full functionality to the extension.

MedBetterBUY extension adds country and seller search listing filters

By user request, version 5 of the MedBetterBUY Chrome extension for use on the eBay site adds two new search listing filters, allowing users to filter out multiple countries and sellers in searches. The upload is now pending release in the Chrome Web Store and should (hopefully) be available soon.

Both filters are accessible from the Configure MedBetterBUY page (not the context menu). If you wish to list multiple countries or sellers, simply separate each by a comma. For example:



Currently the extension only works with the USA eBay site. If you need MedBetterBUY for a different country, let me know and I'll check what would need to be done to add that support.

MedBetterBUY Chrome extension for eBay updated with three new filters

By user request, the MedBetterBUY Chrome extension version 4.0 update, for use on the eBay site, adds three new listing filters: Pre-Owned, Open box, and Refurbished.

Each of the three new filters can be selected from the context menu, as well as set on the Configure MedBetterBUY page. They operate in the same fashion as the previous hide Top Seller entries option.

MedBetterDNA 5.1 update allows full length notes display on DNA results summary

MedBetterDNA 5.1 extension for the Chrome browser adds a new option called "show full length Notes". This option displays up to 99 lines of entry notes on the DNA results summary, rather than the AncestryDNA default of 2 lines.

Why limit it to 99 lines? Because when I set the extension to allow any number of lines, the browser ignored it. (Browser internals can occasionally misbehave.) Regardless, 99 lines seems like enough for almost any useful purpose, but if I'm wrong, someone should let me know, and probably will.

MedBetterDNA version 5.0 supports AncestryDNA new site with over 200 filters

MedBetterDNA has been updated to work with the July 1st, 2019 major site revision on the AncestryDNA site and is available at the Chrome Web Store. This is an almost complete rewrite from earlier versions of the extension.

The biggest change is that MedBetterDNA now supports 100 filters each to only show or hide AncestryDNA DNA Matches page entries based on the notes in an entry. If you place a hashtag (a word prefaced by a '#') in the notes, MedBetterDNA will detect and can filter out those entries with those notes from view, or only show those entries with the notes containing that hashtag or others. Filters can be up to 100 characters long.

Note that MedBetterDNA will match any hashtag that contains the word it's looking for, even if there are extra letters or symbols at the end of the match, e.g. the filter "cow" matches #cow, #cows, and #cowabunga. Spaces are not allowed in filters and will be removed if added.

You can turn off and on filters through the context menu settings "show only with Notes hashtags" and "hide all with Notes hashtags" and clicking on the desired filter. To input the hashtags themselves, navigate to the Configure MedBetterDNA page via the context menu "Configure options" or the Browser toolbar MedBetterDNA icon dropdown menu or the main browser Extensions page settings.

Keeping one filter from the previous versions, MedBetterDNA allows users to filter out any entries on the DNA matches page of AncestryDNA without a profile picture by unchecking show No Profile Photo Entries in the context menu entry for MedBetterDNA.

A few quick questions:

• Can I really put in 100 filters each? Yes, but for performance and memory reasons, you may not want to go full ham on them. I only tested operations with a handful, but each filter will incrementally add to runtime performance overhead. 100 may not be reasonably achievable. I was too lazy to put in 100 unique filters and test them all myself to see how bad things got.
• Are there any known bugs? Nope, but given the complexity of the extension and the first release of an effectively ground-up rewrite, there are probably a couple lurking. Let me know if you see one and I'll try to fix it.
• I briefly see some entries before they are filtered out. You will see this at times, it's a race between the browser pulling more entries and displaying them, and the extension catching the entries and filtering them out.  Sometimes the browser wins by a fraction of a second.
• If I filter out most entries, I can't scroll. Actually you can keep scrolling on a blank page and you should see an entry with the note or notes which the filters allow, assuming there are any. Because entries are dynamically loaded by the AncestryDNA website, you may have to keep scrolling for a while, even if you don't see anything (that is, all the entries are still there, but simply hidden from view.)
• I had to refresh the DNA matches page after I Saved settings on the configuration page for the extension to come back. Yup. That's how it works. Chrome has a bad habit of retaining older context menu settings on anything less than a full reload, so the configuration page Save button will reload the entire extension to flush them out.
• Can I set the filters so that no entries will ever be displayed, e.g. simultaneously have a Show only and a Hide All filter active? Absolutely, there's no AI at work. The extension will filter what you tell it, even if it seems a completely useless task.

New MedBetterDNA extension is planned and coming for the major AncestryDNA site update

I am indeed working on a new release of MedBetterDNA Chrome browser extension for the AncestryDNA site that will have at least two unique filters not found in the major AncestryDNA site update of July 1st, 2019.

Barring major issues, I anticipate a first release within the first half of July 2019. It will probably be fairly underpowered compared to the final version of the previous site's MedBetterDNA features, but it will continue to be enhanced and improved based on user feedback and requests. Significant filtering enhancements appear to remain a possibility with the new site. However, the extension will undergo what is almost a complete rewrite from scratch, so this will take time.

Honestly, for all the filter ideas AncestryDNA used in their update that were in my original extension, I think they ought to give me a free AncestryDNA subscription for life, but I am not so silly as to expect such a thing. They are certainly under no legal or moral obligation to do so.

MedBetterDNA now supports filtering out AncestryDNA results by Unlinked Tree

MedBetterDNA version 4.3, updated to add the feature of filtering by Unlinked Tree results. Unlinked Tree entries are normally shown on the AncestryDNA results page, but can be hidden from view via the standard context menu checkmark, or the extension options page.

That is all.

MedBetterDNA 4.1 reintroduces No Trees filtering of AncestryDNA results

MedBetterDNA version 4.1, updated to reintroduce the previous feature of filtering by No Trees results, while we wait for the AncestryDNA beta to become a public release. No Trees entries are normally shown on the AncestryDNA results page, but can be hidden from view via the standard context menu checkmark, or the extension options page.

Also, minor wording changes to the context menu and elsewhere, based on user feedback.

MedBetterWTHAY updated, new popup information window in family tree

MedBetterWTHAY, a Chrome extension for use with the Ancestry site to display extra family information in a popup window, has been updated with a new feature. It now shows a popup window of a person's relationship to you when the cursor is placed, or hovered, over that person's information box on the family tree page.

This option is only available for the top-down or vertical family tree display, and not the sideways or horizontal family tree display. It will activate after one second of hovering the mouse over any family tree entry.

A red line at the top of the box will show when the feature is activated by the mouse hover, and then there is a delay of varying time (less than one to several seconds) while the extension requests and loads the relationship information from the Ancestry site.

The original popup window showing Relationship and LifeStory for Find Person listings continues to operate as before.

I personally use this feature of the MedBetterWTHAY extension when I'm deep in the family tree and start to lose track of exactly who the heck I'm looking at.

Please note, the new family tree relationship is internally a lot more fiddly and fragile than other parts of the extension, or other Ancestry-related extensions. If the Ancestry site changes even a little bit, I would be wholly unsurprised if the change caused this feature to stop working properly. Just let me know and I'll see if I can make it all work again.

MedBetterWTHAY updated for Canada, Australia, UK site support

MedBetterWTHAY Chrome browser extension for the Ancestry website has been updated. Version 1.1 adds support for Ancestry sites of Canada, Australia, and the UK.

That is all.

MedBetterDNA updated, including filter on Profile Photos

MedBetterDNA version 4.0 has been released for the Chrome browser and adds the filter option: "show No Profile Photo". The option is on by default to show AncestryDNA Results listings regardless of whether they have a profile photo (i.e. the standard behavior without MedBetterDNA active). If the option is unchecked, only listings with a profile photo are shown, and the rest are filtered from view.

I added the picture filter option to easily look at photos of people for a pattern of family resemblance (typically not so much). Plus the dog and cat pictures can be cute. Note that a few photos will remain generic genderless profile images, as those are internally processed as a photo by the site. Also, a photo may pop into view after a brief delay, as Ancestry loads photos separately.

The No Tree and Locked Tree filter options were removed. Hopefully, this is a temporary change. The AncestryDNA site recently changed how the tree information is displayed on the listings. For my results, the change has been unstable, Usually I see a loading/wait icon on the results page without ever showing the Tree-based information. Occasionally the information does display, but not reliably enough to make and test an update to the extension to support filtering on it. I anticipate that eventually this situation will resolve itself and Tree-based filtering will return after a new update.

Miscellaneous and minor behind-the-scenes program changes were made to maintain full compatibility with the most recent versions of the Chrome browser with tighter security restrictions.

Another option was introduced that might be of interest to a few people: "Donate to development". A user asked me about donating to reward or encourage further development of the extension. I created and added a link to a Ko-fi account for those who might be interested.

Useful feedback and requests continue to be encouraged.

MedBetterBuy version 1.2 update

MedBetterBuy version 1.2 update is available, a Chrome browser extension for use with eBay.

This version fixes an incompatibility with a recent eBay site change which caused the rating count and percentage filtering for sellers to fail.

Chrome extension Nancy for Metafilter updated

The Chrome extension Nancy used for filtering of Metafilter site's posts and comments has been updated to version 1.4. The version supports both http and https Metafilter links for browser permissions, which fixes a potential problem using the extension with https addresses.

If you have problems with the update or using the extension, please post to support with the issue details.

MedBetterDNA extension update double filters to 8 each

MedBetterDNA has been updated to version 3.0. 

By user request, the Chrome extension MedBetterDNA, used for actively filtering AncestryDNA results (and showing notes on the main results page) has been updated to version 3.0, supporting eight hashtag filters for "show only" and "remove all" filters. This is double the previous maximum of four hashtag filters. Note that using more filters may increase time to fully process a Results page.

In anticipation of future similar requests, please also note that further increasing the number of filters isn't simply a matter of pumping up a number in the extension code. The extension is pushing the limits with the current code structure, and adding more filters in the future, if ever, will likely require significant rewrites to large portions of the extension's program code. I'm not saying it won't ever happen, I'm saying it won't happen soon or easy.

Post to support if you experience problems with the update or extension operation.

Abef Greasemonkey Script update

The Greasemonkey script Abef (A Better eBay Filter) has been updated with code revisions by Greasy Fork user kolalok for latest Greasemonkey compatibility and is available at the Grease Fork script repository.

Below is a write-up of the original Abef Greasemonkey script. Note that I am, preliminarily, working on a Chrome extension which provide similar features to the script, although no release date is available and it may not work out as planned.

A Better eBay Filter is a script designed for users of eBay. It filters eBay searches to hide item entries from sellers who have a feedback score or positive percentage below values you specify, or above for feedback score, or filter out Top-rated sellers. The input values can be dynamically changed to filter items into or out of view. Last values are saved between browsing sessions. Use A Better eBay Filter to winnow the display of auctions to sellers that match your preferences. The script has been tested on USA's ebay.com, Canada's ebay.ca, and UK's ebay.co.uk sites. It may work with other country sites, depending on whether they match the internals of the tested eBay sites.

NOTE: For this script to work properly, choose List View (not Gallery View), and turn on the Seller details option in Customize View, so that the seller information is displayed in the listings.

A Better eBay Filter requires seller feedback information to be displayed on each item entry so it can filter the results. After installing A Better eBay Filter, go to a listing or search screen. Click the View link at the top of the listings and choose Customize. This will navigate you to the Customize your search page. On that page, you should see a selection titled Seller Information. Check the box so that seller information is displayed in listing views. Note the exact wording may change depending on the site's native language.

After installation and setup, A Better eBay filter will display two status lines immediately below the basic Search line. The first status line shows the minimum feedback score and positive feedback percentage necessary to display an item entry. The initial values of 50 and 98.5 are forgiving, but easy to change. In addition, you may specify a maximum feedback score, or leave it blank if you do not wish a maximum: zero is not the same as blank. The default is blank (no maximum). In addition, there is a checkbox to filter out Top-rated Sellers. The second line displays an Update Filter button and the current number of items hidden from view by the filter.

You can change the score and percentage values to whatever you want. For example, if you do not want to hide new user auctions, you can change the feedback score to 1 (or 0) and see those auctions. Should you change a value, the filtered items message changes to a Values changed. message. This is an indication to press the Update Filter button to update the display with the new filter constraints. Each time you press Update Filter, the current values are stored for a future browser session or search/listing page display. You are not prohibited from choosing values which will hide all items, e.g. a Minimum positive feedback input of greater than 100 will filter out all entries, as will a minimum score higher than the maximum.

MedBetterDNA 2.2 update

MedBetterDNA  has been updated to version 2.2.

Version 2.2 is a fairly minor revision. It allows using filters on Shared Matches pages for a specific member with matching DNA.

This was accomplished by making the pattern for several address links less restrictive. Fortunately, the extension continues to work on the new pages, though it was not originally designed for them.

Leave a note if you have any questions or feedback. Thank you.

MedBetterDNA bugfix and minor enhancement update

The MedBetterDNA Chrome extension for use with the AncestryDNA site has been updated to version 2.1 from the Chrome Web Store.

Version 2.1 has two bug-fixes for uppercase tags and remove-all entries without notes, and increases by one the show-only and remove-all hashtag filtering matches.

Specifically, in the previous version, uppercase hashtag filters did not match any notes, although notes tags were properly considered case-insensitive for matches. Also, if a Remove-all hashtag filter was active, previously any entries without notes were also filtered from view. Both issues have been corrected.

In addition, support for a fourth hashtag filter was added to both Show-only and Remove-all options. There will be a definite upper limit on the count for performance and display reasons, but judging by recent user feedback, we haven't hit the sweet spot yet.

Note: Chrome can get its context menu checkmarks for hashtag filters out of sync when set from the configuration menu page even after refresh. This appears to be a bug in Chrome. i.e. the context menu checkmark is explicitly set to off (false), verified as off in the program, and acts as if it is off, but still shows up. Clicking it on the context menu will get it back in sync. Yes, it is annoying.

As far as a requested clear all filters feature, I tried implementing it, but due to the above problem leaving not-active checkmarks littering the context menu, I left it out to avoid confused people sending many technical support requests. Besides the configure menu, a quick way to turn off or update multiple filters without getting refreshes on each one is to temporarily turn off the notes display, thereby inhibiting any filtering action, while you click on or off the desired filters, before reactivating the notes display.

And finally, a couple of general expository remarks that you can skip and done if you're not interested.

First, MedBetterDNA enhancements are driven by user feedback. It already does what I want it to do. If you want something new or better, please ask for it. And please understand that it may happen soon, not for a while, or never, for any of a variety of reasons.

Second, if you like the program and are feeling benevolent, please consider rating it 4 or 5 stars. A single one-star drive-by screw-you rating can pull anything less than three other 5-star ratings down below a 4-star average. I don't have any vanity about the extension's rating, and it certainly doesn't affect income at effectively zero dollars received, but many newcomers are leery of trying out lower-rated extensions.

So why might you care about an overall rating if it works for you? Because the more users who are giving active feedback, the more likely I will invest my limited free time in enhancing or fixing the code, or figuring out how to implement any cool ideas that users come up with. Given that I have put in excess of 100 hours of work to the extension already, a bombed-out rating is not a strong motivator for further effort. But if you don't feel like giving a rating, or feel a 1-3 star rating is warranted, that's fine too.

MedBetterDNA custom note filters, version 2.0 update

MedBetterDNA has been updated to version 2.0 and should be soon available from the Chrome Web Store. It can take a couple of hours for the store to fully publish the update for download.

By user request, the MedBetterDNA version 2.0 update adds support for advanced filtering based on notes hashtags. These are the new show only Notes with hashtag and remove all Notes with hashtag selections.  The Always show Notes option must be checked for the advanced filtering to work (i.e. Notes must be showing on the results page). Up to three hashtags can be specified to show only notes containing one or more those hashtags, and up to three hashtags can be specified to remove any records with notes which contain one or more of the hashtags.

Hashtags are not case sensitive and can be part of a larger text string, with leading or trailing characters not in the hashtag, as long as they are preceded with a '#' character. Hashtags must be set or changed at the main Configure page, but afterward can be enabled and disabled through the context menu checkmarks. Always refresh the results page after changing a hashtag, otherwise the page will not display the revised filters and context menu.

As with the other settings, you can set things such that no display of any records is possible. Putting the same active hashtag in both show only Notes with hashtag and remove all Notes with hashtag selections will achieve this result.

Customize hashtag Notes filters on the context menu opens the same page as the Configure Options selection. It is included as a courtesy link to more easily remember how to customize hashtag filtering, as that does require using the Configure page.

The options page has been revised to show the new filter features:

To help explain use of the filters, here is an example of each type.

For this entry of the mysterious Z, the note shows as #hashtag99 123#yabbadabba. In the context menu for show only Notes with hashtag, if either hashtag #hashtag99 or hashtag #yabba or both were checked, only this record (and any other record with a matching hashtag) would be displayed.

In a similar fashion, if remove all Notes with hashtag was set to #hashtag99 or #yabba, then Z would be removed from the list of displayed records.

Given the significant changes made to the extension with version 2.0, there may be one or two operational errors. Drop a note if you find a clear error in behavior. 

As always, new or custom features may be made available upon request or negotiation.

MedBetterDNA for AncestryDNA updated to version 1.4

Version 1.4 of the MedBetterDNA Chrome extension for the AncestryDNA site has been published to the Chrome Web Store and should be soon or already available for download and update.

This version adds support for three additional countries besides the USA site, the Australian .com.au, UK .co.uk, and Canadian .ca Ancestry sites.

A full description of the extension's capabilities can be found in the post on its initial release. All subsequent releases have addressed incompatibilities or fixes with operations.

MedBetterDNA Chrome extension updated to version 1.3

The MedBetterDNA Chrome extension has been updated to version 1.3 to fix a couple of serious problems with the current Ancestry DNA site. MedBetterDNA provides advanced filtering capability for relationships based on confidence and family tree status, as well permanently showing user notes on Ancestry DNA results pages. MedBetterDNA was tested as working on July 5, 2017.

Version 1.3 fixes a recent incompatibility with the DNA site that was blocking the context menu display, and changes the way filters are processed to support differences in the site's web page processing, particularly on initial entry. Please remember, this extension is heavily dependent on website structures that are subject to change outside of the extension's control. When the website is significantly modified, as companies typically do on occasion, the extension will fail until it is updated with the new structure. Reporting a problem to support is the best and quickest remedy.