Introduction
There is no doubt that Gmail is a dominant brand when it comes to email communication, but rummaging through several emails to look for the priority ones can be a time-consuming and unproductive task. To decrease the tediousness of searching through these emails, relying on a tool would be the right option. How about a tool highlighting unopened emails and providing you with a real-time count?
Let us introduce Gmail Attachment Highlighter, which is a reliable extension for Google Chrome that can be used to make the management of emails efficient and smoother.
In this write-up, let us focus on how this extension can help you, the core concept behind the extension, and the best way to upgrade your experience of using Gmail.
Understanding Gmail Attachment Highlighter Extension
The Gmail Attachment Highlighter is an effective extension that highlights the unread emails that contain attachments in red, making it easier to identify messages. It improves email management efficiency by enabling a sidebar that displays the real-time counts of all emails to ensure you never miss any important files that may need to be checked and downloaded.
This tool is quite useful for professionals who receive frequent emails to give a quick way to review them among the huge number of emails.
Key Features of Gmail Attachment Highlighter
- Real-time Email Scanning: It automatically checks Gmail for unread emails with attachments each second, so you never miss important emails.
- Visual Highlighting: It highlights the unread emails with red to make them easier to identify.
- Sidebar with Email Count: A floating sidebar indicates the real-time count of unread emails attached to any important files.
- Customizable & Movable Sidebar: The moving sidebar allows users to put it anywhere on the screen for ease.
- Efficient and Reliable: The extension runs in the background silently and does not affect the performance.
How Does It Work?
The extension integrates effortlessly with Gmail by using JavaScript and a manifest.json file. Here’s a brief overview of how it works:
Manifest.json File
The file contains the key information of the extension, such as its metadata, permissions, and scripts it uses.
The manifest file defines the extension's metadata, including permissions and scripts it will use. It gives information to browsers about what things Gmail is allowed to do and how they should work.
{
"manifest_version": 3,
"name": "Gmail Attachment Highlighter",
"version": "1.1",
"description": "Highlights emails with attachments in Gmail and displays the count.",
"permissions": ["storage"],
"host_permissions": ["https://mail.google.com/"],
"content_scripts": [
{
"matches": ["https://mail.google.com/*"],
"js": ["content.js"],
"run_at": "document_idle"
}
]
}
This extension allows the script to run automatically when Gmail is open, eliminating the need for manual activation.
Content.js: The Brain Behind the Extension
The content.js file is the main script, which is responsible for:
Identifying unread emails
Highlight emails with attachments in red.
Displaying the sidebar with email count
Scanning Gmails to find emails with attachments
The script scans the inbox periodically to ensure you will get updated results.
Sidebar Customization with CSS
With the help of CSS, the sidebar is customized and transformed into a modern sidebar that is easily movable.
#attachment-sidebar {
position: fixed;
top: 50%;
right: 20px;
transform: translateY(-50%);
width: 250px;
background-color: #2e3b4e;
border-radius: 8px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);
padding: 15px;
color: white;
font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif;
z-index: 9999;
cursor: move;
transition: all 0.3s ease;
}
This CSS code ensures the sidebar remains attractive and functional, which makes it easy to handle conveniently.
A detailed process with step-by-step procedures for installation of the Gmail Attachment Highlighter Extension is given as follows:
Steps to perform this installation of this extension and incorporating it with Gmail are a smooth and straightforward process. Here are the steps:
1. Cloning2 or Downloading the Files of Extension: First of all, make sure that you have the essential content.js, manifest.json, and sidebar.css files.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iPDJqZ1ZB5h2uQBpcHpsnbaTnaYS7dci/view?usp=sharing
2. Proceed to the Extensions Page on Chrome: Go to the browser window and type: chrome://extensions/.
3. Turn on the Developer Mode: Toggle the switch of the Developer Mode, which you can find at the top-right corner.
4. Upload Unpacked Extension: Now, find and select the option "Load unpacked" and choose the folder that has all of your extension files.
5. Explore the Extension to Check Its Usage: Once the extension is loaded, open the Gmail app and find all the unopened emails along with the attachments instantly
Who Can Benefit from This Extension?
This extension is ideal for:
- Students and educators: useful for managing assignments, research papers, and academic resources.
- Freelancers: Individuals who need to manage client files effectively.
- Business professionals: who frequently receive a bulk of emails attached with important files.
- Anyone who needs to organize their files on Gmail efficiently to improve the experience.
At last,
The Gmail Attachment Highlighter extension becomes the must-have tool for those who want to simplify their email management. It is simple, easy to use, and incredibly helpful for organizing the inbox and keeping you aware of the important documents.
Try this indispensable extension today and experience an effective way to manage your Gmail inbox!
What’s Next?
We are working on incorporating additional features like custom color options, attachment previews, and real-time notifications for high-priority emails. Stay connected for future updates!