---
name: "netscape-remote"
section: "1"
platform: "linux"
package: "netscape3"
version: "3.04-8"
release: "Debian 2.2 (Potato)"
platforms: ["linux"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/netscape-remote"
---

# netscape-remote(1)

a program to remotely control mozilla

## NAME

netscape-remote - a program to remotely control mozilla

## SYNOPSIS

**netscape-remote** \[**-id** *window*\] \[**-raise**\] \[**-noraise**\] **-remote** **'***action***'**

## DESCRIPTION

**netscape-remote** is used to remotely control the Netscape web browser.  It will pass the *action* command to an already running Netscape.

The functionality provided by this program is identical to running Netscape with the **-remote** argument.  However, since it is provided in a separate, small program, it will start much more quickly than **netscape** itself.

Full documentation and source code is available at:

http://www.netscape.com/newsref/std/x-remote.html

## OPTIONS

- **-remote** **'***action***'**

  This option is required.  The  *action* argument is described below.

- **-id** *window*

  You can select a window to control with the  **-id** command-line option;  otherwise, the first Netscape Navigator window found will be used.  The argument to this option is an X window id, as a decimal or  hexadecimal number. (You can find window IDs with the  **[xwininfo(1)](/xwininfo/1.md)** or **xlswins(1)** programs.) For example:

  **netscape -id 0x3c00124 -remote 'openURL(http://home.netscape.com)'**

- **-raise**, **-noraise**

  You can control whether the  **-remote** command will cause the Netscape window to automatically raise itself to the top with the  **-raise** and  **-noraise** options. The default is to raise, but this may be disabled as follows:

  **netscape -noraise -remote 'openURL(http://home.netscape.com)'**

  The  **-raise** and  **-noraise** options apply to all following  **-remote** commands on the command line, and may be interleaved. For example,  to add a bookmark without raising the window, and then open a URL and raise the window, one could do

  **netscape -noraise -remote 'addBookmark(http://foo)' -raise -remote 'openURL(http://bar)'**

## ACTIONS

**openURL ( )**

Prompts for a URL with a dialog box.

**openURL (URL)**

Opens the specified document without prompting.

**openURL (URL, new-window)**

Create a new window displaying the specified document.

**openFile ( )**

Prompts for a file with a dialog box.

**openFile (File)**

Opens the specified file without prompting.

**saveAs ( )**

Prompts for a file with a dialog box (like the menu item).

**saveAs (Output-File)**

Writes HTML to the specified file without prompting.

**saveAs (Output-File, Type)**

Writes to the specified file with the type specified - the type may be HTML, Text, or PostScript.

**mailto ( )**

pops up the mail dialog with the To: field empty.

**mailto (a, b, c)**

Puts the addresses "a, b, c" in the default To: field.

**addBookmark ( )**

Adds the current document to the bookmark list.

**addBookmark (URL)**

Adds the given document to the bookmark list.

**addBookmark (URL, Title)**

Adds the given document to the bookmark list, with the given title.

## EXAMPLES

- **netscape-remote -remote 'openURL(http://www.jimpick.com/)'**

  This would open the specified website in an already existing Netsape window, or would launch Netscape if it wasn't running.

- **netscape-remote -remote 0'openURL(http://www.jimpick.com), new\_window)'**

  This would open the specified website in a new Netscape window, or would launch Netscape if it wasn't running.

## KNOWN BUGS

The  **netscape-remote** program is very finicky about the command line options.  You have to use it with the **-remote** option, or it will spit out not very helpful error messages. Also, it is known to not work with some beta versions of Netscape and any version of Netscape before version 1.1.

## AUTHOR

This man page was written by Jim Pick \<jim@jimpick.com\>, based on information from the Netscape web site.