Userscripts.org

Pat:

Here are instructions for modifying the script (to tailor the time interval to the value you want).

I am assuming that you are using the Firefox browser, and that you have Greasemonkey installed:

1. In Firefox's window, click the Tools menu item at the top of the window.
2. A drop-down menu should appear. Hover your mouse over the Greasemonkey menu item and another menu will pop out.
3. Click the Manage User Scripts item in that menu. A Manage User Scripts window should open.
4. In the Manage User Scripts window, left click the Hotmail Auto Save Interval entry in the window's left column (the entry should then be highlighted).
5. At the bottom of the window, verify that the Enabled box is checked (if it is not checked, click the box to cause it to be checked).
6. Click the Edit button at the bottom of the window. A window should open displaying the script (if you first get a window that asks you to specify the program used to edit scripts, navigate to where Notepad is located on your computer and select it .... Notepad is usually stored in the System32 folder which is in the Windows folder on your hard drive).
7. When the script opens, change the value in this line:
window.wrappedJSObject.ComposePage.autoSaveDraft.interval = 3;
... from 3 to whatever value (in minutes) you wish for the "save to drafts" interval. Be sure to read all the notes at the bottom of the script.
8. Then, save the script file (click File, then Save) ... and then close the script window.
9. Click Close (bottom right) in the Manage User Scripts window.
10. Sign on to Hotmail, start composing a message. The first save interval will still be 3 minutes (as described in the script's notes). All other intervals will be set to the value you placed into the script.

If you have any other questions, just post here.

Pat:

You cannot use Word as the script editor ... you will need to change the setting to Notepad. Here are instructions for changing greasemonkey's default script editor to notepad.

First, you will need to locate the notepad.exe file. Typically, its location is:
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe

To verify the location, open file explorer:
1. Select your C:\ drive (in the left pane).
2. In the pane on the right, scroll down until you get to your Windows directory (I am assuming that the directory where your Windows operating system resides is called Windows). Double click the Windows directory.
3. You may get a pop-up message stating that the files in the Windows directory are hidden or special and that you should not bother them. The pop-up message should give you the option to open/view the Windows directory anyway. Select this choice (to open/view the Windows directory anyway).
4. Scroll down the files shown in the right pane until you get to a folder named system32
5. Double click the directory named system32 to open/view that directory.
6. Scroll down, passed the folders, to the list of files. Keep scrolling until you can Verify that the file named: notepad is in the list.
7. Assuming that you do see the file named notepad, look at the address bar near the top of the page and verify that is shows: C:\Windows\system32

Now, follow these directions to change the default script editor for greasemonkey:
1. Open your Firefox browser (to any page, does not matter).
2. in the address bar, type this and hit enter: about:config
3. Firefox's configuration page should open, scroll down to the entry that says:
greasemonkey.editor
4. Double click that entry. A pop-up should open saying "enter string value"
5. Enter this text and then click OK:
C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe
6. Close Firefox.
7. Open Firefox.

Now, you should be able to follow the instructions in my previous post ... and when you get to step 6 (and click the Edit button), the text of the script should open in a notepad window. Follow the rest of the instructions in my previous post to change the auto save interval. Be sure to read the comments at the bottom of the script.

Pat:
I am not sure I understand your last question.

From what I recall, you were having a problem editing the script because notepad had not been selected as the default editor for greasemonkey.

I provided instructions on how to set greasemonkey's default editor to: C:\Windows\system32\notepad.exe (and I just replied to your post in the Windows Live Solutions Center forum).

Once you have set greasemonkey's default editor to notepad, then you can follow my original instructions for updating the script.

Is your most recent question that you followed my instructions, and when you opened the script you just saw a blank box? Or are you saying that when you double click the icon for notepad a blank box opens (which is normal for notepad).

After setting greasemonkey's default editor to notepad, you should follow the instructions I posted on Nov 9 to change the auto save interval in the script. Note that PRIOR to following the instructions for changing the interval in the script, you must first have installed the script.

You can tell if the script has already been installed in step 4 of my instructions. If you do not see this entry:
Hotmail Auto Save Interval
... in the left column of the Manage User Scripts window, then the script has not yet been installed. If you do see this:
Hotmail Auto Save Interval
... in the left column, then continue following the instructions for editing the script.

Pat,

I'll spare you the technical details ... the first 3 minute interval must expire (but see below for a work-around) ... then the time you used will take effect. So, in your case (you changed interval to 90 minutes), when you start composing a message, the first time it will be saved is after 3 minutes. There-after, the message will be saved every 90 minutes.

You can "short circuit" the first 3 minute interval by manually clicking the Save Draft button as soon as you open the compose new message window. Manually clicking that button causes the message to be saved, and the next interval started. So, in your case, if you manually click the Save Draft as soon as you open the compose new message window, then the next time that message will be saved is 90 minutes later.

Note that each time you start composing a new message, the above examples hold. I wish there was a way to avoid that very first interval, but I have not found one.

Let me know if this solves your problem.

Pat,

I am not sure I understand what you meant by this:
"Could it have anything to do with the scripts in the right side of the box? I copied and pasted my hotmail's browser line, and added it."

Please elaborate.

Also, please refer to my post (above) from November 9. Follow instructiopns #1 to #6.

In step #4, pay particular attention to insure that the "Hotmail Auto Save Interval" entry is highlighted.

In step #5, please pay particular attention to insure that the "Enabled" box is checked.

In step #6 (after the script opens in Notepad) please type CTRL-A to highlight the entire script (in the Notapad window), and then type CTRL-C to copy the highlighted text to the clipboard.

Then, open a new reply in this forum and type CTRL-V (which will cause the text of the script to be pasted into your reply). I'll have a look at the text of your script to make sure it's ok.

Pat,

Here's the problem. This line (in your script) ...
// window.wrappedJSObject.ComposePage.autoSaveDraft.interval = 90;

... begins with two slashes (//) ... which turns the line into a comment.
This is the line of code that actually sets the auto save interval (so, making it a comment effectively disables the script).

Use the same process (from my Nov 9 post) to edit the script and just remove the leading two slashes ONLY from the line of code shown above. The line of code should look like this (the code should be all on one line):

window.wrappedJSObject.ComposePage.autoSaveDraft.interval = 90;

Save your edit, open Hotmail, compose a new message and your 90 minute interval should be used (after the first three minute interval expires).

Note, that if you do not make any changes to a composed message since the last time it was saved, then it will not be saved when the next interval expires. So, when you test to see if the script is working for you, be sure you make some changes to your test message before it is saved for the first time (3 minute interval).

Let me know if this solves your problem.

If you are still having a problem, then I'll need more information on what you meant/did by this: "I copied and pasted my hotmail's browser line, and added it." What did you copy, and exactly where did you paste it. If the script is working, then no need to answer the previous questions.

@Barns:
OK .... I assume that you have installed the Firefox browser and are using that.

I also assume that you have installed Greasemonkey. To verify that you have Greasemonkey installed, click the Tools menu (at top of Firefox window). A menu list should open. You should see "Greasemonkey" in that menu list.

If you do not see "Hotmail Auto Save Interval" listed on the left side of the Manage User Scripts screen, then you may have forgotten to install the script.

Here are instructions for installing the "Hotmail Auto Save Interval" script: On the web page with the script, you should see an INSTALL button (upper right of screen). Click the Install button and the script will automatically get installed. Here is the web page with the script:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/59313

Once the script is installed, when you open the Manage User Scripts screen, you should see "Hotmail Auto Save Interval" on the left side of that window. Single click that script (to highlight it) and then look at the bottom-left of the Manage User Scripts screen and make sure the ENABLED check box is CHECKED.

That will install and enable the the script. Now, you will have to edit the script to set the interval to a value that you desire (the default interval set in the script is three minutes).

Again, single click "Hotmail Auto Save Interval" (shown on the left side of the Manage User Scripts screen), and then click the EDIT button at the bottom left of the Manage User Scripts screen. If you get a message stating that you first must specify the program to be used to edit scripts, then navigate to the C:\windows\system32\ folder, scroll down, and select notepad.exe

Then, edit the script, and change the number 3 in this line:
window.wrappedJSObject.ComposePage.autoSaveDraft.interval = 3;

...to any value you wish to use for the interval.

Be sure to read all of the comments in the script (below the line you just edited).

Then, click File (at the top of the notepad window) and click SAVE. Then click OK to close all of the windows, and close the Manage User Scripts window. Sign-on to Hotmail, compose a message, and your new interval should be in effect.

Remember that (for each new message that you compose) the first interval will always be 3 minutes (unless you manually click the Save to Draft button while composing ... then the message is immediately saved and a new interval is started). After the first time that your new message is saved, then all other intervals (for that given message) will be the value you entered in the script. Each time you start a new message, the first interval will again be 3 minutes (I cannot change that), but after 3 minutes and the message is saved, the message will then be saved based on the value in the script.

You should not have to make any changes to Firefox's about:config settings, unless some other program as already been set as the editor for scripts. In that case, you will need to change the editor to notepad. Let me know and I'll help you with that.

@Barns:
Glad that the Auto Save Interval script is working for you!

Have you tried the script that blocks all of Hotmail's ads? If not, here's a link:
http://userscripts.org/scripts/show/8228