Creating and Editing Ad Filters - Tutorial
 

OK, like many others here I'd like to see some improvements in adding and managing adblocking filters. I like the UI of AdBlock Plus, myself. but in the meantime, there's a fairly simple way to access the rules in OW and edit them in your favorite coding text editor (I use TextMate).
[LIST=1][*]Open Terminal, and quit Omniweb[*]Copy your prefs file to your Desktop: [CODE]cp ~/Library/Preferences/com.omnigroup.OmniWeb5.plist ~/Desktop/[/CODE][*]Convert the format of the file from Binary to XML: [CODE]plutil -convert xml1 ~/Desktop/com.omnigroup.OmniWeb5.plist[/CODE][*]Open the file in your text editor and look for the key <key>OWAddressesToFilter</key>[*]This is an array of <string> nodes. These are the filters. Edit as needed, following standard regex rules. In TextMate, I sort them too. Edit them to be simple as possible, e.g. "doubleclick\.net". You can also add new ones, just be sure to wrap them in <string></string>.[*]When finished, save the file[*]Convert it BACK to Binary
[CODE]plutil -convert binary1 ~/Desktop/com.omnigroup.OmniWeb5.plist[/CODE][*]Copy it back to the Preferences folder
[CODE]cp ~/Desktop/com.omnigroup.OmniWeb5.plist ~/Library/Preferences/[/CODE][*]Open OW and enjoy.[/LIST]

Oh, and you can download [URL="http://www.pierceive.com/"]Filterset G[/URL] and edit it and take parts to use.

Just remember the syntax is different! You need to escape periods with a backslash (doubleclick.net -> doubleclick\.net) and wildcards do not work the same way. In most cases, you can use .* in place of an AdBlock *. It helps to know a bit about [URL="http://www.regular-expressions.info/reference.html"]Regular Expressions[/URL]. Be conservative and you should be ok.

YMMV. I offer no warranty for damages caused by this mucking about. Make backups.

Here's the simple part of Filterset G, converted:
[CODE]
<string>0instant\.com</string>
<string>1100i\.com</string>
<string>125x125\.com</string>
<string>265\.com</string>
<string>2mdn\.net</string>
<string>2o7\.net</string>
<string>action\.ientry\.net</string>
<string>adinterax\.com</string>
<string>adsence\.sogou\.com</string>
<string>adserveredirect</string>
<string>adwork\.net\.ua</string>
<string>afcyhf\.com</string>
<string>affiliatefuture\.com</string>
<string>affiliatesensor\.com</string>
<string>affistats\.com</string>
<string>aftrack\.asp</string>
<string>aj\.600z\.com</string>
<string>allyes\.com</string>
<string>anrdoezrs\.net</string>
<string>artbanners/task,clk</string>
<string>atdmt\.com</string>
<string>atwola\.com</string>
<string>audiencematch\.net</string>
<string>avolutia\.com</string>
<string>awaps\.net</string>
<string>awltovhc\.com</string>
<string>awrz\.net</string>
<string>banman\.asp</string>
<string>banmanpro</string>
<string>bannex\.com\.ua</string>
<string>baventures\.com</string>
<string>bbmedia\.cz</string>
<string>bc\.geocities\.yahoo\.co\.jp</string>
<string>belnk\.com</string>
<string>beweb\.com</string>
<string>bfast\.com</string>
<string>bidvertiser\.com</string>
<string>bin-layer\.de</string>
<string>biz2008\.com</string>
<string>blogclick\.jp</string>
<string>bluestreak\.com</string>
<string>bncnt\.com</string>
<string>bns1\.net</string>
<string>bravenetmedianetwork\.com</string>
<string>bridgetrack\.com</string>
<string>bs\.yandex\.ru</string>
<string>budsinc\.com</string>
<string>casalemedia</string>
<string>cashregie\.com</string>
<string>cc-dt\.com</string>
<string>checkm8\.com</string>
<string>chitika\.net</string>
<string>chunnel\.de</string>
<string>cjt1\.net</string>
<string>cognigen\.net</string>
<string>commission-junction\.com</string>
<string>connextra\.com</string>
<string>contextweb\.com</string>
<string>cpaffiliates\.net</string>
<string>cpxinteractive\.com</string>
<string>custom-click\.com</string>
<string>cxtlive\.com</string>
<string>dbbsrv\.com</string>
<string>dgm2\.com</string>
<string>dgmaustralia\.com</string>
<string>did-it\.com</string>
<string>directivepub\.com</string>
<string>directorym\.com</string>
<string>directtrack\.com</string>
<string>dope\.dk</string>
<string>dtmpub\.com</string>
<string>ekmas\.com</string>
<string>el-mundo\.net/banners</string>
<string>entitycity\.com</string>
<string>eshopoffer\.aspx</string>
<string>excite\.com/gca_iframe</string>
<string>exponential\.com</string>
<string>eyewonder\.com</string>
<string>factortg\.com</string>
<string>filetarget\.com</string>
<string>filitrac\.com</string>
<string>findology\.com</string>
<string>floppybank\.com</string>
<string>flycast\.com</string>
<string>forrestersurveys\.com</string>
<string>ftjcfx\.com</string>
<string>funpic\.de/layer</string>
<string>geocities\.com/js_source/</string>
<string>gestionpub\.com</string>
<string>getban\.php</string>
<string>getfound\.com</string>
<string>gms1\.net</string>
<string>hb\.lycos\.com</string>
<string>idregie\.com</string>
<string>ifactz\.com</string>
<string>impact\.as</string>
<string>impresionesweb\.com</string>
<string>imrworldwide\.com</string>
<string>indiads\.com</string>
<string>industrybrains\.com</string>
<string>inetinteractive\.com</string>
<string>insightfirst\.com</string>
<string>instantattention\.com</string>
<string>instantbuzz\.com</string>
<string>intelli-direct\.com</string>
<string>intellisrv\.js</string>
<string>intellisrv\.net</string>
<string>intellitxt</string>
<string>interclick\.com</string>
<string>interpolls\.com</string>
<string>java\.yahoo\.com/a</string>
<string>jdoqocy\.com</string>
<string>jupiter\.bravenet</string>
<string>keymedia\.hu</string>
<string>keyrun\.com</string>
<string>kontera\.com</string>
<string>kqzyfj\.com</string>
<string>lapi\.ebay\.</string>
<string>lduhtrp\.net</string>
<string>leadhound\.com</string>
<string>linkbuddies</string>
<string>linkconnector\.com</string>
<string>linkexchange</string>
<string>linkshare</string>
<string>linksynergy</string>
<string>localxml\.com</string>
<string>log\.go\.com</string>
<string>lycos\.com/catman/</string>
<string>maxserving\.com</string>
<string>mbn\.com\.ua</string>
<string>medianext\.com</string>
<string>mediaonenetwork\.net</string>
<string>mediaplazza\.com</string>
<string>mediaprecision\.net</string>
<string>mercuras\.com</string>
<string>mercury\.bravenet</string>
<string>metaffiliation\.com</string>
<string>midaddle\.com</string>
<string>mms3\.com</string>
<string>myreferer\.com</string>
<string>mytemplatestorage\.com</string>
<string>narrowad\.com</string>
<string>ncsreporting\.com</string>
<string>netavenir\.com</string>
<string>netshelter\.net</string>
<string>northmay\.com</string>
<string>nvidium\.com</string>
<string>nytimes\.com/marketing</string>
<string>oclus\.com</string>
<string>omguk\.com</string>
<string>onenetworkdirect\.net</string>
<string>openadnetwork\.com</string>
<string>oxyonline\.cz</string>
<string>partner\.eniro\.</string>
<string>partner2profit\.com</string>
<string>pheedo\.com</string>
<string>pro-market\.net</string>
<string>projectwonderful\.com</string>
<string>promobenef\.com</string>
<string>promotionad</string>
<string>publicidad\.js</string>
<string>qksrv\.net</string>
<string>qksz\.net</string>
<string>questionmarket\.com</string>
<string>rad\.msn\.com</string>
<string>reactivpub\.com</string>
<string>realmedia\.com</string>
<string>redcolobus\.com</string>
<string>redsheriff\.com</string>
<string>regiedepub\.com</string>
<string>reklamer\.com\.ua/ban/</string>
<string>revsci\.net</string>
<string>rightmedia</string>
<string>rmxads\.com</string>
<string>rss\.slashdot\.org/~a</string>
<string>ru4\.com</string>
<string>searchcactus\.com</string>
<string>searchfeed\.com</string>
<string>serving-sys\.com</string>
<string>shareasale\.com</string>
<string>showyoursite\.com</string>
<string>si-net\.se</string>
<string>smarttargetting\.co</string>
<string>spotsystems\.info</string>
<string>sublimemedia\.net</string>
<string>subscriptionrocket\.com</string>
<string>suitesmart\.com</string>
<string>surehits\.com</string>
<string>targetpoint\.com</string>
<string>tipsurf\.com</string>
<string>tkqlhce\.com</string>
<string>toplaboom\.com</string>
<string>tqlkg\.com</string>
<string>tradedoubler\.com</string>
<string>trafficmp\.com</string>
<string>trafficsystem\.com</string>
<string>travidia</string>
<string>unicast\.com</string>
<string>urltrak\.com</string>
<string>utarget\.co\.uk</string>
<string>vibrantmedia</string>
<string>webex\.ru</string>
<string>xban\.walla\.co\.il</string>
<string>yceml\.net</string>
<string>yieldx\.com</string>
<string>zedo\.com</string>
<string>zoomdirect\.com\.au</string>
[/CODE]

[QUOTE=Handycam;43168]OK, like many others here I'd like to see some improvements in adding and managing adblocking filters.[/QUOTE]

Handycam,

what does your seasoned efficient list look like?

(ftr, I'm very familiar with GREP)

cheers,
Gregory

[QUOTE=Handycam;43168]Open the file in your text editor and look for the key <key>OWAddressesToFilter</key>[/QUOTE]

whoops! my pref file didn't contain this key. strange...

Have you ever created any filters, through the Preferences UI? If not, it won't be there.

Gregory, I use mostly the list I included above.

Well, last post was 2008, and now in 2012 we are still stuck with stone-age ad blocking.

This effectively limits OmniWeb, otherwise my favourite browser, to a few remaining PPC machines.

What am I missing?

[QUOTE=thundernerd;106677]Well, last post was 2008, and now in 2012 we are still stuck with stone-age ad blocking.

This effectively limits OmniWeb, otherwise my favourite browser, to a few remaining PPC machines.

What am I missing?[/QUOTE]

The simplest method for effective ad blocking I've found is to install an ad blocking css style sheet into OW's Preferences -> Page Appearance Preferences. You can find a good css ad blocker inside the Camino browser's Show Package Contents -> Contents -> Resources file. Just pull it out and store it someplace handy on your HD, then access it with the Style Sheet option on Page Appearance Preferences. If you want to allow ads on a page just change the blocking option for that page to None. I've also found a ready to install fanboy's list css somewhere online but I can't recall where. I've been using this for years and it works perfectly. Be sure to uncheck all the ad block options in OW's built in ad blocker to prevent them from blocking embedded videos.

[QUOTE=jwthomas;108289] I've also found a ready to install fanboy's list css somewhere online but I can't recall where.[/QUOTE]

jwthomas, could this be the one you mention?

link on right side of page below
[url]http://fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera.html[/url]

direct link
[url]http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/fanboy-adblocklist-elements-v4.css[/url]

[QUOTE=Drayon;108293]jwthomas, could this be the one you mention?

link on right side of page below
[url]http://fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera.html[/url]

direct link
[url]http://www.fanboy.co.nz/adblock/opera/fanboy-adblocklist-elements-v4.css[/url][/QUOTE]

No. But if you can get it to work on OmniWeb good luck to you.