How to override the alert function with a userscript?

Question

How to override the alert function with a userscript?

On site there is code like that (its site on LAN)

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">         
    alert("ble");
</script>

I try to disable that alert using GM. I was trying to do this

unsafeWindow.alert=function() {};

but I see the alert and get this error

Error: uncaught exception: [Exception... "Component is not available"  nsresult: "0x80040111 (NS_ERROR_NOT_AVAILABLE)"  location: "JS frame :: file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/arokitnicki/Dane%20aplikacji/Mozilla/Firefox/Profiles/sm4bsods.default/extensions/%7Be4a8a97b-f2ed-450b-b12d-ee082ba24781%7D/components/greasemonkey.js :: anonymous :: line 377"  data: no]

How to disable that alert?

P.S. this is NOT a javascript question, but a Greasemonkey question.

EDIT:

Its company's website, so I can't paste the real code

<head>
    <script>    
        dojo.require("dojo.back");
        dojo.back.init(); 
    </script>
</head>
<body onload="someMethod()">
    <iframe></iframe>
    <script>         
        alert("bla");
    </script>
</body>

There are also some scripts and CSS declarations in header.

javascript

alert

greasemonkey

userscripts

tampermonkey

asked on Stack Overflow Jan 11, 2011 by

IAdapter • edited Mar 6, 2019 by

Brock Adams

2 Answers

Update: For modern versions of Tampermonkey, Violentmonkey, Greasemonkey ^{_{(but strongly recommended to avoid GM 4+)}}:
You can intercept alert() in most cases by using @run-at document-start. For example, load this script and then visit the test page:

// ==UserScript==
// @name    _Overwrite Alert
// @match   *://output.jsbin.com/*
// @grant   none
// @run-at  document-start
// ==/UserScript==

var alrtScope;
if (typeof unsafeWindow === "undefined") {
    alrtScope = window;
} else {
    alrtScope = unsafeWindow;
}

alrtScope.alert = function (str) {
    console.log ("Greasemonkey intercepted alert: ", str);
};

Note that if you are running Tampermonkey, you can block alerts more effectively by switching to Inject Mode: Instant:
Tampermonkey Settings => Config mode: Advanced => Experimental => Inject Mode: Instant.

If your script requires GM_ functions, it must set @grant other than none. In that case use exportFunction() like so:

// ==UserScript==
// @name            _Overwrite Alert
// @match           *://output.jsbin.com/*
// @grant           GM_addStyle
// @run-at          document-start
// ==/UserScript==

function myAlert (str) {
    console.log ("Greasemonkey intercepted alert: ", str);
}
unsafeWindow.alert   = exportFunction (myAlert, unsafeWindow);

Old answer, for Greasemonkey before August 2011:

unsafeWindow.alert=function() {}; works fine in select situations.

But, if that really is the code on the page, then you will not be able to stop that alert using Greasemonkey.

This is because that alert will fire during the page load and before the DOMContentLoaded event -- which is when Greasemonkey is fired.

Load this GM script:

// ==UserScript==
// @name            Overwrite Alert
// @description     Overwrites alert()
// @include         http://jsbin.com/*
// ==/UserScript==

unsafeWindow.alert=function() {};

Then visit: http://jsbin.com/ajeqe4/6 .

Inspecting the code (http://jsbin.com/ajeqe4/6/edit), You will see 3 alerts. Greasemonkey is only able to stop the alerts that fire on load (usually).

Other factors can block GM's ability to stop the alert... The page loads too fast or closures, perhaps.

Paste the source of that page, unedited if at all possible, at pastebin.com. There may be something else you can do. Maybe block the script via adblock?

Otherwise, you'll have to write an extension/add-on.

answered on Stack Overflow Jan 11, 2011 by

Brock Adams • edited Mar 6, 2019 by

Brock Adams

If you use Scriptish then the following will always work:

// ==UserScript==
// @id              alert-killer-test@erikvold.com
// @name            Overwrite Alert
// @description     Overwrites alert()
// @include         *
// @run-at          document-start
// ==/UserScript==

unsafeWindow.alert=function() {};

You can get the user script here.

answered on Stack Overflow Mar 7, 2011 by

erikvold

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