Getting the most out of Firefox

[Plexus]

Firefox is a great browser that is extremely versatile, even more so if you know what features to implement and how to implement them. Feel free to add your own reccomendations.

1. Bookmark Keywords-

Instead of going through a long list of bookmarks for sites that you go to often, Firefox has a feature that allows you to just type in a keyword. IE: instead of typing "www.civfanatics.com", I could just type "cfc". Sound good, right? Well, this is how you'd go about it:

2. Quick Searches-

An awesome feature that I honestly just started using. It is already built into the browser in a limited fashion. IE, if you type google and then a keyword after it, you will be forwarded to Google and Google will search for that. But Google searching is not all you can do. Let's say you'd like to be able to automate Google Image searches:

First, create a new bookmark.

In the "Location:" field, be sure to use a search query for example:
http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%s&btnG=Search

The bolded "%s" will be replaced by whatever you type in what comes after your keyword, ie. "gpix mozilla firefox" would become:
http://images.google.com/images?q=mozilla+firefox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search

3. Vital extensions:

CopyImage- Adds a 'Copy Image to Clipboard' item to the context menu, below the 'Copy Image Location' item. (Allows copying of images to clipboard).
http://downloads.mozdev.org/database/extensions/copyimage.xpi

Adblock- Adblock is a content-blocking module for the Mozilla and Firefox browsers. It is both more robust and more precise than the built-in image blocker.
http://downloads.mozdev.org/adblock/adblock-0.5-dev.xpi

Things They Left Out- "More Options" appears under the tools menu. There are panels for Languages, MIME-types, security certificates, http, locale, debugging, and networking. You are also able to configure favicons, image resizing, smooth scrolling, and Find as you Type.
http://downloads.mozdev.org/flibble/ttlo2.xpi

All-in-One Gestures- This extension includes mouse gestures with customization, rocker navigation, tab and history scrolling, and autoscrolling similar to that in IE, all in a single package.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/marc.boullet/ext/allinonegestlatest.xpi

Sort Bookmarks- Sort bookmarks alphabetically.
http://cgi29.plala.or.jp/~mozzarel/addon/firefox/sortbookmarks/sortbookmarks.xpi

Flashblock- Adds an XBL binding to Shockwave Flash object tags that replaces them with a button you must click in order to play the animation. Quite nice for restoring sanity to your browsing session.
http://downloads.mozdev.org/flashblock/flashblock.xpi

Bookmark Backup- An extremely basic extension that creates a backup of the bookmarks file each time Firefox is closed. The backups can be found in the Firefox profile directory. They will be named bookmarks.html.<day> e.g. bookmarks.html.sun, bookmarks.html.mon, bookmarks.html.tue, etc. If Firefox's bookmarks become corrupted or lost simply find the backup for the previous day and rename it to bookmarks.html. (if necessary delete the corrupted version first).
http://www.pikey.me.uk/mozilla/extensions/bookmarkbackup.xpi

IE View- Adds "View page in Internet Explorer" links to the content and link context menu. Handy for previewing pages in IE, loading up IE-only pages when you run across them in Mozilla, etc.
http://downloads.mozdev.org/ieview/ieview.xpi

 

[FireBall]

wow... that's awesome!

On behalf of all FireFox users here at CFC, I thank you.

 

[bobgote]

I pretty much just use the bookmark bar for all the most important ones (like CFC), but your nicknaming one would be good if you have stacks of bookmarks.


Although for searches, surely the search bar is the easiest way.

just type in your term and it does a search, using google, or any number of engines that you can easily add. that about sums up my usage

oh, and also download some themes cos they're cool.

 

[Goober]

The regular Mozilla is good enough, no need for firefox (mainly 'cause I am too lazy to upgrade.

 

[stormbind]

RG, it's not marketted as an upgrade. FireFox is a stand alone browser whereas Mozilla is a complete suite of applications.

Sun Tsu: To destroy your enemy, attack his strategy.

FireFox: Light weight, minimalist browser.

To graft extras onto it only wrecks the product

 

[Goober]

^ Oh, I get it. That would have been good to know earlier . . .

 

[Gogf]

Originally posted by FireBall
wow... that's awesome!

On behalf of all FireFox users here at CFC, I thank you.

I have to second that.

Thanks Plexus!

 

[funxus]

I really like that keyword thing. Thank you.

 

[Ankka]

keyword... gotta try that.

 

[FireBall]

Keyword function alwso works in Mozilla if I'm not mistaken.

 

[Plexus]

Indeed it does. As does quicksearch.

 

[Goober]

Hmm, you know, just for the Bookmark Save dealie, I think I am going to Install this.

Thanks for this thread, btw, very, very informative . . .

 

[Archer 007]

I would start using it if I could like a likeable theme for it.

 

[Plexus]

I would start using it if I could like a likeable theme for it.

How could you say no to iCandy Jr.?

Heck, I've even skinned IE and Explorer with it using Y'z ToolBar.

 

[Sanaz]

MicroFirebird theme. It's the smallest profile I've found for any browser, and is perfect for anyone wanting to maximize viewable content on each page.