Search Bar: Difference between revisions
Alice Wyman (talk | contribs) (→Linux users: detailed instructions for running Firefox as root removed. See discussion.) |
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===Linux users=== | ===Linux users=== | ||
For Firefox versions earlier than 1.5, you will need write privileges to the "searchplugins" subdirectory under the [[installation directory]] to add additional search engines. If you've installed Firefox to a location where you do not have write privileges, you can either manually change permissions on the "searchplugins" folder or briefly run firefox as root. | For Firefox versions earlier than 1.5, you will need write privileges to the "searchplugins" subdirectory under the [[installation directory]] to add additional search engines. If you've installed Firefox to a location where you do not have write privileges, you can either manually change permissions on the "searchplugins" folder or briefly run firefox as root. This is not necessary in Firefox 1.5 or later because newly installed search engines are stored in the user's profile. However, Firefox comes with a set of pre-installed search engines that are present in the installation directory, in the subdirectory "searchplugins". All users will see them. If you want to remove those searchplugins, simply delete the corresponding or all files from this directory (with the same privileges as were used for the orginal installation, usually root) and allow individual users to re-install what they personally prefer. | ||
==Clearing search history== | ==Clearing search history== | ||
Revision as of 11:50, 19 January 2006
- This article applies to Firefox.
Firefox's Search Bar is a convenient way to search using your favorite search engines. The default is Google.
Using the Search Bar
To search, click in the Search Bar (or press "Ctrl+K") and start typing. Hit "Enter" and your search will be run. You can use "Alt+Enter" to open search results in a new tab.
The Search Bar supports more than one search engine. To see the list of available engines click the icon at the left of the bar, and a list showing the choices will appear. You can also use "Ctrl+Up"/"Ctrl+Down" to cycle between the available choices.
Installing search plugins
To add new search engines to the Search Bar, click the search icon and then click "Add Engines...". You will be taken to the Search Engines page at Mozilla Update where some of the more popular search plugins can be installed. (A more comprehensive collection of search plugins is available at mycroft.mozdev.org.) Click one of the search engine links to install the new search plugin. If you don't see an "Add Search Engine" dialog box, make sure that JavaScript is enabled.
You can always uninstall search plugins you don't want by removing the associated files.
Note: The default set of search engines are stored as *.src and *.gif or *.png files (for example, "google.src" and "google.gif") in the "seachplugins" subfolder of the Firefox installation directory. In previous versions of Firefox, when you install a new search engine, the associated files are added there. Starting in Firefox 1.5, added search engines are placed in a new "searchplugins" subfolder of the profile folder so you may have searchplugin files in both locations.
Linux users
For Firefox versions earlier than 1.5, you will need write privileges to the "searchplugins" subdirectory under the installation directory to add additional search engines. If you've installed Firefox to a location where you do not have write privileges, you can either manually change permissions on the "searchplugins" folder or briefly run firefox as root. This is not necessary in Firefox 1.5 or later because newly installed search engines are stored in the user's profile. However, Firefox comes with a set of pre-installed search engines that are present in the installation directory, in the subdirectory "searchplugins". All users will see them. If you want to remove those searchplugins, simply delete the corresponding or all files from this directory (with the same privileges as were used for the orginal installation, usually root) and allow individual users to re-install what they personally prefer.
Clearing search history
You can clear the previous searches from the Search Bar. Just right-click it and select "Clear Search History". You can delete individual elements by selecting them and pressing "Shift+Del".
Viewing filtered results from search engines
There is a way to turn Safesearch off in the Google search plugin without setting preference cookies. Simply go to the Firefox installation directory, open up the "searchplugins" folder, open the "google.src" file in a text editor like Notepad and add <input name="safe" value="off"> between <input name="oe" value="utf-8"> and <interpret browserResultType="result">. Then save the file and restart Firefox.
Yahoo
To turn off filtering for Yahoo, go to the Firefox installation directory and open the "searchplugins" folder. Then open up the "yahoo.src" file in Notepad or a similar text editor. Add <input name="vm" value="i"> after <input name="ei" value="UTF-8">. Save and restart Firefox.
See also
External links
- Search Engine Ordering Firefox extension
- Mycroft search plugin for MozillaZine Knowledge Base
