Note: for Mac OS X, use the Command key in place of Control for all shortcuts listed.

Written by Ghacks.net

I’m still using Firefox and I thought it would be nice to share some advanced configuration tips that helped me a lot with you. This article was inspired by Lifehackers Top Firefox 2 config tweaks but adds advanced tips to the mix. Rest assured that the configuration tweaks will not list the same tips that you see on every other site nowadays, I promise new unseen tips.

I should probably start with some basic information on how you edit the Firefox configuration at all. This is actually pretty simple: Enter about:config in the address bar and hit enter. A large preferences list should appear. Every option has a preference name, a status, a type and a value.We are using the name to find the option in the large list. Status defines if it is still the default value or has been edited by the user, type defines which values are accepted in the value field. For boolean it would be true or false, integer a number and so on. To filter the list enter part of the name into the Filter text field, the results get updated on the fly. On to the tweaks..

Change location of bookmarks file

• key: browser.bookmarks.file
• default: not existing, create new String by right-clicking and entering the above key
• value: path to bookmark.html, for instance e:\bookmark.html

You might want to change this if you want to use a removable drive to store your bookmarks for instance.

Middlemouse Paste

• key: middlemouse.paste
• default: false
• change to: true

Setting this option to true makes it possible to paste text into any text field in Firefox.

Hide Go Button

• key:browser.urlbar.hideGoButton
• default:false
• change to:true

If you set this value to true the Go button will be removed giving you more space in that bar. No one uses the go button anyway, just hit enter, this has the same effect.

Click Selects all in url bar

• key:browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll
• default:true
• change to:false

This is useful if you often copy only part of the url. The default behavior selects the complete url first if you click into the url bar and you have to click and select again to copy part of the url only.

Open Search Results in a new Tab

• key:browser.search.openintab
• default:false
• change to: true

Opens the search results always in a new tab instead of the currently active tab.

Spellcheck for textareas

• key:layout.spellcheckDefault
• default:1
• change to: 2

This activates the spell check for textareas and input fields as well.

Autofill in url bar

• key:browser.urlbar.autoFill
• default:false
• change to:true

Known urls are automatically completed while entering them.

Disable extension compatibility check

• key:extensions.checkCompatibility
• default: not existing, create new Boolean with the above name
• value: false

Setting this value to false means that Firefox will not check installed extensions for compatibility. Great during updates, could lead to problems with incompatible extensions though.

Removing personal information

While you are surfing, information such as cookies, forms, passwords
and a browsing history is constantly stored.
You can simply remove this information, e.g. for privacy reasons, at
home or in the library. This done by using the keyboard shortcut ‘Ctrl
+ Shift + Del’, or by going to ‘Tools > Clear Private Data’.

There you simply tick the boxes indicating the type of information
you wish to delete from the computer. Next, click Clear Private Data,
to actually delete the information.

Javascript settings

Websites
are able to tailor or disable certain things with the help of
JavaScript. For example the status bar of the browser, or new windows
that appear in Firefox.

You can enable/disable JavaScript by going to ‘Tools > Options > Content’ and either ticking ‘Enable JavaScript’ or removing the tick. Click on the ‘Advanced’ button next to ‘Enable JavaScript’ to adjust the specific settings.

You indicate here whether the website will be allowed to adjust the
status bar, change window sizes or change a number of other things.

Fast key combinations

Firefox uses many keyboard shortcuts. A few useful keyboard shortcuts include:

Show history: Ctrl + h

New Tab: Ctrl + T

Close Tab: Ctrl + w or Ctrl + F4

New window: Ctrl + n

Add to favourites: Ctrl + i or Ctrl + b

Go back one page: Backspace

Downloads: Ctrl + j