How do you replace/amend/etc. the private browsing page when you open a new private window?
When opening a Private Browsing window, I get a page with the text
"You're browsing privately
Firefox won't remember any history for this window.
That includes browsing history, search history, download history, web form history, cookies, and temporary internet files. However, files you download and bookmarks you make will be kept.
While this computer won't have a record of your browsing history, your employer or internet service provider can still track the pages you visit.
Learn More."
I would like to replace the information I get here. What I intend to do is this:
Recently, I developed the habit of opening in Private Mode all pages that I tend to use to procrastinate. In addition, I have a text file that lists things to do that might advance things I am working on, e.g. calls to make, texts to read, projects to start.
To display information from that text file instead of or in addition to the Private Browsing disclaimer might remind me in a prominent place of what I could also do productively instead of what I am about to do next.
Do you have ideas as to how I could always display the information from the text file in the vicinity of any new Private Browsing window? Do you know of features/add-ons I could use more or less creatively to achieve this? I searched for add-ons, looked at preference settings and searched for other solutions online, but not successfully.
What I would probably do if there is no solution in one of the veins I described is to write some kind of patch that replaces the en-US/chrome/browser/aboutPrivateBrowsing.dtd file with some kind of link to/inclusion of a reformatted version of my text file and that I can apply after Firefox updates. I would assume there is some better way than to fiddle with one of the files that is distributed with Firefox itself, but I do not see one yet.
ps: The text file I mentioned uses Emacs Org Mode syntax.
All Replies (5)
Why not just write some text or html file and bookmark it on Firefox. Open it as a tab when you need it.
Oddly my Libre Office files will open in LibO from Firefox. However I thought the LibO plugin for viewing in Firefox was active but apparently not. I am using Firefox on Ubuntu.
This seems to do the trick. Thanks! The only thing I have to do now is extend my habit to include opening the bookmarked file every time I open a Private Browsing window.
To completely get what I want without any habit-changing, I would need something like a Home Page, only specific to Private Browsing mode. From searching around this topic, I assume that this is not possible in exactly that way.
What I did try already was the console command 'firefox -private-window path/to/file', which I could put into a script file in e.g. /usr/local/bin. However, Firefox unexpectedly opens the URL provided in a new tab (not in Private Mode). I was not able to find out why it does that and will probably make another forum post on this.
Two additional things I already did to make John99's idea work with my specific setup:
1) Renamed the file from do.org to do (without extension). This leads to Firefox automatically opening the file as a text file.
2) (Emacs Org Mode specific) insert the line
do -*- mode: org -*-
at the top of the file, where 'do' is the document title. One can choose the document title freely.
The line lets Emacs understand that the file is an Org Mode document.
Why use Private Browsing ?
You could just set up a new additional profile use that whilst procrastinating. Setup you new homepage to include that document.
- Profile Manager - Create, remove or switch Firefox profiles
- If you use the -no-remote option on additional profiles ONLY you may even run multiple instances of Firefox. (Other good practice: do not nest profiles within each other's folders, and once created do not rename, or delete profiles )
You are able to have multiple tabs as a Homepage, you are not limited to single page. Even if you ordinarily open with session tabs the Home icon remains active and may open your homepage/s at any time
Note also you my modify how and what opens as a newtab page, that could be your do.org or you could pin do.org as a tile on that page.
I will look into profiles next. Thanks for the inspiration!
Just because I sensed a little challenge, I made my first add-on doing what I proposed above: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/open-preset-url-in-private-bro/
Of course, I appreciate comments or even pull requests, since I mainly pieced it together from tutorial information :-)
The information on MDN has been very helpful in this.
Edit: Seems the Add-On is not yet visible publicly. I also put it on GitHub. https://github.com/aviav/toolbar-button-to-open-url-in-private-browsing-window-addon/blob/master/toolbar-button-to-open-url-in-private-browsing-window-addon.xpi
Second Edit: Turns out it already was reviewed (wow, fast!) and the link I posted was incorrect.
Third Edit: It was correct, but took a little time to update. I included the old link again.
Modified by aviav
Wow that was quick writing an add-on.
A few comments regarding the addon
I tried it and note it has a checkbox option
[ ] Replace Private Browsing
I did not notice use of that check box having any effect. I had expected it to toggle between the URL and the default screen.
I also noticed you have one of your contact url as plaintext instead of as a link.
Not sure myself of the wording to suggest but could the description, or even the name be improved. For want of better word it is the splashscreen that is being replaced not just a URL. You could make that clear in your promotion of the add-on, because I have seen people previously asking about getting rid of that. Just removal of the default splash screen alone is a feature some people may want. Not something I know anything about on the AMO site but I do see other add-ons using multiple, tags & categories. You could probably add it to the appearance category and maybe include more tags on the addon site.
If you were to develop this further, and I do not even know if it is possible, but it quite likely it would be. Add the ability to add about: protocols not just http: the about:newtab may; or may not; be much good as an option, but I could see some liking the option to have PB open.
This is of course drifting off topic for this forum and would be better linked to some amo or github thread but I just thought I would add a few quick comments, as you have gone to the effort of building an add-on for people to use.
General point with mozilla related links. Omit the locale when posting. The link will work and in some cases redirect to a more appropriate url
- So use https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/open-preset-url-in-private-bro/
https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1045074
(linking kb articles is slightly different Find and install add-ons to add features to Firefox) - Because for instance there are https://addons.mozilla.org/el/firefox/addon/open-preset-url-in-private-bro/
https://support.mozilla.org/es/questions/1045074