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Search Toolbar string editing in Firefox

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 5 views
  • Last reply by brian_mk

brian_mk
brian_mk
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This may seem like a minor issue, but I find it REALLY annoying...

When I want to edit an existing string in the Google search toolbar, first I have to click on the string. The entire string is then highlighted and a pull down window appears containg a list of all installed search engines. To continue, I have to click on the string a second time. Again the entire string is highlighted. I then have to click on the string YET AGAIN before I can actually edit the content. Who came up with this annoying idea? It REALLY sucks!

In just about every other user interface I have encountered, you only have to click twice on a string to edit it - not three times. Why present the user with a choice of search engines every time they want to change the search string?

This may seem like a minor issue, but I find it REALLY annoying... When I want to edit an existing string in the Google search toolbar, first I have to click on the string. The entire string is then highlighted and a pull down window appears containg a list of all installed search engines. To continue, I have to click on the string a second time. Again the entire string is highlighted. I then have to click on the string YET AGAIN before I can actually edit the content. Who came up with this annoying idea? It REALLY sucks! In just about every other user interface I have encountered, you only have to click twice on a string to edit it - not three times. Why present the user with a choice of search engines every time they want to change the search string?

Modified by brian_mk

Chosen solution

This annoying search toolbar feature only recently appeared in Firefox V36.

After some investigation, it transpires that you can go back to the original search toolbar scheme (as used on Firefox V35 and earlier) as follows...

Enter 'about:config' in the address bar, search for "browser.search.showOneOffButtons" and change to false.

Don't you just love progress :-)

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All Replies (4)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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Click once, wait a moment, then click again. Do not click near the icon.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can use the Ctrl+K key to set focus to the search bar and use the cursor left key or cursor right key to remove the highlighting. The up and down keys select one of the suggestions and the tab key will select a search engine.

brian_mk
brian_mk Question owner
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That means the cursor is initially placed at the start of the existing search string. I then have to either repeatedly press 'cursor right' or switch between keyboard and mouse.

I'm guessing it has been designed for touch screen users. For keyboard + mouse users, the way it's been implemented is annoying. Is there a way to configure the search bar back to the way it used be?

brian_mk
brian_mk Question owner
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Chosen Solution

This annoying search toolbar feature only recently appeared in Firefox V36.

After some investigation, it transpires that you can go back to the original search toolbar scheme (as used on Firefox V35 and earlier) as follows...

Enter 'about:config' in the address bar, search for "browser.search.showOneOffButtons" and change to false.

Don't you just love progress :-)