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How do i set search to open in new tab?

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  • Last reply by Richard

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When I do a "google search" I want it to open in a new tab...how do I set that?

When I do a "google search" I want it to open in a new tab...how do I set that?

Chosen solution

Look in the about:config window for these settings and change them:

  • browser.search.openintab - if true, will open a search from the searchbar in a new tab if you use the return key to trigger the search
  • browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground - if true, bookmarks that open in a new tab will not steal focus
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground - Load the new tab in the background, leaving focus on the current tab if true
  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground - Do not focus new tabs opened from links (load in background) if true
  • browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick - if true, links can be forced to open a new tab if middle-clicked. Useful for search results.
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are doing this on the links:

     right click -> Open Link in New Tab
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There is no "links" when you do a search in google! and yes i have tried doing a "right click" but it does not work in google search. when i used IE i could set preferences for google search but i cannot seem to find where to do that in firefox thanks,

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It doesn't work on Google, which is kind of essential. Google will still only open links in the same window.

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Which search do you mean?

  • searching via the location bar (pref: keyword.URL)
  • search bar on the Navigation Toolbar
  • search bar on the about:home page (pref: browser.search.defaultenginename)
  • other search bar (e.g. added by extension)

For the search bar on the Navigation Toolbar you can set the Boolean pref browser.search.openintab to true on the about:config page.

You can also middle-click the search button or menu entry or use Alt+Enter to open the results in a new tab.

For the Google website you can set that via the Google Search Settings page.

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I would like to set the preferences so that google search or any other link or bookmark always open in a new tab. I know I can right click and choose open in a new tab. It's an "extra" step that I would like to avoid. But I can see no options in preferences which allow this. This was true when I was using Windows XP and it is true now using Mac OSX 10.7.5. I have all of the options under "preferences - tabs" checked.

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Chosen Solution

Look in the about:config window for these settings and change them:

  • browser.search.openintab - if true, will open a search from the searchbar in a new tab if you use the return key to trigger the search
  • browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground - if true, bookmarks that open in a new tab will not steal focus
  • browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground - Load the new tab in the background, leaving focus on the current tab if true
  • browser.tabs.loadInBackground - Do not focus new tabs opened from links (load in background) if true
  • browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick - if true, links can be forced to open a new tab if middle-clicked. Useful for search results.
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This really didn't solve the question but whatever; i found i can just click on the tab with "+" (to open a new tab) and then do the google search

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I have not yet implemented your solution, but will do so in the near future. It does involve getting into the bowels of Firefox -- so I want to be careful. I also found out that "Command + Click" opens a new tab, which is much more convenient than "Right click ; click on Open in a New Tab."

But a further question: what is then the purpose of "Open new windows in a new tab instead" in the Tabs page of Firefox Preferences? I am curious and i also like to know the purpose of preference settings in the various applications I use.

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Rudy P -- I did not ask about opening a new tab to search. I was inquiring as to how to open a bookmark or some other link without right clicking and then clicking on "open in a new tab" I found out that one way was to click on the link while holding down Command. That all being said, your solution for searching in a "separate" tab is a good one. Thanks

Finitarry: your reply to my question appears to be the most comprehensive, but I think I can live with Command + click. Still, as I asked earlier, what is the purpose of all the options presented on the Tabs tab of Firefox preferences. Thanks to you, too.

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Some links would normally open in a new window, but you can make them open in a new tab instead with that preference set.

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Where are you using the Google search?

For results on the Google webpage you can use set that here (Where results open):

If you have a mouse with a clickable mouse wheel then you can middle-click a link to open a link in a new tab similar to Ctrl and left-click.

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clicking on the wheel does not work that way on a Mac -- takes you to a "mission control pad" screen (don't ask) -- it did work the way you said on my old PC -- perhaps I can reprogram the wheel click -- I should look into that -- thanks any way for the suggestion

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Look at the last suggestion I posted. Is that setting true? If not, set it to true. The mousewheel click should then open a link in a new tab.

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Here's a video on how to do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFkuhOYnlUE

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Unlike the text answer, the video did NOT say you need to initiate the search by hitting the return key. So I thought the new setting did not work. Then I read the text reply -- it works! I wonder why the setting requires the search key (vs the moused) to be used?

Does the search key have to be used for the other settings mentioned in the reply?

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What do you mean by search key? If you mean getting search results in a new tab from a search engine results page, just middle-click the links.

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My Fault. My question should have read whether the RETURN key had to be used in connections with the other settings you gave me. And I also used the wrong term in the last sentence of my first paragraph. I have an iPad in addition to my iMac -- and when you enter a term in the Google box, the label on the Enter / Return key becomes "Search" (an electronic keyboard -- gosh -- what will they think of next -- sliced bread?)

I know about using the right click / select "open in nee tab. And I know about clicking on the center wheel. As to the latter: it does not work in Wikipedia. Whne you wheel click, you get a small round thingee whose purpose eludes me.

Many thanks for your forbearance.

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The first item, browser.search.openintab, is the only one where you would use the return key. The rest involve either left-clicking or middle-clicking.

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thanks

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