Tip 15: Quick Searches in Firefox
[This entry was edited to reflect the removal of the default Quick Search folder from Firefox. Previous entry can be found here]
In Firefox you can associate a keyword with any bookmark. If you right click and select properties on a bookmark you'll notice there is a keyword field. If you type a keyword in this field you can access the bookmark by typing the keyword in the address bar instead of the whole web address.
There is also a feature called smart keywords which allows you to specify a placeholder (%s) in the location textbox which is replaced by the text following the keyword. In the example below you can see that the location URL ends with "/search?q=%s". When you type the keyword g followed by a search sting, for example g smart keywords in the address bar the %s in the URL is replaced by the words "smart keywords" and a Google search on these two words is executed.
609. Seth Dillingham on 11/8/2006
Mike,
Where is this "quick searches" folder you're talking about? I don't have it. Are you sure that's not something you created?
I believe quick searches, as you've called them, are done with keywords Firefox's smart keywords. The GUI for smart keywords have changed a lot since they were first introduce in the Mozilla app suite, but I don't think they've ever been managed with a Quick Searches folder in the bookmarks. At least, not OMM.
Did you install an extension that affects keywords? That could explain it... because ANY bookmark can have a "keyword" associated with it, to turn it into a "smart keywrod."
Seth
612. Mike Black on 11/8/2006
Seth,
Apparently the quick searches folder isn't created with Firefox any more. I created a new profile ("firefox --profilemanager" from the command line) and the folder wasn't in the profile. It used to be created by default, in fact it is even mentioned in the smart keywords link in your post - "Firefox comes with a Quick Searches folder so you could use that. Click OK". I also found some references on the web mentioning the folder.
What I was referring to as quick searches are effectively smart keywords as you pointed out. The whole tip is about associating a keyword with a bookmark.
Thanks for pointing it out. Now that the folder isn't created by default it is misleading anyway.
Mike
