Archive:Mozilla Firefox

Introduction
This page is meant for end-users and first-time administrators configuring Mozilla Firefox for end-users. Please keep your edits concise and unbiased (don't add your favorite extension just because you like it - think about the average user). Specifically, this documentation is based on my experiences working at a high school.

Originally taken from The Windows Documentation Project, but moved here for centralization. For more Tips & Tricks see the gentoo-wiki.

By CoolAJ86

About Firefox

 * Homepage: http://getfirefox.com
 * Support: http://wiki.mozilla.org

Installing

 * Windows: Download from http://getfirefox.com
 * Mac OS X: Download from http://getfirefox.com
 * Ubuntu (Debian) Linux:
 * Search for 'Firefox' in Desktop => System Tools => Syaptic
 * Search for 'Firefox' in Desktop => System Tools => Syaptic

The installation process is quite simple. If you think viewing the installation process in pictures would help you feel more comfortable there is a page available for you to do so.

Macromedia Flash

 * [Download]

Primary Extensions
This is a short list of some of the most useful extensions that most end-users seem to enjoy and should probably be shipped with Firefox by default. I'm mindfull that an administrator would be installing these, a user may use them every day but never know it.

Google Suggest
The Google Suggest Firefox Extension is one of a few Extensions by Google. It integrates the power of Google Suggest into the main search bar of the browser. For those who are not familiar with Google Suggest, it is a technology which suggests autocompletions for your search based on the most popular searches. No configuration is necessary or offered for this extension. Graphic Example
 * Screenshot
 * [Download]

Google Preview

 * Screenshot
 * [Download]

Tabbrowser Prefences
Tabbrowser Preferences, true to its name, provides additional preferences for tabbed browsing via an user-interface addon in (in Microsoft Windows) or.
 * [Download]

Download Tweak Manager

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Webmail Compose

 * Screenshot
 * [Download]

Adblock

 * Screenshot
 * [Download]
 * Importable list of Ad sites

Forecastfox

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Session Saver

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Undoclosetab

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Paste and Go

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Secondary Extensions
This extensions are must-have, but are not user-trasparent (a user would have to recognize they exist in order to use them).

Google Toolbar

 * Screenshot
 * [Download]

TinyURL Creator

 * Screenshot
 * Download

IE View

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Deepest Sender

 * Screenshot
 * Download

FireFTP

 * Screenshot
 * Download

downTHEMall!

 * Screenshot
 * Download

Customizing the User Interface
Now that you have extensions installed, there are a few things that most users and administrators will want to change to make Firefox even more user-friendly. This assumes that you have installed the 'Primary' Exntensions as listed above.

Advanced Tab

 * 1) Uncheck Auto update

Downloads Tab

 * 1) Click Options
 * 2) Radio "Open in the Sidebar"
 * 3) Check close when downloads complete

Privacy

 * 1) Don't store passwords
 * 2) History 0 days
 * 3) don't save forms
 * 4) remove dl history when exits
 * 5) keep cookies until close

tabbed browsing

 * 1) tab focus : select tabs when the mouse is moved onto them
 * 2) uncheck "hide the tab bar when only one tab is open
 * 3) load the following in new tabs: searches from the search bar

add searches
wikipedia with google urban dictionary IMDB google scholar

webmail compose
tools > extensions > webmail
 * enable gmail hotmail yahoo

adblock
tools > adblock > preferences

forcastfox
set area code on next restart

Quick Search
There are certain quick searches you can perform by specifying the type of search in the Location bar
 * slang ${keyword}

Multiple Extensions
If you have already downloaded a number of extensions and wish to add them all at once it is simple to do so.
 * 1) Open up a file browser where the extenions (xpi files) have been saved. Example:
 * 2) * explorer C:\Downloads\Firefox\extensions
 * 3) * nautilus -browser ~/Downloads/Firefox/extensions
 * 4) Open Firefox's extension browser
 * 5) * Tools => Extensions
 * 6) Drag and drop the extenions (xpi files) from the File Browser into the Firefox Extension Browser
 * 7) Click Continue or Install as appropriate

Tips and Tricks - Public Machines

 * 1) Make default browser
 * 2) Disable MSIE through 'Set Application Defaults' - MSIE is a major security Risk
 * 3) location:about:config, add browser.bookmarks.file ${HOME}\bookmarks.html
 * 4) Set all caches to clear on exit


 * 1) Extensions (in VUHS_Software/internet/firefox_ext/)
 * 2) Disable automatic updates if frozen

Troubleshooting
If you are having trouble using the "Add Engines..." feature of the Firefox Search Bar, take a look at this qwik 2-step solution:
 * http://gentoo-wiki.com/Search_Bar_Plugin