Firefox keyboard shortcuts

Learning to use Firefox keyboard shortcuts to reduce your trips to the mouse can lead to a much more fulfilling web browsing experience, especially at those times that your mouse just isn't doing the trick.

Okay, you got me. I have, on occasion (read: often), neglected to charge my wireless mouse for long enough that, when it's time to get posting on Lifehacker, I find myself totally mouse-less.

Now you're thinking, "What, just because this wire-hating jerk can't remember to put his mouse on the charger every now and then, I'm supposed to get all excited about the idea of using Firefox without a mouse?" But that's not it at all, people!

I'm the kind of web surfer who's never terribly happy when he has to move his hand over to the mouse, and frankly, jumping over to the mouse every time you need to follow a link is so 2004. Check out the following Firefox keyboard shortcuts (some well-known, others not), and before long you'll forget all about the little rodent next to your keyboard.

Navigation from the toolbar

The address bar shortcut should be as instinctual as breathing by now, but there's a few more shortcuts to that top bar that you should keep in mind.

• Select location bar: Ctrl/Cmd+L or Alt+D
• Select search bar: Ctrl/Cmd+K
• Back: Backspace or Alt/Cmd+Left
• Forward: Alt/Option+Right or Shift+Backspace
• Change search engine: Ctrl/Cmd+Down (Next) +Up (Previous)

The last shortcut, used to change the search engine, was a big discovery for me. I've always been interested in additional search bar plugins, but it was never worth the trip to the mouse. No problem any more.

Searching pages

The find-as-you-type feature was an epiphany. While Google is great at getting you to the right web page, Firefox's find-as-you-type feature gets you the rest of the way.

• Find as you type text: /
• Find as you type link: '
• Regular old find: Ctrl/Cmd+F

The link search is very useful, especially when used in conjunction with...

Opening pages

Unless you do all of your browsing in one page, these shortcuts are huge when you don't want to go running for your mouse.

• Open link in new window: Shift+Enter
• Open link in new tab: Ctrl/Cmd+Enter
• Open address/search in new tab: Alt/Option+Enter

Used together with their respective shortcuts (address and search bar shortcuts and the find-as-you-type link shortcut), the page opening shortcuts go a long way toward mouse-less browsing.

Grab bag

The following shortcuts fall into a more general grab bag of useful shortcuts.

• Caret browsing: F7
• Refresh: Ctrl/Cmd+R or F5
• Refresh (override cache): Ctrl/Cmd+F5 or Ctrl/Cmd+Shift+R
• Switch tabs: Ctrl/Cmd+Tab
• Select tab (1-9): Ctrl/Cmd+[1-9]
• Compose email: Ctrl/Cmd+M

The preceding shortcuts are of mostly obvious usefulness. Switching tabs and reloading pages are must-have shortcuts for any mouse-eschewing Firefox-er. A less-known feature, Caret browsing, inserts a cursor into the text of the page and is very useful for highlighting and copying text.

If you're looking to change your default mail program (e.g. to Gmail, etc.) to best utilize the Compose email shortcut, check out these tips for setting your default mail program.

So you're a web writer, huh?

If you've recently turned Firefox into a full-fledged web writer, then there are a couple more useful shortcuts that you need to know.

• Spellcheck (with Spellbound extension): Ctrl+Shift+F7
• Save Entry (with Scribe extension): Ctrl+S

And there's so much more!

Hate the mouse and the keyboard? While I can't solve that entirely, I can suggest that you throw some very useful and time-saving Quick searches into the mix.

Keyconfig extension

Finally, if you haven't totally satisfied your shortcut cravings, you can install the Keyconfig extension. Keyconfig allows you to define Firefox shortcuts to your hearts content.

Download Keyconfig

Some of the shortcuts above may be old hat, while others may be news to you. I've excluded a lot of the more obvious universal shortcuts (like copy and paste), but I tried to include everything you need to browse just as you would with a mouse in hand. Still not enough? You might want to check out the full list of Firefox keyboard shortcuts.

Any other must-have Firefox shortcuts or extensions that make the mouse-less Firefox experience that much easier? Let us know in the comments or send an email to tips at lifehacker.com

Author: Adam Pash
Source:http://lifehacker.com/software/feature/hack-attack-mouseless-firefox-139495.php

SECURE YOUR FIREFOX PASSWORDS

Always use the "Master Password" feature in Firefox.
This is very important in order to prevent some one from seeing your passwords.

If you have a good firewall no one can access your passwords via a remote computer.
So your passwords will remain safe even if you dont use a master password.
But problems may arise IF your firewall fails at an intrusion attempt.
Webpages can also use ActiveX controls to breach your browser security.
So it is recommended to always use a Master Password.

HOW TO ADD A MASTER PASSWORD?
Go to "Tools" Select "Options"
Go to "Security" tab and check the box named "Use a Master Password"



In the box that pops up, type the preferred master password twice.
Always use passwords that are easy to remember,
which has >10 characters,
which is a non dictionary word,
which is not a common name and
which is not the name of your ex-gf/bf.

Always use numbers in the password. If possible, add a symbol (eg: %) too.
It will take years to crack such a password.



Here are two firefox extensions which can be used to make your passwords even more secure.

Secure Log in 0.8.1.4



It works the same way as opera's wand log in.
It uses the default password manager in firefox and adds an icon to your statusbar and navigation bar.
When you reach a log in page for a stored password, the Key icon changes colour.
It can also play a custom sound file.
Now you just need to press the icon to Sign In.
This extension works in Firefox 3 Beta also.

Code:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/4429

Master Password Timeout 0.2.5



By default, 300 secs (5 min) of inactivity will lock the master security device,
but this value can be adjusted in the extension manager options window.
Users can also log out of the master security device manually from the tools or context menu.

When the master security device is locked, the master password must be entered to gain access to saved passwords.
You may assign a master password in Tools > Options > Privacy > Passwords > Set Master Password.

Code:

https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/1275

HOW TO SEE THE PASSWORDS STORED INSIDE FIREFOX

Most often we use "Remember Passwords" when we log in to a website.
There's an option to view all of it together.

Go to "Tools" and select "Options" (Shortcut to this step:Alt+O)

Click on "Show Passwords"



In the new menu that opens up, you can see the accounts in which you have asked
firefox to remember passwords. Again Click on "Show Passwords"



If you have enabled a master password, a new window will open up asking for it.
Enter it in the box and press "Ok" If you haven't enabled it, you wont be prompted.



Finally a box will open up showing all the saved passwords.
Press "Hide Passwords" to hide the passwords again.

HOW TO ADD ANY SEARCH ENGINE TO FIREFOX

1. Open the Mozilla Addons webpage

Only RxPG members can see links here! Register or Sign In!

2. Click on the "Search Engines" link on the left hand side of the screen.



3. In that page you will 21 popular search engines. Just click on them, Press 'Add' in the dialog box that opens up.

4. If the search engine you want is not on that list, Scroll down till you see the heading "Additional Resources"

5. Click on the Mycroft.mozdev link



6. In the Mycroft Project page, You will see a Search box with the name "Site Name / URL:"

7. Enter the URL of the search engine you want. Eg: I want to add photobucket image search to my firefox, so i entered its URL.



8. Press 'Search'

9. In the new page that opens up, you will see the name of the search engine, Just click on it.



10. Press 'Add' in the dialog box that opens up.

SORT YOUR BOOKMARKS IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER IN FIREFOX

This is a simple but less known tip on how to arrange your bookmarks in alphabetical order.

Open the 'Bookmarks' menu from the firefox Menu bar.

Place the mouse pointer on any of your bookmark, Right Click and Click on "Sort by name"

Thats it! Its done.

Firefox Shortcuts!!!

Close Tab ctrl+f4
complete .com address ctrl+enter
complete.net address ctrl+enter
complete .org address ctrl+shift+enter
open the url in a new tab alt+enter
increase or decrease text size ctrl +/- or ctrl+scrollupordown
ctrl+tab scroll thru tabs
Ctrl+n (where n is a number) Go to the nth tab
ctrl+shift+r refresh the page and clear the cache try
open any link on a page in new tab jus press ur scroll wheel..

Download Firefox Ebay Editon..

An eBay customized version of Firefox browser is also available for eBay users in U.K, France and Germany.This eBay-edition is launched for the ease of bidders and sellers as by using this edition traders can easily keep an eye on their eBay trades.

Other features of eBay browser:

a) Quick access sidebar that shows real-time notification on items being watched

b) eBay’s Account Guard which ensures users that they’re viewing the legitimate eBay site.

c) Auction alerts.

Click here to download Mozilla Firefox eBay Edition.

What's New in Firefox 2

What's New in Firefox 2

1) Visual Refresh: Firefox 2's theme and user interface have been updated to improve usability without altering the familiarity of the browsing experience.

2) Built-in phishing protection: Phishing Protection warns users when they encounter suspected Web forgeries, and offers to return the user to their home page. Phishing Protection is turned on by default, and works by checking sites against either a local or online list of known phishing sites. This list is automatically downloaded and regularly updated when the Phishing Protection feature is enabled.

3) Enhanced search capabilities: Search term suggestions will now appear as users type in the integrated search box when using the Google, Yahoo! or Answers.com search engines. A new search engine manager makes it easier to add, remove and re-order search engines, and users will be alerted when Firefox encounters a website that offers new search engines that the user may wish to install.

4) Improved tabbed browsing: By default, Firefox will open links in new tabs instead of new windows, and each tab will now have a close tab button. Power users who open more tabs than can fit in a single window will see arrows on the left and right side of the tab strip that let them scroll back and forth between their tabs. The History menu will keep a list of recently closed tabs, and a shortcut lets users quickly re-open an accidentally closed tab.

5) Resuming your browsing session: The Session Restore feature restores windows, tabs, text typed in forms, and in-progress downloads from the last user session. It will be activated automatically when installing an application update or extension, and users will be asked if they want to resume their previous session after a system crash.

6) Previewing and subscribing to Web feeds: Users can decide how to handle Web feeds (like this one), either subscribing to them via a Web service or in a standalone RSS reader, or adding them as Live Bookmarks. My Yahoo!, Bloglines and Google Reader come pre-loaded as Web service options, but users can add any Web service that handles RSS feeds.

7) Inline spell checking: A new built-in spell checker enables users to quickly check the spelling of text entered into Web forms (like this one) without having to use a separate application.

8) Live Titles: When a website offers a microsummary (a regularly updated summary of the most important information on a Web page), users can create a bookmark with a "Live Title". Compact enough to fit in the space available to a bookmark label, they provide more useful information about pages than static page titles, and are regularly updated with the latest information. There are several websites that can be bookmarked with Live Titles, and even more add-ons to generate Live Titles for other popular websites.

9) Improved Add-ons manager: The new Add-ons manager improves the user interface for managing extensions and themes, combining them both in a single tool.

10) JavaScript 1.7: JavaScript 1.7 is a language update introducing several new features such as generators, iterators, array comprehensions, let expressions, and destructuring assignments. It also includes all the features of JavaScript 1.6.
11) Extended search plugin format: The Firefox search engine format now supports search engine plugins written in Sherlock and OpenSearch formats and allows search engines to provide search term suggestions.

12) Updates to the extension system: The extension system has been updated to provide enhanced security and to allow for easier localization of extensions.

13) Client-side session and persistent storage: New support for storing structured data on the client side, to enable better handling of online transactions and improved performance when dealing with large amounts of data, such as documents and mailboxes. This is based on the WHATWG specification for client-side session and persistent storage.

14) SVG text: Support for the svg:textpath specification enables SVG text to follow a curve or shape.

15) New Windows installer: Based on Nullsoft Scriptable Install System, the new Windows installer resolves many long-standing issues.

Source: http://www.mozilla.com/

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