Search from Address Bar in Firefox
Posts: 6
At my house I have 4 computers running Firefox as their web browser, but the one in Mepis is the only one that isn't able to automatically do a search from the address bar. Something seems to be broken. Putting in "mepis" or any other search term in the address bar gives:
"The URL is not valid and cannot be loaded."
Mainly I'm wondering if this is just a bug on my system (though I've tried versions 1.0.3 AND 1.0.6 with the same results) or if it's some sort of mod in the Debian package version (I know that all of the rpm versions that I've tried don't do this). If anyone knows how to return it to the default Firefox settings that would be great. Hehe, maybe I'm getting too old, but having both Firefox and IE work the same way on 4 other computers and then have this one that works differently is just too confusing for my head to get around. I keep screwing up and forgetting to search from the search bar resulting in annoying error messages. 
If no one knows how to get it to the normal settings, I'll try getting the installer from the mozilla website and see if I can get that working.
Thanks for any answers. 
Firefox about:config
Posts: 499
Is the default serach enging set? In the address bar, type "about:config" without the quotes. This will bring up the configuration options for Firefox. Look for:
browser.search.selectedEngine
This should be set to google, or whatever your favorite search engine may be. Also look at the following:
keyword.URL [String] - This setting determines the address to use to run searches when you type a word in the Firefox Address Bar. By default it points to Google, but entering a word in the address bar just goes to the first site Google finds (i.e. the default is the I'm Feeling Lucky search method). Instead you might want to try setting it to http://www.google.com/search?&q= which is the general Google search string. Now any time you enter a word in the address bar and press Enter it will take you to a Google page showing you the results of the search for that term.
keyword.enabled [Boolean] (True) - By default entering a word in the Firefox Address Bar is considered a Keyword, and Firefox will either look for a bookmark with the same defined keyword and launch it, or commence a search in Google to find the most likely site from that word. If you don't like the Internet Keywords functionality you can disable it by setting this value to False. Bookmark Keywords will still function however. Disabling this setting is generally not recommended as Keywords are a unique and highly useful feature of Firefox.
I hope this helps. I found this information by doing a search of Google and found the tweaks at:
http://www.tweakguides.com/Firefox_9.html
You can find most of the tweaks and settings for Firefox here or at many other places listed by a Google search. Good luck!
Joe Pearce
The student is not above the teacher
The servant is not above the master
The student shares the teacher's fate
The servant shares the master's
All settings normal.
Posts: 6
Figured this out just a second ago. I thought I had all the options set up right before, but then decided to try your keyword.URL settings as it is slightly different than the one I use, the firefox tips and tricks site gives the normal google search url as:
http://www.google.com/search?btnG=Google+Search&q=
Anyway, when I went to check, I found out that in copying and pasting I had picked up an extra symbol on one side or the other. Getting rid of that fixed things up nicely. I always feel dumb when it's a simple error like that, but at least it's something easy.
Everyone makes mistakes
Posts: 499
I am glad you were able to get it going. Don't feel bad; the older I get the more mistakes I make.
Joe Pearce
The student is not above the teacher
The servant is not above the master
The student shares the teacher's fate
The servant shares the master's
Does this help
Posts: 11
Check out this link to see if it helps you.
http://www.email-x.net/archive.php/o_t__t_384__firefox-address-shortcuts-gg-dict-yy-imdb....html
MC