Firefox: Convert your Address Bar into Search Box

While most of you might not be aware that you can transform your location bar into a simple search box, this feature is better known as Quick Search. Now you might ask, Why Quick Search while there is already a search box at the upper right corner of my Browser. Well, Quick  Search allows you to search more efficiently by avoiding the unnecessary use of Mouse (i.e Save the battery of your Wireless Mouse)

e.g: If I need to Search Google for ‘TechBuzz’, I just open a new tab (Ctrl + T) and type ‘g TechBuzz’ followed by Enter Key. This might not work for you because by default Firefox has ‘google’ Keyword for Google Quick Search, you can change keyword from Bookmarks >> Quick Search >> Google Quick Search >> Goto its Properties (Right Click) and then change its keywords

More Quick Search Bookmarks:

Add these Quick Search Bookmarks to your browser and search efficiently and continently

Flickr:
Name: Flickr Search
Location: http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=s
Keyword: flickr
Sample query: chicken

Technorati (Blog Search):
Name: Technorati Blog Search
Location: http://www.technorati.com/search/%s
Keyword: tblog
Sample query: tblog supreme court

Technorati (Tag Search):
Name: Technorati Tag Search
Location: http://www.technorati.com/search/tag/%s
Keyword: ttag
Sample query: ttag supreme court

Google Blog Search:
Name: Google Blog Search
Location: http://www.google.com/blogsearch?q=%s
Keyword: gblog
Sample query: gblog supreme court

Yahoo Blog Search:
Name: Yahoo Blog Search
Location: http://blog.news.search.yahoo.com/blog/search?p=%s
Keyword: yblog
Sample query: yblog supreme court

Google Maps/Local:
Name: Google Maps Search
Location: http://maps.google.com/maps?q=%s
Keyword: gmaps
Sample query: gmaps iowa city ia
Sample query: gmaps restaurants near lax
Note that all of the typical Google Local search queries work here.

Google News:
Name: Google News Search
Location: http://news.google.com/news?q=%s
Keyword: gnews
Sample query: gnews hurricane wilma

Yahoo News:
Name: Yahoo News Search
Location: http://news.search.yahoo.com/news/search?p=%s
Keyword: ynews
Sample query: ynews hurricane wilma

MSN News:
Name: MSN News Search
Location: http://search.msn.com/news/results.aspx?q=%s
Keyword: mnews
Sample query: mnews hurricane wilma

TechBuzz:
Name: Search TechBuzz
Location: http://tech-buzz.net/?s=%s
Keyword: tb
Sample query: firefox quick search

Feel free to customize keywords for your convenience and preference

Your Blog’s Quick Search:

If your running a WordPress Powered Blog (it doesn’t matter whether its WordPress.com or WordPress.org), then your Quick Search would be something like this:

Name: Search Your Blog
Location: http://yourblog.com/?s=%s
Keyword: <keyword> (Customize it !!)
Sample query: firefox quick search

Virtually you can create quick search for any type of Search Box. Please let me know if you have more Quick Search

This post was published by on September 14, 2006

About the Author: Thilak Rao works as a Social Media Expert. He is one of the first professional bloggers from India, and he loves to write, travel and click photos. Follow him on Twitter @thilak

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  • http://lilduckduck.com MamaDuck

    Well, gee, I feel like I should have known that, thanks!! Our how-to is up as well if you’d like to check it out!!

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    I had no idea! These are awesome! Nice contribution to the Writing Project at ProBlogger. My How To is up also.

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    I guess you learn something new everyday. I’ve never tied searching that way before.

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  • http://www.animebender.com/ Pat

    I guess you learn something new everyday. I've never tied searching that way before.