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Why is the search bar locked to a primary search provider?

  • 4 ŋuɖoɖowo
  • 33 masɔmasɔ sia le wosi
  • 2 views
  • Nuɖoɖo mlɔetɔ simonatl20

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Is there some config (preferable) or add-on (not ideal) that will bring back the prior look/functionality?

I'm really not sure what was accomplished with the re-designed search box. Can someone explain that to me as well? Because I don't see how it's an upgrade in any imaginable way.

On the other hand, I can point out a number of problems that make browsing much more cumbersome for the user.

1) By making the primary search engine locked, you've removed the ability to right-click-search any other provider. The highlight/right-click/search feature was based on whatever search engine was currently selected for the search box. I used this functionality quite often. Like, A LOT. For quickly googling words or subjects on a site. For launching several tabs filled with Twitter searches about various topics that have been discussed in an article I'm reading. For quickly getting a tab filled with YouTube videos that match a corresponding skill I'm learning. For querying Amazon for a product that is mentioned. I used it constantly, and now that feature has been crippled down to only the primary search engine.

2) By listing all the search engines in the drop-down (as part of the overall search list), there is now many more arrows-up (or down) you need to perform. If the search suggestions list your intended phrase, but it's at the bottom of the list, you used to be able to arrow-up one time and get to that input. Now, you either have to arrow-down all the way through the list of phrases, or arrow-up through all the search providers, to get to the last entry in the search suggestions. That's not efficient.

3) By getting rid of the pull-down menu of search providers, you've removed a quick way to get to search homepages. At times when I just want to quickly go to YouTube (or any of the search providers I've added), I'll select YouTube search and hit enter. Sometimes the way I get to Google Images is by hitting enter on a blank Google search and then selecting "Images" on the Google homepage. When I want to get to the front page of Amazon, select Amazon, hit enter. This isn't possible now, because you can't get to/select the other search engines unless you type something into the box.

I probably could go on, but I've only had this version of FF for less than 24 hours and am already frustrated by the loss of functionality for the sake of ZERO gain. I honestly don't know what the thought process was with this re-design.

Ways this could be fixed: 1) Don't lock to a primary search engine (why is this even necessary????). 2) Make selecting search providers available through keyboard buttons other than just arrow-up/down (used to be ctrl+up/down).

Is there some config (preferable) or add-on (not ideal) that will bring back the prior look/functionality? I'm really not sure what was accomplished with the re-designed search box. Can someone explain that to me as well? Because I don't see how it's an upgrade in any imaginable way. On the other hand, I can point out a number of problems that make browsing much more cumbersome for the user. 1) By making the primary search engine locked, you've removed the ability to right-click-search any other provider. The highlight/right-click/search feature was based on whatever search engine was currently selected for the search box. I used this functionality quite often. Like, A LOT. For quickly googling words or subjects on a site. For launching several tabs filled with Twitter searches about various topics that have been discussed in an article I'm reading. For quickly getting a tab filled with YouTube videos that match a corresponding skill I'm learning. For querying Amazon for a product that is mentioned. I used it constantly, and now that feature has been crippled down to only the primary search engine. 2) By listing all the search engines in the drop-down (as part of the overall search list), there is now many more arrows-up (or down) you need to perform. If the search suggestions list your intended phrase, but it's at the bottom of the list, you used to be able to arrow-up one time and get to that input. Now, you either have to arrow-down all the way through the list of phrases, or arrow-up through all the search providers, to get to the last entry in the search suggestions. That's not efficient. 3) By getting rid of the pull-down menu of search providers, you've removed a quick way to get to search homepages. At times when I just want to quickly go to YouTube (or any of the search providers I've added), I'll select YouTube search and hit enter. Sometimes the way I get to Google Images is by hitting enter on a blank Google search and then selecting "Images" on the Google homepage. When I want to get to the front page of Amazon, select Amazon, hit enter. This isn't possible now, because you can't get to/select the other search engines unless you type something into the box. I probably could go on, but I've only had this version of FF for less than 24 hours and am already frustrated by the loss of functionality for the sake of ZERO gain. I honestly don't know what the thought process was with this re-design. Ways this could be fixed: 1) Don't lock to a primary search engine (why is this even necessary????). 2) Make selecting search providers available through keyboard buttons other than just arrow-up/down (used to be ctrl+up/down).

All Replies (4)

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Just realized that the only way to get search suggestions from any other provider (than the default engine) you would have to go in and change the default every time you'd like to see those.

Firefox, are you serious?

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Firefox 34 has an all new Search Bar. See this - https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/search-bar-add-change-manage-search-engines-firefox - to learn about it.

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Thanks ed, but I think we've established there's a new search bar.


Just came back to post that I found the config setting I was looking for (on a random, non-mozilla-affiliated site no less), and it is:

browser.search.showOneOffButtons

Set to FALSE.

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I'll leave grief here as well, since I marked my issue as resolved with the config change. Extremely dislike the new (Version 34) search. Whereas the old search is snappy, easy to shortcut through a list of engines, copy/paste, make easy consecutive searches in <>primary engines, intuitive, this unintuitive new search feels silly. That little bar is important. I made the mistake of updating my browser while I was categorizing inventory, and whoa boy, crippled my workflow in a snap! Would love to see big feature enhancements (if you want to call this one) rolled out as optional with that boolean sending feedback back to Mozilla to decide adoption. cmd+L+Tab+alt+(dwn) - Might be a bad-shortcut habit, but it's one that I love! Just glad to see other users aren't a fan as well. :D