Industry guru Dave Taylor answers free tech support questions about a wide variety of business and technical topics, including blogging, Google AdSense, MySpace, Sony PSP, Apple iPod, Mp3 players, management, Linux, SEO, Mac OS X, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Microsoft Windows.

How can I add a new search engine to Firefox?

I think we're kindred spirits, Dave. I spend way too much of my time on the Internet Movie DB and would like to cut out a step: is there any way in Firefox that I can have the little search box on the address bar go directly to IMDB?


Dave's Answer:

Yes, sounds like we're wanna-be pals. I am the only person I know who has a "Web clip" bookmark on my iPhone for IMDB (and, to my surprise, it's not some slick custom iPhone icon) because I find myself going there just about every single day.

I've also been migrating from Apple's Safari browser to Firefox because Safari is becoming increasingly unstable for me and so I too have been eyeballing that search area on the top right corner of Firefox and wondering what you can do with it.

Fortunately, all is revealed by simply clicking on the tiny triangle icon and revealing the pop-up menu:

Firefox: Custom Search Engine: Pop-up menu

Choose Manage Search Engines... and you'll pop right to the proper preference window:

Firefox: Search Engines Installed

Choose the subtle little Get more search engines link and you'll promptly be directed to the Firefox add-ons: Search Engines page on the Firefox site. It has quite a list of different site search engines that are compatible with Firefox and have been scripted, including A9, BBC News, Marketwatch, ESPN, Expedia, Technorati and the Weather Channel.

More importantly, yes, it has IMDB:

Firefox: Search Engines

Click on the name of the search engine (in this case "IMDB") and instantly a window will pop up:

Firefox: Add Search Engine?

Choose "Add" and, if you want, have it simultaneously change the default search engine to the new entry at the same time by checking "Start using it right away."

Now you have movie nerd nirvana, IMDB search accessible right on your address bar. Life is good.



Help others find this article at Del.icio.us, Digg, Netscape, Reddit, and Simpy.

Subscribe!

Never miss another useful Q&A article again! Subscribe to AskDaveTaylor with Google Reader.

Comments

I am a windows user and have recently switched from IE to Safari. Could you explain how to add search engines to your search bar in Safari?

Posted by: Alex at April 26, 2008 5:46 PM

I have a lot to say, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but most of all I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a chai!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!









Remember personal info?


Please note that I will never send you any unsolicited commercial email. Ever.

While I'm at it, please note that by submitting a question or comment you're agreeing to my terms of service, which are: you relinquish any subsequent rights of ownership to your material by submitting it on this site.









Search
Find just the answers you seek from among our 1700+ free tech support articles by using our Lijit search engine.


Help!





Subscribe to
Ask Dave Taylor!

Add to Google Reader
Add to My Yahoo!
Subscribe in NewsGator Online

RDF   XML

Free Updates!
Sign up and get free weekly updates and special offers on books, seminars, workshops and more.


Recent Entries
Join the List!
Join my author info mailing list, where you'll learn about my upcoming books, speaking gigs, and more!


Book Links
© 2002 - 2008 by Dave Taylor. All Rights Reserved.

Note: This web site is for the purpose of disseminating information for educational purposes, free of charge, for the benefit of all visitors. We take great care to provide quality information. However, we do not guarantee, and accept no legal liability whatsoever arising from or connected to, the accuracy, reliability, currency or completeness of any material contained on this web site or on any linked site.

[whiteboard marker tray]