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too little space for URL / addressbar - need vertical left/right add-on bar to place extension icons

  • 24 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 14 views
  • Last reply by cor-el

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While browsing, the URL is essential. I often need to drag / copy this URL to another application. Most of the time there simply is NO room at all to even grab the URL. So we need to enlarge the browser window in order to enlarge the toolbar.

Does any add on or extension exist that adds an additional left, right or bottom 'bar' where we can place extension icons / controls? So as to maximize room for the addressbar? With bigger and bigger monitors available it is just plain ridiculous to not be able to use this space.

While browsing, the URL is essential. I often need to drag / copy this URL to another application. Most of the time there simply is NO room at all to even grab the URL. So we need to enlarge the browser window in order to enlarge the toolbar. Does any add on or extension exist that adds an additional left, right or bottom 'bar' where we can place extension icons / controls? So as to maximize room for the addressbar? With bigger and bigger monitors available it is just plain ridiculous to not be able to use this space.
Attached screenshots

All Replies (20)

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you need to drop all those addon buttons into the overflow toolbar, that way the URL bar can use the free space.

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Understand, but where do you put those addon buttons then?

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FYI drop down the main menu, select "Customise..." (the one that looks like a paint brush - it will show a new section to with all the buttons and put the user interface into edit mode, simply drag loads of the addon buttons you use the least into "Overflow Menu" box and once complete you'll have a little set of ">>" that shows this new section - puts those addon buttons one extra click away but will improve overall usable screen space.

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That helps ;-) Thank you. Was not aware I could put them there. Nevertheless I would prefer a vertical menu bar like it existed in previous / old versions of FF.

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Hello ipanini,

Would you be so kind as to mark Dave's post as Chosen Solution ?

It's the "Solved the problem" button to the right of his post.

Thank you in advance !

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Hello McCoy,

How can I mark Dave's post as: "Helpfull - but not a solution"? It seems it is either solved or NOT solved.. In that case it is unfortunately not solved.

Thanks for helping out!

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Oops - I thought that by "That helps ;)" you meant that the problem is solved ..... (my bad !)

You did the right thing marking Dave's post as "Helpful" !


I just now read your original post; am I right thinking that your problem is that you can't copy a long URL because the address bar isn't long enough and you don't see the full URL ?

In that case : you don't have to see the whole URL - just click on it till the part that you do see turns blue and press Ctrl + C; the whole URL will be copied.

But I'm probably completely misconstruing you question ..... (?)

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There's also the “Megabar” which would give you more vertical space:

Enable New Redesigned Address bar “Megabar” in Mozilla Firefox https://www.askvg.com/tip-enable-new-redesigned-address-bar-megabar-in-mozilla-firefox/

Note that in this newer version of Firefox, the config entry has been renamed

browser.urlbar.update1

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Hi RobertJ,

Appreciate your reply and hint. Must admit: never heard about the "Megabar" yet

So immediately set out to try it, but unfortunately neither - browser.urlbar.megabar nor - browser.urlbar.update1 are available in my about:config

I did find: browser.urlbar.quantumbar and tried to toggle that, but don't see any difference yet (maybe after restarting FF, I'm on 68.5 on Catalina and noticed there's an update, but as a matter of fact I would prefer to limit updates to weekly or monthly, it feels there are just too many)

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Yep, the toggle would require a restart, so, maybe just wait until you do decide to update.

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Have you thought about changing the font size? It might give the "impression" of a larger url bar:

Theme Font & Size Changer https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/theme-font-size-changer/

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Oops! I just tried the Theme Font & Size Changer in my newer version and it doesn't do much at all.

Another option: Go back into about:config and set the entry layout.css.devPixelsPerPx to 2, or any other value that suits you. (1.3 or 1.4 might be better)

(( doesn't require a restart ))

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Hello again ipanini,

If you want to increase the length of your address bar (which doesn't surprise me when I look at your screenshots); why don't you make it
easy on yourself and simply follow Dave's advice ?

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It is possible to hide that extension identity label with code in userChrome.css.

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Note that the screenshot shows you still have the two flexible spaces left and right of the location bar. You can right-click in this empty area to remove them or drag them to the Customize palette in customize mode.

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Hi ipanini, just a note that you also can reclaim the empty space around the address bar, if you haven't already, by dragging those flexible spacers off while you have Customize open.

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Hello, I have a problem with the flexible space.

https://paste.pics/edit/d7b1478f08d3a51dc7c3bb527ee25e41

Looking at my other photos from my phone whilst being on firefox, I can see there's a lot of space around the address bar and search bar.

I tried using the customise part as well but that hasn't doing anything: https://paste.pics/edit/3a8d83f382ba2869adaa89e541da241f

Can there be anything to do to fix it back to the way it was?

Thank you.

Also, you may want to copy and paste the https and when you click on the image I have sent, go on view image, it may be better if you do that.

Modified by Jameshhill3

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Hi Jameshhill3, did you try the "Restore defaults" button at the bottom of the Customize page?

Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

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jscher2000 said

Hi Jameshhill3, did you try the "Restore defaults" button at the bottom of the Customize page? Customize Firefox controls, buttons and toolbars

Yes, but it takes away the search bar and I like to keep that on.

Before: https://paste.pics/edit/48205463825eebadc62a8399040e0249 After: https://paste.pics/edit/8432ec9b49195c06d17ed22c4f4ca083

Again, copy and paste the https or open them in a new tab if you want.

Thanks.

Modified by Jameshhill3

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Jameshhill3 said

Yes, but it takes away the search bar and I like to keep that on.

Before:   https://paste.pics/edit/48205463825eebadc62a8399040e0249

After:     https://paste.pics/edit/8432ec9b49195c06d17ed22c4f4ca083

Hello Jameshhill3,

I hope that jscher2000 won't mind my butting in, but you can add that search bar when you go to Options => Search :

Under "Search Bar" click "Add search bar in toolbar".

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