Since Firefox update (34.0) the functionality of InstantFox 2.8.9 has been curtailed. Help?
Look I know I will most likely need to also contact InstantFox 2.8.9's support pages but to my mind it makes more sense to ask for help here! Also I know my browser is probably a bit too 'top heavy' with my choices of extensions for the smooth working of my current 'ancient' laptop... But they suit me as is and, for the moment, I can I live with the eccentricities most likely caused by this present configuration...!
Since this update wherein the Search functions of Firefox have been tweaked InstantFox 2.8.9 has lost parts of its functions:-
1) The toolbar button which opens the dropdown box containing my preferred list of search engines has disappeared from the toolbar and the about:customizing Firefox page. It is a real hassle to have to access it via the Add-ons Manager since I cannot always remember all of my shortcuts for quicksearches.
2) Also the quick access to the above has been removed from the Tools menu.
3) The list of search engines has disappeared from the context menu which was very useful for a quick specific search from any highlighted text.
4) Firefox's own Search Manager does not contain this list but they do seem to be seeping in. But... for instance I do not need Amazon.com; I need Amazon.co.uk
As far as I can ascertain my shortcuts for quicksearches are all still functioning. By the way the functionality of InstantFox 2.8.9, when unencumbered by contradicting tweaks, is definitely much more to my liking!
Maybe your developers could liaise with InstantFox 2.8.9's developers... to tweak search operations to perfection! Sorry guys but am not savvy enough to be a developer or whatever [I surf (et al) holding on for dear life by 'the seat of my pants'!] so am unsure if I am making sense! Therefore also unsure if my assumptions are correct. Please politely inform what is really happening here. Have been rather reticent to contact you since, once before, was very rudely reprimanded when I tried to ask a question on another Mozilla forum...
So is it possible to get InstantFox 2.8.9 working at optimum again or can I suppress Firefox's new Search capabilities so that it will work unhindered...?
Many thanks to you all,
Regards from,
Ian.
P.S.: Apologies if this reads too sarcastic for you. Please forgive me have, on and off, spent most of today frustratedly trying to work this out whilst, amongst other things, the communal Central Heating here has failed. On a Sunday, no less, when I cannot get in contact with the Housing Association... and so on... Peace
All Replies (3)
hello ian, the changes in the search interface landed in firefox 34 without the usual grace period that allows addon developers to prepare & adapt. you were right that ultimately the solution will have to come from the instantfox developer but they might just a bit of time to do that.
in the meantime you could switch back to the former search interface & see if instantfox works with that: enter about:config into the firefox address bar (confirm the info message in case it shows up) & search for the preference named browser.search.showOneOffButtons. double-click it and change its value to false (this will take a restart of the browser to have an effect)
Hi Philip, Many thanks for the heads up re the lack of a grace period for add-on developers this time around. Recent Firefox updates have all seemed to eradicate more and more of the eccentricities that my browser configuration experiences... So this update was a surprise which caused me much...
Forgive my tardiness in replying but even though your suggestion was most informative and useful it did not rectify the problem. So, as you suggested, have waited till today when InstantFox sent out their update. Thankfully now all is working as 'on the box'!
Just one question:... I assume that I should leave Firefox's own search interface 'suppressed'? Don't want to go messing with about:config unless I have to!
Again Many Thanks and Regards from, Ian.
P.S.: Where can I learn about the meaning of about:config items and other 'languages' working in the background?
if you have edited "browser.search.showOneOffButtons" after my prior reply you can switch it back to true (that's the default value), now that instantfox has quickly come up with an update.
and regarding your p.s., there isn't really a comprehensive guide (that i know of) that covers the meaning of all the firefox preferences in about:config, but one site that i regularly use for looking up such things is http://kb.mozillazine.org/About:config_entries
best regards philipp