How to add a custom search engine to Firefox?

Question

Is there a way I can add a custom search URL to the Firefox search bar? e.g. I'd like to provide a URL such as http://blahblah.com?search=%s, where Firefox replaces the %s with the content of the search box.

Both IE and Opera can do this, but I can't figure out how to set it up in Firefox.

Answer 1

If you want, you can also use keywords in the address bar. For example, in my computer typing "wiki bread" searches for "bread" in Wikipedia. To do this, go to the site you want to use to search, right click on its (not Firefox's) search box, and select "Add a keyword". You can then tell Firefox what keyword to use when you want to search in that site. Personally, I find it more efficient than the search bar.

Answer 2

This extension lets you create a new search addon with just a right-click.

Answer 3

Build Your Own FireFox Search Engine

Answer 4

Not enough rep yet, but I would vote up splattne's and reyjavikvi's answers. Its as simple as right clicking in a search field.

The other advantage is that this process creates a bookmark for you. If you use something like XMarks to synchronize your bookmarks, you can access the same search functionality across all sync'd computers.

Answer 5

Here is a nice tutorial for Firefox's QuickSearch feature:

Quick search in a nutshell, allows you to turn a typical routined web search process into a command line shortcut. For example, instead of going to wikipedia.com to enter the search terms there, you can use “w mySearchTerm” from Firefox’s address bar.

There are only a few steps you'll have to take:

1. Right click on the search input field on the web page which provides the search form
2. Choose "Add a keyword for this search."
3. Give the custom search a name, you'll later use for searching (example: "mysrch" or a single letter)
4. Search by inserting "mysrch yourSearchTerm." in Firefox's address bar.

Answer 6

I'd like to provide a URL such as "http://blahblah.com?search=%s" where Firefox replaces the %s with the content of the search box.

You can do this with Firefox! Add a bookmark with that URL, where %s is the search query, then simply set a keyword for the bookmark. You can then search using <key> <search term> in the address bar. For example, the bookmark http://www.google.com/search?q=%s with keyword g means you can type g stack overflow in the address bar to search Google for "stack overflow".

Alternatively, go to the site you want to search, right click in the search box and click "Add a keyword for this search".

Answer 7

Hi i had been trying to add it as well and just finally figured it out. To add pch's search engine to your list of search engines on firefox do the following:

1. go to http://search.pch.com/
2. at the top center you will see a box that says "HELP", click that.
3. this will give you 2 options: "How Do I Win" and "FAQ", you click FAQ
4. In the FAQ search box type in "HOW DO I INSTALL THE PCH SEARCH & WIN TOOLBAR"
5. a result will show up that says: "if you have not installed the PCH Search & Win Toolbar" but would like to click here"
6. The same thing will come up again but this time the words "click here" will be "clickable"
7. You will see a list of options and under "FIREFOX" click "Add PCH Search & Win to your Quick Search Box"
8. Another option will appear for you to "click" which will say "click this link to add PCH Search & Win to your list of search providers"

Once PCH Search and Win is added to your list of providers you can click on the little arrow where your search engines are listed and click "Manage Your Search Engines" click on PCH Search & Win and use the arrow keys to place PCH Search & Win wherever you would like to on your list of search providers :)

I know I probably put in waaaaay to much info and steps but I did so in case someone like me needed the help :) the more instructions the better when Im trying to do something on the computer lol

Answer 8

Instead of creating it manually you can use a service like Searchplugins.net which provides an online form to generate your custom search plugin.

1. Search for the word "TEST" in the search engine of your choice and copy/paste the resulting url to the form. eg.

   http://blahblah.com?search=TEST

2. Fill out remaining info / click "create plugin"

3. Click "Install" which appears above the form. The plugin will be added to your search bar.

Answer 9

For google chrome, when on search.pch.com, you can right click the search box and select "Add as search engine".

When this is complete, you can go into the google chrome settings by doing the following:

Click the wrench icon on the browser toolbar. Select Options (Preferences on Mac and Linux; Settings on a Chromebook). Click the Basics tab and find the "Search" section. Select the search engine you want to use from the menu. If the search engine you want to use doesn't appear in the menu, click Manage search engines. In the Search Engines dialog that appears, select the search engine that you'd like to use from the list. Click the Make Default button that appears in the row.