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

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 3

The Add to Search Bar extension lets you create a new search addon with just a right-click.

Answer 4

Build Your Own FireFox Search Engine

Answer 5

Your best bet is to go to the Mycroft Project and search for an already made search engine plugin.

If you can't find one you can create your own on the submissions page. Full instructions are available.

Answer 6

It's 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 synchronised computers.

Answer 7

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 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

I believe he's referring to keyword.URL in Firefox's about:config page.

In Firefox's address bar type about:config, then search for keyword.URL and replace its contents with "https://blahblah.com/search?q=", for example.

Answer 10

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.