TSGL: Firefox annoyances--is there an answer?

[H Davis]

Don,

See comments below:

Don Penlington wrote:
> Justin wrote:
>   
>> middle click will open the hyperlink in a new tab>>
>>     
>
>
> I think I must be having a thick week (not unusual).
>
> Are you guys telling me that there's no way to turn FF into a true tabbed 
> browser?  Right-clicking is not a viable option, as my scroll wheel does 
> not right-click very easily.  And I dislike having to move my fingers any 
> more than absolutely necessary, as I'm saving my energy for old age.
>   
Most can be done with right index finger on the middle button/scroll 
wheel. No right clicking at all.
> A browser which depends on the coding of each website to decide whether or 
> not it's going to tab would drive me even more stark staring bonkers than I 
> already am. Doesn't the unpredictability of that drive you all nuts?
It's not unpredictable. With only a slight exception, left clicking will 
open the new page in the current tab and middle clicking will open it in 
a new tab. Whether you switch automatically to the new tab is determined 
by a setting, see below. I'll tell you about the exception only if you 
decide to join us FF'ers. It's kind of a secret handshake thing ;-)
>  To me, 
> that's only a tab-capable browser, not a true tabbed browser.
>
> Take googling for example. Let's say I have a page showing 10 links I want 
> to have a look at. Do you all really have to middle-click each one? To-ing 
> and fro-ing between the Back Button would be horrible.
>   
No back button, no to-ing and fro-ing.

Let's take your example. The page with 10 links is open in a tab. You 
want to open one of those links in a new tab so you don't loose the 
original page. Middle click the link, the new tab will open with the new 
page and it should be the active tab (if not check the box at Tools, 
Options, Tabs, "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it 
immediately") . Do your thing on that page. To close it, middle click 
anywhere on its tab (or left click on the red X). That tab will close 
and the last active tab, your original 10 link page will show. On to the 
next link on that page. So far I've used only the middle button. And you 
can scroll down the 10 link page to get to more links by spinning the 
scroll wheel; so I've done the whole page using only the scroll wheel 
and my index finger.

I do my left and middle clicking with my right index finger on the left 
and middle buttons; no right clicking at all. There are a few, 
infrequently used, right click features available. I suspect I'm older 
than you but haven't suffered any RSI yet. In fact I'm so used to it 
that I don't even think about it any more.

If you REGULARLY wish to open all 10 of those links before looking at 
any of the pages; change your setting Tools, Options, Tabs to uncheck 
the box "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately". 
This will keep you on the 10 link page until you explicitly select 
another tab. As you middle click the links on the 10 link page nnew tabs 
will open to the right but you will remain on the 10 link page.
> I must surely be missing something---do all FireFoxers users middle-click 
> by choice? That adds to the risks of RSI. Surely I'm missing something 
> obvious here. Using one button to open a link, and another button to close 
> it doesn't make much sense to me.
As I noted above you can close a tab by middle clicking anywhere on the tab.
>  Half the time I'm pressing the wrong 
> button. I suppose there's a strange logic to it though.
>
> The Tab-it addon doesn't make any difference.
>   
Any Add-On's might change the default behavior so don't install those 
while you're investigating the built in behavior. I don't use any 
Add-On's that involve tab behavior.
> I thought of reversing the mouse button functions, but that would only make 
> things worse.
>
> I like FF otherwise, and must assume that my experience is unique.  I've 
> been using Maxthon in its various iterations for years, and it's never had 
> any problem tabbing to EVERY link with normal clicks.
>   
It's obvious you've been heavily indoctrinated in the Maxthon cult and 
we'll have a difficult time reprogramming you. But there's been a 
meeting and the good news is that we think you're worth the effort.
> In actual fact, I see very little difference otherwise between Maxthon and 
> FF, though I have the impression that FF might load images marginally 
> faster.  Both have a great variety of add-ons, and both have excellent 
> security features and filters.
>   
If you haven't discovered "about" yet you haven't seen anything re 
features. To activate an "about" type about:config (or 1 of the others 
below) into the address box and hit Enter. Lots of opportunity to get 
into trouble......

The available about:'s that I know of are:

about: shows info on Firefox's version number, copyright, etc.

about:config reveals the Configuration Console, a repository brimming 
over with scores of customizable settings.

about:cache displays a summary of both your memory and file cache, with 
a link to full file listings.

about:buildconfig lists the compiler options that were used to create 
your version of Firefox (and, since it's open source, anyone can compile 
a customized version).

about:plugins enumerates your installed add-ons, which can be quite 
numerous since Firefox is designed to be modular and extensible. Much 
more info than the Tools, Add-On's menu.

about:credits is an "Easter egg" that includes the names of hundreds of 
developers and testers who worked on the product.
> I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has switched from Maxthon or 
> Avast to FF, and what their impression has been.
>
> I'm trying to keep an open mind about FF, but at the moment it's running a 
> distant second to Maxthon. If I can't fix its tabbing limitations, it won't 
> even be in the same race.
>
> Don Penlington
>
>  From the Beach at Surfers Paradise in sunny Queensland.
> Computer tutorials, local scenery,  and other things at my website:
> http://users.tpg.com.au/deepend/index1.html
>
>
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>   
Hang in there Don! If an old geezer like me can get it you can too.

H Davis

-- 
H Davis   hdavis1 at gmail.com