This tutorial will explain what Smart Keywords are, how to use them, and how to create your own.
- Smart Keywords are an easy way to search websites right from the Location bar in Firefox. Rather than visiting Google, entering your search query and then clicking Go, you can just type:
google dinosaurs (and then hit enter)
right in the Location bar.
- You’ll get a Google search results page for the term dinosaurs.
- You can also do this with Wikipedia by typing:
wp dinosaurs
in the Location bar.
- This time you’ll be directed to the Wikipedia page for dinosaurs.
- By default, Firefox includes the following Smart Keywords:
google search-query
stock stock-symbol (returns results for the stock symbol you specify)
wp search-query
dict search-query (returns the dictionary (and much more) entry from answers.com) - The best thing about Smart Keywords is that it’s a snap to add your own. Right-click (Mac users ctrl+click) inside the ’search box’ on one of your favorite sites, and select Add a Keyword for this Search…
- Give your Smart Keyword bookmark a name, choose the actual keyword you want to use, and then a save location (the Quick Searches folder is a great place). Click Add.
- Test out your new Smart Keyword
- If it works correctly, you’ll be directed to a page of search results
This is a great post. I have begun leveraging the power of bookmark keywords, but I haven’t delved into smart keywords yet. I think that I will now. Thanks!
Andrew,
Thanks for the kind words. Glad it helped!
Ross
Cool deal. I love learning new things.
Ooooo, very useful post, thanks! Our how-to is up as well if you’d like to check it out!!
I thot opera was the only one that could do this!
How can I use smart keywords on a page that has multiple fields in its search engine.
http://www.anywho.com is an example.
I’m on OSX, Firefox 2.0.0.14, and I don’t have any of the keyboard shortcut goodies when I ctrl-click. I *know* I’m missing something – any ideas, fine people?