FireFox Basics - Part 2: Quickbar, Shortcuts, and Tabs
Filed Under Firefox, episode, how-to, screencast, tutorial
Episode 2 -
In Part-2 of the Firefox Browser Basics tutorial, we are covering some of Firefox’s most useful features. Using the functions explained below (and in my video) will save you a good deal of time while you are surfing the web.
Bookmark Pages Fast Using the Quick-bar -
Many people have used the bookmark sidebar to organize the plethora of websites they want to remember. While bookmarks are a great innovation for organization, let’s face it… it is just annoying to have to sift through all those bookmarks to access the sites we use every day. Enter: Quick-bar
The cool thing about the quick-bar is that you can add a bookmark (a link to a website to save for later) with just one click! It also makes it so you don’t have to have that big ol’ bookmark sidebar open all the time.
Here’s how you do it, as seen in my free tutorial video:
- Go to the website you wish to add to the quick-bar. (see the video)
- Drag the favicon (the little icon in front of the address) onto the quick-bar below it. (see the video)
- Done!
Note: When you run out of room, Firefox will create a drop-down menu so you can continue to add items! (see the video)
You can also change the name or delete it by right-clicking the new quick-bar link and choosing the appropriate action. This is one of the best time-savers on Firefox!
Keyboard Shortcuts -
Most of us are mouse-a-holics :). It’s ok to admit it. The fact is, the keyboard is hard-work and that is something we don’t like! But have you ever seen someone using a computer with seemingly inhuman speed? It seems like things are spontaneously happening on the screen with out them even moving the mouse? Chances are, they are using shortcuts! Shortcuts are keyboard combinations and they are FAST. This is a list of some of the most useful keyboard shortcuts… the most important ones are in bold and highlighted:
- Backspace = “Back”
- Ctrl-P = “Print”
- Ctrl-R = “Refresh”
- F5 also works
- Ctrl-T = “New Tab”
- Ctrl-C = “Copy”
- Ctrl-V = “Paste”
- Ctrl-J = “Downloads
- Ctrl-B = “Bookmarks”
- F11 = “Toggle Full-screen”
- Ctrl-Z = “Undo” (see the video)
Using Tabs -
Once you get the hang of using tabs, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without them. They are a great multi-tasking tool. You can browse as many sites as you want at one time without having to open up another browser window! Here are the basics for using tabs, as seen in my free tutorial video:
- To open a blank tab press “Ctrl-T“
- If you want to open a link on your screen in a new tab (so you don’t get moved from your current page) “right-click” the link and select “Open in New Tab” (see the video)
- Once you have several tabs on your browser, you can alternate between them simply by clicking each tab. The one that is “highlighted” is the one you are on.
Note: You can also re-order the tabs by clicking and dragging them left and right.
- Click the “x” on each tab to close them.
Stay tuned for the next episode: Mind-mapping and Brainstorming Online. For more tips and tricks sign up for the Official Tech-Bites.com Newsletter! You will be the first to know whenever I release new articles and videos and receive special subscriber only articles and product reviews.
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