URL Alias adds superpowers to the Firefox address bar

Filed under: Internet, Productivity, Mozilla, Search, Browsers

URL Alias adds superpowers to the Firefox address bar

by Lee Mathews Dec 1st 2008

Good things really do come in small packages, as is the case with the URL Alias Firefox addon.
I originally installed it looking to make the address bar more launcher-like. For example, I wanted http://mail.google.com/mail/#inbox to open when I type mail or http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?Category=SPORTS05 when I enter wings.

I prefer using words or abbreviations I can remember easily instead of hotkey combinations, and this experimental addon is the perfect tool for the job.

Since URL Alias also supports a variable (yep, just one), you can do a whole lot more with your aliases than just save keystrokes.

To manage aliases, type the following in your address bar: chrome://urlalias/content/urlalias.xul [enter]

Suppose you want to set up a Google search alias for results from downloadsquad.com.

dls http://www.google.com/search?q=%s%20site:downloadsquad.com

The %s is replaced by whatever text you enter after the keyword: dls firefox addons will return results for all matching DS posts. Change the alias text and url, and set up as many site-specific searches as you like.

Let's use it with Compfight to find Flickr images. Piece of cake.

cf http://www.compfight.com/#search_type=tags&query=%s&commit=Search&license=&original=1&safe_search=3

Most torrent sites offer a search plugin or toolbar, but why bother? URL Alias works for that, too:

nt http://nowtorrents.com/torrents/%s.html

Along the same lines, you can easily set up an Amazon product search alias:

amazon http://www.amazon.ca/s/ref=nb_ss_gw?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=%s&x=0&y=0

All that's required is a little investigating. Perform a search on your site, then locate the text you input in the URL. Copy and paste the URL into your alias list and replace that text with %s.

Its simplicity and power make URL Alias a fantastic addon, and it's already become one of my favorites. I'm amazed that it has so few downloads to date, but I hope that you'll give it a try after reading this post and share your thoughts.

Tags: addon, addons, alias, firefox, keyboard

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

edward said 12:41PM on 12-01-2008

Been asking for this for YEARS may have to switch away from Chrome again.

Stefan said 12:56PM on 12-01-2008

OpenDNS has this exact function, and works for all web browsers

edward said 1:00PM on 12-01-2008

Now why didn't I think of that!

Mooglinux said 9:52PM on 12-01-2008

The OpenDNS search system isnt that great, its sluggish and doesnt return all that great in the way of results. This is far more powerful anyway.

LethAL said 1:02PM on 12-01-2008

Forget this OpenDNS's aliasing, this is built in to Firefox anyway. Just go to a bookmark's properties and add a keyword. And for search, well... you can give any engine a keyword (visit mycroft.mozdev.org to find a search plugin for a site)

sanderb said 1:12PM on 12-01-2008

Exactly. Also, every text input in a form can be right-clicked to "Add a keyword for this search". Typing the keyword followed by search terms will do exactly what is advertised here. This has been in Firefox since it was called Firebird or maybe even Phoenix. Does this add-on just duplicate functionality or does it do something extra?

Lee Mathews said 1:19PM on 12-01-2008

Oh wow. Thanks guys...I've never bothered since I don't use local bookmarks, but the search thing works great.

Really the only advantage of Alias is shortcuts if you use online-only bookmarks.

Readers +1 !!

LethAL said 1:22PM on 12-01-2008

If you use online-only bookmarks, then you could sync them, or use OpenDNS' alias system.

mark said 1:25PM on 12-01-2008

Lee, you can also add an "alias" using this method too. For example, just bookmark gmail, then put in "mail" as the keyword (don't worry about a search term or %s or anything) and then when you type "mail" into the address bar, you will go to gmail. It works great and no extension needed.

sanderb said 1:27PM on 12-01-2008

Lee: I'm not sure what I should think of when you say "online-only" bookmarks, but I'd just like to mention that this functionality works fine with for instance Foxmarks (which I use to sync my bookmarks over multiple computers) and even the official del.icio.us extension which I used before that. So unless you mean something else by online-only bookmarks (like a custom page full of links or something), Firefox will still have you covered :)

Lee Mathews said 1:28PM on 12-01-2008

GMarks addon with google bookmarks?

EntropyIV said 1:06PM on 12-01-2008

Umm, unless I am missing something, Firefox has that built in already. It is a bookmark property called "Keyword".

Mskadu said 9:01AM on 12-04-2008

Yes, you are right. See:

http://www.mozilla.org/products/firefox/smart-keywords.html

DarkeSword said 1:21PM on 12-01-2008

Yeah this has been around for ages as keywords in FF. In fact I prefer to use "google %s" instead of the search box.

Though I guess this is a way of doing it without filling up your bookmarks? :|

Bryan Price said 2:29PM on 12-01-2008

I have a 400K bookmark file. What is this filling up that you speak off?

Horribly outdated. I mean, I've got stuff added from 1995. And nothing new added in quite some since I use Delicious now. And while I've though of importing the whole mess up to Delicious, I probably just need to go through and weed it out. If not just start all over from scratch.

Nic said 10:32AM on 12-02-2008

Genius I was going to say the same thing.

kai said 1:24PM on 12-01-2008

I'm obligated to say that Opera has had this feature for ages.

Bryan Price said 2:22PM on 12-01-2008

Been doing this for years with keyworded bookmarks.

go what I'm looking for - Google
gm address - Google Maps

I keep a section on my opening page just for reference (I've got a bunch, I just can't remember them).

minibar said 2:37PM on 12-01-2008

The Firefox feature is called Quick search if anyone wants more info.

I have single or at most two characters for the keyword ("a" for "amazon" etc.) and use this to replace the search bar, allowing me to see more of the urlbar when parsing urls.

kyle said 3:52PM on 12-01-2008

i believe this has been a feature of firefox for as long as firefox has existed. all this addon does is provide a nice central interface for managing all your keywords.

| 1 | 2 | Most Recent | Next 20 Comments

Featured Time Waster

Civiballs is a beautiful, soothing physics puzzle Time Waster

I have an absolute weakness for physics games, and while Civiballs isn't the strongest physics-based game, what it lacks in the physics department it makes up for a few times over in style and fun.

In Civiballs, you are presented with a few colored balls, and your goal is to get those balls into the same-colored urn on the level. The "civi" part of Civiballs is that there are 3 sets of levels to play, each representing a different civilization. While the civilization doesn't affect gameplay, the artwork for each level is beautifully themed to it's appropriate era.

To play the game, you are given only one tool - a sword with which to cut the chains that are holding the balls. The puzzle part of the game is in figuring out what order, and with what timing to cut each chain. Do it right, and all the right balls end up in the right urns, with no stray balls entering an urn (a no-no). Do it wrong, and you get to start over again.

Civiballs is not terribly deep on gameplay; the entire game can be completed in about 15 minutes. But if you enjoy this type of game, it will be a very enjoyable 15 minutes.

View more Time Wasters