UPDATE: Tutorial updated with new screenshots and information. This trick will also work fine in the latest Firefox 15.0 stable version.
Being a long time Mozilla Firefox user, I always wanted Mozilla to redesign the Preferences window. Mozilla team is working very hard on Firefox UI and their hard work can be seen in latest Nightly builds:
[Mozilla Firefox Nightly Update]
Mozilla team has redesigned built-in downloads manager, bookmarks manager, add-ons manager, homepage, new tab page and also introduced many new features such as script debugger, built-in PDF reader, reset to default state button, compartments page, permissions manager and much more. You can read all about these new features and enhancements in our exclusive Nightly update topic.
And now it seems Mozilla has finally decided to redesign Preferences window. In the latest nightly build, Mozilla has introduced new InContent Preferences which is not enabled by default but you can enable it using the secret about:config tool.
Once you enable this hidden feature, you'll get the Preferences in a separate tab just like a web page instead of a window as shown in following screenshot:
To enable this new InContent Preferences feature, simply follow these simple steps:
1. Open Firefox and type about:config in the addressbar and press Enter. It'll confirm, click on I'll be careful, I promise! button.
2. Now type InContent in the Filter box and look for following boolean key:
browser.preferences.inContent
3. The entry "browser.preferences.inContent" would be set to false. Double-click on it or right-click on it and select "Toggle". It'll set its value to true.
4. That's it. Now click on Firefox menu button and click on Options and get ready to enjoy new InContent Preferences feature.
PS: If you don't want to replace old classic Preferences window with this new preferences window, you can still enjoy it using about:preferences command in addressbar of Firefox. Thanks to our reader "someone01" for this tip...
Having Preferences in a separate tab allows you to navigate between preferences and other running tabs but the drawback is you need to click on back arrow each time you want to switch to another tab. I'm sure Mozilla will fine tune this feature in coming days.
This feature will be included and enabled by default in Firefox 15.0 stable version.
If you are already using Firefox Nightly, please test this feature and let us know what do you think about it?
If you are not using Nightly, you can download it using following link:
Download Mozilla Firefox Nightly Build
Personally I'm using Nightly builds since the day Mozilla introduced them and I never faced a single problem with them. Nightly build is rock solid and works like a stable version.
Posted by: Vishal Gupta | Categories: Mozilla Firefox
Kyle
FIRST and AWESOME!!!!!
but why does this look so familiar... like it came from the UX mockup project?
link:
people.mozilla.com/~shorlander/ux-presentation/ux-presentation.html
Kyle
^^oh yeah btw
i am also a Nightly Build user, and I LOVE FIREFOX NIGHTLY PROJECTS!!! they have the best unique innovations ever!!!
Vlad
it's enabled by default on UX 15.0 ... at least for it is :)
Vlad
at least for me it is*
sorry for my mistake :)
VG
^^ These kind of things are enabled by default in UX builds but Nightly users need to enable them using about:config. Thats the difference between both builds. Mozilla team first tests UI changes in UX builds and then implements them in Nightly builds.
@Kyle
All those mockups changes will be implemented in future nightly builds.
SMBR
Nice Trick, plz also Post Chrome Tricks, Apps & Extensions :)
Carbonize
Jesus it's ugly. Why can't they have the buttons either at the side or top and have the actual options open in a container below/next to them.
David
Not as efficient as the default options but hopefully Mozilla will make it better over time. Bit like when Google changed Chrome's preferences to in-tab.
Addy
browser.preferences.inContent is there by default in the latest 15.0 build
VG
^^ Yes. Its there but not enabled. ;)
mona
hi vg
review this addon
addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/config-descriptions/
terabytex4
too many wasted space. .
Why they not redesign that page like windows 8 immersive control panel. ?
And add more transition on it. ?
VG
^^ Agree.
someone01
it can be done by typing "about:preferences"(without the quotes) in the firefox address bar too.........
VG
^^ Very nice. Thanks for the tip. Added. :)
reen_hb
isnt it the same page as about:preferences ?
VG
^^ Yes.