Some Windows Quick Launch entries that can really help speed up Firefox testing.

Quick Launch additions for Firefox Usage

Location: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/quicklaunch.htm
Home page: http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/firefox/firefox.htm
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Quick Launch Bar

This page is intended to be read after unhiding hidden files and creating keyword shortcuts for your profile and chrome directories. '; See Profile.

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Windows Start and Quick Launch

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Windows Quick Launch

 
  1. "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -P "Default"
  2. "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop"
  3. C:\copiedsite\dmcritchie\excel
  4. "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p
  5. "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -safe-mode
  6. C:\copiedsite\dmcritchie\firefox
  7. C:\WINNT\system32\notepad.exe C:\copiedsite\dmcritchie\firefox\#skel.htm
  8. "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\Profiles\q68768wt.Default"
  9. "C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch (scrolled area)"
Items with "dmcritchie" in the pathname are for webpage development.
Items with descriptions beginning 0.1 thru 0.4 are named so that these items sort to the always visible top 4 of quick launch.  The remainder of the 55 that I have are in the scrollable area of the Quick Launch, I've shown the primary 4 that I use when starting up system, and those of Firefox usage interest.

Firefox Beta Testing (#betatesting)

Some information on Beta Testing of places can be found on my home page, and on my places page.

Have added additional items to the end of my Quick Launch using using variations of "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 2\firefox.exe" -safe-mode

  1. Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 2 -profile (CHOICE of PROFILES)
  2. Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 2 -safe-mode
  3. Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 2   Set as default browser
  4. Mozilla Firefox 3 Beta 2 -safe-mode -no-remote -p (CHOICE of PROFILES)
The (older, non Beta) Firefox 2.0.0.11 is available in Quick Launch with the profile name specified.

 0.4  . Mozilla Firefox
        "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p "default" -no-remote

The “Nightly Tester Tools” extension from oxymoronical.com is used to identify on the Title Bar which version and profile is in use: 

    ${DefaultTitle} (${Profile} - ${Version} - Build ${AppBuildID} )

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Creating Quick Launch Shortcuts (#create)

Before continuing the use and creation of Desk Top Shortcuts, Quick Launch Shortcuts, and Start Shortcus are all created and used in the same manner, so if you can do one you can pretty much do any of them.  The Quick Launch shows a minimum of 4 icons, to change simply drag the wall to the right or left, but don't know where minimum of 4 is actually defined though it works perfect for me.

The Quick Launch Bar is used like the desktop, and you want there to be only shortcuts in it.  From the desktop, My Computer, Windows Explorer drag with the right-mouse button to the Quick Launch and use the "create shortcut here" before dropping into Quick Launch. If you drag with left mouse button make sure you see the shortcut marking appear as you drag toward the destination.  The alternative is to create a/another shortcut where it resides with the right-click and then drag the duplicate to the destination.

Manually creating a shortcut (#manual)

In your Windows File Explorer use File, New, Short -- type or paste in the complete path for your Firefox profile.  Then place the created shortcut in your Quick Launch.  Then you have two shortcuts you can use one in Firefox ("profile:) and one in File Explorer via the Quick Launch.

Some specific examples of Quick Launch shortcuts (posted 2007-01-07)

Drag a Windows Shortcut to Quick Launch (#dragicon)

Drag a page to Quick Launch (#dragpage)

To add a web page to the Quick Launch simply bring up the page you want in Firefox, then grab the favicon (icon) at left of the location bar and drag to the quick launch, like you might drag it to the personal toolbar, a personal toolbar folder, or to bookmarks, or even the desktop.  (You can also drag to another tab, but that doesn't create a shortcut) Once on the launch pad or on the desktop you can change (/shorten) the description.

If you do drag a secure page (https:) to the Quick Launch or to the Desktop to Launch Firefox, you may have a problem if in your file type for HTA (HTML Application) has DDE turned on under Advance options and then Edit & Open, uncheck DDE. (don't have definitive information on this).

Add a program to the Quick Launch bar (#addpgm)

Source: Windows Help  
In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the icon for the program you want to add, and drag it to the Quick Launch portion of the taskbar.  The icon for that program appears next to the other Quick Launch icons on the taskbar.

If the Quick Launch bar is not displayed, right-click an empty area on the taskbar, click Toolbars, and then click Quick Launch.

Windows Vista considerations (#vista)

Windows Vista has restrictions on what can be in the Windows Start, so things that you might have had there have to be placed on the desktop or into the Quick Launch.  Anything on the desktop, or from a search, or from the "Program Files" directory can be placed into the Quick Launch as a shortcut by holding the Ctrl key and dragging it's icon to the Quick Launch.  You may want to eliminate such shortcuts from the desktop afterwards once they are in the Quick Launch.  You will have to regenerate the QuickLaunch Bar for each Vista user -- Even if you are the only user you should have a Administrator account and a User Account that can get Admininistrative privileges as needed.  Many of the items shown are listed on my another page. (see picture above with white background).  Some more information specific to Windows Vista.

Use of Shortcuts to Launch Firefox (#usage)

The Created shortcuts in Quick Launch could be entered via Windows Start, Start Run; but the Quick Launch will work much faster, provide quick means of The remaining are not immediately visible but on the drop-up.

Return to Profile page, or return to firefox.htm, which referenced both this page and the profile page.

Firefox repair of Desktop and Quick Launch icons (#desktopicons)

Normally you would not have a webpage specified when you start Firefox, as that would be the homepage in your profile.

If your desktop Firefox icon (or Quick Launch icon) generated by Firefox install becomes corrupted you can fix as follows:

Right click on the desktop Firefox icon, and select Properties
On the General Tab:
   Mozilla Firefox
On the Shortcut Tab:
   Target: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe"
   Start in: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox"
   Shortcut key: None
   Run: Normal Window
on the Compatibility Tab:
   (don't enter anything)

An alternative would be to recreate the desktop icon Programs:
   Start, Programs, Mozilla Firefox, right click of Firefox,
   copy then do to desktop and paste.
You will also note that there is a "Safe Mode" icon as well.

Resizing, Moving, Rearranging (#move_resize)

Width of the visible portion of the Quick Launch bar (#resize)

If you can't resize the width of the Quick Launch bar, check for "locked profile" (check wording but locking probably does not apply to Win2000).  Width of displayed portion of quick launch can not be made smaller than 2-4 icons (depending, I presume on choice of large or small icons).  Resize the Quick Launch Bar] [How to use the Quick Launch bar]

Move Quick Launch Bar within the Taskbar (#move)

If the taskbar is at the bottom drag to top border so it has a height of two rows, then drag the vertical separator to drag as a group.  When arranged correctly drag the separator to the width that you want (probaly 4 icons for the quick launch bar).

To arrange items within Quick Launch right-click and use "Sort by name", and that is why some of items have numbers in front in my example at top of page, the numbers won't show on the task bar because the space only allows for icons to show.

Taskbar (docking) (#docking)

The system taskbar normally at the bottom can be docked to left side, top, right side, or back to bottom by grabbing an empty area on the taskbar with the left mouse button and dragging it to the desired screen edge.  [ref.],

Location and Backup considerations (#backup)

The Quick Launch Bar will be backed up when you backup your "C:\Documents and Settings\" folder, which also contains all your application settings including your Firefox profiles. The Quick Launch is at C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Application Data\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch

Context Menu items in Quick Launch (#context)

These context menu items apply to Quick Launch, Desktop shortcuts, Start Menu items and are a little bit out of the ordinary items you see in context menus, you should check your own to see all of what you actually have. I have context menu (right click menu) pages specifically for Firefox context menus, Excel context menus, Internet Explorer (IE6) context menus.

Command Line settings (#commandline)

Right click on the Windows desktop shortcut, then on the shortcut tab, you will see Run: choose from Normal Window, Minimized, or Maximized.

Command line use -fullscreen
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -p "default" -no-remote -fullscreen
"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -fullscreen

To get out of full screen use
using Firefox F11
using Windows Alt+SpaceBar then Restore