Automatically 'select all' in browser address/search bars

Question

Is it possible to automatically 'select all' when I left click in a browser address/search bar.

I know it's only one more click by right clicking and then choosing 'select all' and I probably sound a bit fussy but it's feature I like.

I'm using Ubuntu 12.10 64bit, Chrome and Firefox

Thanks in advance.

As an update, Chrome now does this automatically

then you need to new key to click at address bar – Raja G Dec 06 '12 at 17:04 — Raja G, Dec 06 '12 at 17:04

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited Jun 12 '20 at 14:37

For anyone interested I have found an answer for this, if only in Firefox.

In Firefox url bar type

about:config

After heeding the "Here be Dragons" warning either search for or scroll to

browser.urlbar.doubleClickSelectsAll

and

browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll

Double click to toggle.

Set browser.urlbar.doubleClickSelectsAll to false and set browser.urlbar.clickSelectsAll to true

enter image description here

This will work in the url bar but not the search bar, I tend to use the url bar for search also so it wont overly bother me.

score 5 · Answer 2 · answered Dec 06 '12 at 17:09

5

An alternative option is to double click anywhere in the address bar, which will automatically seleect the entire closest word. In the case of a URL that is the entire line. Concerning the search bar, you can also double click to select a word and triple click to select the entire content.

answered Dec 06 '12 at 17:09

Zilvador

417

fro chrome I think, a click on address will select all. (I am not able to test it now) – Web-E Dec 06 '12 at 17:11
@Zilvador Triple click works well and probably something I could get used too, Thanks – Chris Carter Dec 06 '12 at 17:13
@Web-E Not in chrome it doesn't – Chris Carter Dec 06 '12 at 17:14

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 06 '12 at 17:06

2

Actually there is a Automatic key for this . I have tried this in Firefox . Press F6 Functional key one time . then it will select the address bar automatically .

answered Dec 06 '12 at 17:06

Raja G

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I have never grown accustomed to using keyboard shortcuts, I will try between this and the triple click option and see which becomes the more natural to use. Have a feeling it will be the triple click. Thanks – Chris Carter Dec 06 '12 at 17:18
@ChrisCarter welcome :D – Raja G Dec 06 '12 at 17:20
Ctrl+L does th same thing if you do not want to take your hands away from typing area – Ejaz Aug 19 '16 at 01:18

Automatically 'select all' in browser address/search bars

3 Answers3