How to Make Firefox Default

vsj · 02-22-2004, 03:25 AM

Hi, All;

I've made the launcher on my desktop for Firefox, but how do I make it the default browser. I.e., when I click a link, I want Firefox to open, not another browser?

TYVM,

acid_kewpie · 02-22-2004, 03:55 AM

depends on your window manager / desktop environment, which you've not told us about.

lokee · 02-22-2004, 09:12 AM

From what I know, some distros(redhat) use /usr/bin/htmlview for that, so, if it exists on your system, modify it accordingly.../

vsj · 02-22-2004, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by lokee
From what I know, some distros(redhat) use /usr/bin/htmlview for that, so, if it exists on your system, modify it accordingly.../

Thank you, both. I use Konqueror as my file manager, but I want Firefox as my default internet browser, and don't know how to set it thusly. When I click a link, I want Firefox to open instead of Mozilla, etc.

I checked out my /usr/bin, Iokee, but no htmlview. I love Firefox and I love Linux more with each new problem. ;-). I will not go back to M$.

vsj · 02-23-2004, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by vsj
Thank you, both. I use Konqueror as my file manager, but I want Firefox as my default
internet browser, and don't know how to set it thusly. When I click a link, I want Firefox to
open instead of Mozilla, etc.

I checked out my /usr/bin, Iokee, but no htmlview. I love Firefox and I love Linux more with
each new problem. ;-). I will not go back to M$.

New Problem: Because the fonts were so awful looking while browsing the web, I
downloaded the firefox 0.8 gtk+xft. I then decompressed and installed firefox. Now I get the
error msg: ./firefox-bin: error while loading shared libraries: libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0: cannot
open shared object file: No such file or directory. No matter with what command I try to open
firefox, this is the msg I receive. I am now unable to open firefox.

And, I still don't know how to set Firefox as my default internet browser. Anyone?

TIA

paul_m_d · 02-25-2004, 06:05 PM

The XFT version of Firefox should come with everything it needs (mine did), but maybe you need to hunt down the file libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0, put it in /usr/lib, and type "ldconfig" in a terminal window. This worked for me when I installed Nvu.

Caveat: I use Mandrake and I'm a total newbie. Only half the stuff I ever try works!

I'm afraid I have no idea how to make Firefox the http default, but I think there's a menu somewhere in the KDE config that lets you choose file-type associations.

Paul

vsj · 02-26-2004, 10:48 PM

TAL, paul_m_d;

I've searched for days, weeks even, for the libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0 file, to no avail. I don't think that file exists ;-(. I've yet to locate it and yet to install Firefox.

Any more suggestions? Anyone at all.

BTW, thanks for the caveat. Makes me feel not so-all-alone. lol

jjustin01 · 02-26-2004, 11:39 PM

you are using the command ./firefox to launch firefox, correct?

If not, that's what you want to use and not ./firefox-bin. Also, I know that on Fedora, Firefox installed perfectly fine for me with no problems. I will tell you this much though, that you need to tweak the font settings in the options menu. On Fedora, I use Nimubs Sans L for the fonts with minimun font size set to 11. As for the DPI, I have yet to notice a difference between 96 and 72, so set that to whatever you want.

Now, I do have the /usr/bin/htmview and opened to find nothing in there showing Firefox, but it does mention that the file is there to override /etc/htmlview.conf and mentions ~/.htmlviewrc and neither one of those is in Fedora. So try those two for setting your default and see if you have either one.
And another wierd thing is that after unpacking Firefox, somehow it became my default browser. It's weird because I didn't change any settings for that to happen. It just happened.

vsj · 02-27-2004, 12:44 AM

Hi, Justin, and thank you.

Yes, I use ./firefox. But, I've tried everything of which I can think to run firefox. I always come up with missing libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0, and I cannot find that file. There are lots of references to the file in google, etc. but I cannot find a download for it. I can find an rpm, so I guess I'm going to have to download Alien so I can convert the rpm to a deb to install it. Do you know if this is possible? --converting rpm to deb?

Sendak · 03-10-2004, 06:06 AM

The one and only solution, thanks to my colleague:

update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

(I can advise you to run Debian unstable and use the mozilla-firefox package).

questone · 03-19-2004, 04:24 PM

I am running MDK10, Konquerer is my file manager and I too would like to make Firefox my default browser. It would be nice if I click on a link in my mail to have it open a new tab or window and not the Konquerer browser.

I am another convert as well. Last Friday my MDK install has prevented me from booting windows. Best thing that coud have happened to me. My computer and I have a much better relationship now. We are trying to understand each other. With XP it was like one of those bad codependant relationships where neither will leave because they need each other but cant stand to be together.

Anyway .... if anyone can tell me what I need to do to make Firfox oopen when I click a link that would be great. Even if its just somthing in Thuderbird that will make it work when Im using mail. .

Ok heres an edit. If I right click on the link in Thunderbird >copy link location: it gives me the option to open the link with Konquerer, Netscape, or Mozilla. How can I get Firefox on this list. Im sure there is a script some where that needs editing where is it? Im goin to look, but if any one already knows; help a brotha out!

Thanks
quest

vi0lat0r · 03-19-2004, 05:13 PM

"I've searched for days, weeks even, for the libgtk-x11-2.0.so.0 file, to no avail. I don't think that file exists ;-(. I've yet to locate it and yet to install Firefox."

And you never asked anyone to give you a copy, huh? :-)

Here, I put it up on my site here:

http://www.nofirewall.com/downloads/...0.so.0.tar.gz.