are doing this on the links:

     right click -> Open Link in New Tab

There is no "links" when you do a search in google! and yes i have tried doing a "right click" but it does not work in google search. when i used IE i could set preferences for google search but i cannot seem to find where to do that in firefox thanks,

Make use of this Addon

• https://addons.mozilla.org/en-us/firefox/addon/open-link-in-new-tab/

It doesn't work on Google, which is kind of essential. Google will still only open links in the same window.

Which search do you mean?

• searching via the location bar (pref: keyword.URL)
• search bar on the Navigation Toolbar
• search bar on the about:home page (pref: browser.search.defaultenginename)
• other search bar (e.g. added by extension)

For the search bar on the Navigation Toolbar you can set the Boolean pref browser.search.openintab to true on the about:config page.

You can also middle-click the search button or menu entry or use Alt+Enter to open the results in a new tab.

For the Google website you can set that via the Google Search Settings page.

I would like to set the preferences so that google search or any other link or bookmark always open in a new tab. I know I can right click and choose open in a new tab. It's an "extra" step that I would like to avoid. But I can see no options in preferences which allow this. This was true when I was using Windows XP and it is true now using Mac OSX 10.7.5. I have all of the options under "preferences - tabs" checked.

Look in the about:config window for these settings and change them:

• browser.search.openintab - if true, will open a search from the searchbar in a new tab if you use the return key to trigger the search
• browser.tabs.loadBookmarksInBackground - if true, bookmarks that open in a new tab will not steal focus
• browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground - Load the new tab in the background, leaving focus on the current tab if true
• browser.tabs.loadInBackground - Do not focus new tabs opened from links (load in background) if true
• browser.tabs.opentabfor.middleclick - if true, links can be forced to open a new tab if middle-clicked. Useful for search results.

This really didn't solve the question but whatever; i found i can just click on the tab with "+" (to open a new tab) and then do the google search

I have not yet implemented your solution, but will do so in the near future. It does involve getting into the bowels of Firefox -- so I want to be careful. I also found out that "Command + Click" opens a new tab, which is much more convenient than "Right click ; click on Open in a New Tab."

But a further question: what is then the purpose of "Open new windows in a new tab instead" in the Tabs page of Firefox Preferences? I am curious and i also like to know the purpose of preference settings in the various applications I use.

Rudy P -- I did not ask about opening a new tab to search. I was inquiring as to how to open a bookmark or some other link without right clicking and then clicking on "open in a new tab" I found out that one way was to click on the link while holding down Command. That all being said, your solution for searching in a "separate" tab is a good one. Thanks

Finitarry: your reply to my question appears to be the most comprehensive, but I think I can live with Command + click. Still, as I asked earlier, what is the purpose of all the options presented on the Tabs tab of Firefox preferences. Thanks to you, too.

Some links would normally open in a new window, but you can make them open in a new tab instead with that preference set.

Where are you using the Google search?

For results on the Google webpage you can use set that here (Where results open):

• http://www.google.com/preferences?hl=en

If you have a mouse with a clickable mouse wheel then you can middle-click a link to open a link in a new tab similar to Ctrl and left-click.

clicking on the wheel does not work that way on a Mac -- takes you to a "mission control pad" screen (don't ask) -- it did work the way you said on my old PC -- perhaps I can reprogram the wheel click -- I should look into that -- thanks any way for the suggestion

Look at the last suggestion I posted. Is that setting true? If not, set it to true. The mousewheel click should then open a link in a new tab.

Here's a video on how to do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFkuhOYnlUE

Unlike the text answer, the video did NOT say you need to initiate the search by hitting the return key. So I thought the new setting did not work. Then I read the text reply -- it works! I wonder why the setting requires the search key (vs the moused) to be used?

Does the search key have to be used for the other settings mentioned in the reply?

What do you mean by search key? If you mean getting search results in a new tab from a search engine results page, just middle-click the links.

My Fault. My question should have read whether the RETURN key had to be used in connections with the other settings you gave me. And I also used the wrong term in the last sentence of my first paragraph. I have an iPad in addition to my iMac -- and when you enter a term in the Google box, the label on the Enter / Return key becomes "Search" (an electronic keyboard -- gosh -- what will they think of next -- sliced bread?)

I know about using the right click / select "open in nee tab. And I know about clicking on the center wheel. As to the latter: it does not work in Wikipedia. Whne you wheel click, you get a small round thingee whose purpose eludes me.

Many thanks for your forbearance.

The first item, browser.search.openintab, is the only one where you would use the return key. The rest involve either left-clicking or middle-clicking.

thanks