Hi, to check to see if the attribute it changing you can check under the hood at the about:config page. The attribute to look for: browser.tabs.loadInBackground services.sync.prefs.sync.browser.tabs.loadInBackground

1. about:config, click I will be careful
2. copy and paste the attributes above and look for the Value column
3. Are these two the same? Mine are not and I would love to confirm this behavior. After I sync the behavior changes.

To make sure that this does not happen in a new profile a fun experiment a user taught me is to try this in a new user profile as well. [http://mzl.la/LL5Dxl] If it still persists in the new profile, please do let us know, we are happy to help.

When I initally accessed the about:config, the first of the two I pasted showed status as 'user set' and value as true. The second, the longer one, showed status as 'default' and value as true. I tried setting both as default and user set, no change. I did notice that while originally the value on user set was set to true, now if I toggle it from user set to default only false shows as a value for user set. I can't change the value of 'user set' to true. I hope I explained that right.

You should leave the services.sync.prefs.sync.* prefs to their default value are because they only define which prefs to sync to other devices and do not have effect locally and only set the browser.tabs.loadInBackground to true (this is a Boolean pref).

• Firefox/Tools > Options > Tabs: [ ] "When I open a link in a new tab, switch to it immediately"

Note that there is a browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground for JavaScript window.open() type links.

Note that you can toggle loading in the background by holding down the Shift key (i.e. Shift + middle-click) when clicking a link.

Could you describe the steps to re-create the problem? For example:

• Ctrl+click the link
• right-click the link > Open Link in New Tab
• middle-click the link (e.g., using the scroll wheel)
• left-click a link coded to open in a new window which Firefox diverts to a new tab

Cor-El,

When I tried the method you suggested, it opened the link in a new window for me and not a tab. However, the new window was what Firefox went to as opposed to staying on the current tab.

jscher2000,

I would just left-click the link, and when the new tab opens it goes right to it. Just for the heck of it, I tried the methods you listed in your examples. When using all of them, it opens new tabs but switches to them immediately.

You shouldn't left-click a link with holding down the Shift key as that opens a link in a new window.
Using Shift to toggle the focus only works in combination with Ctrl and left-click or a middle-click to force a link to open in a new tab (this should also work via the right-click context menu).

I just mentioned that I tried that with your examples. I just usually left click on the link to open a new tab, and then the browser switches to that tab.

Hi figureguy, if you cleared the checkbox in the Tab options, "regular" links definitely should open in the background. By regular links I mean non-scripted links like the usernames of the people posting in this thread. Do those exhibit the same disobedient behavior when using Ctrl, middle-click, etc., or is it only some links that have this problem?

Well, when I click on the usernames of the people in this thread, it doesn't open a tab. The page simply redirects to that link. But for instance, jscher, if I hold control and click on your name a tab opens instead of the page redirecting. That tab, however, does stay in the background.

Hi figureguy, thank you for testing that.

So the problem is with links that normally open in a new window, which Firefox is diverting to a new tab. Could you provide a link to a page where this is causing the problem?

Or you could change the preference cor-el mentioned before and see whether that does what you need. Here's how:

(1) In a new tab, type or paste about:config in the address bar and press Enter. Click the button promising to be careful.

(2) In the search box above the list, type or paste tabs and pause while the list is filtered

(3) Double-click the browser.tabs.loadDivertedInBackground preference to switch it from the default value of false to true.

Does that work on the problem links?

Edit: cleaned up paste error.

Jscher2000 thank you so much. Changing the value worked perfectly. I appreciate it. However, now that I got it do what I want I have to get used to not having the tabs switch right over. But it sure makes it easier. Have a great night.