I tried using the link on the Dogpile home page, but the script it uses doesn't work in Firefox.

If you're using the newer search bar style, you may have noticed a green circle with a + symbol on the magnifying glass from time to time. That indicates there is an ability to add that page as a search engine. Then after that, you can use Options to make it the default.

You can hack the page to add the + symbol by inserting a link tag. The main ingredients of the tag are formulaic, but the critical thing to know is that the actual XML file which provides the search instructions is here:

http://www.dogpile.com/provider.xml

Here we go:

(1) Open Dogpile

(2) Open Firefox's web console in the lower part of the tab using either:

• Ctrl+Shift+k
• Developer menu

(3) Select and copy this entire code block (not including the - - - lines), then paste it into the command line at the bottom of the web console (next to >>) and press Enter to execute it:

- - - - - - - - - var elLink = document.createElement("link"); elLink.setAttribute("rel", "search"); elLink.setAttribute("type", "application/opensearchdescription+xml"); elLink.setAttribute("title", "Dogpile Search"); elLink.setAttribute("href", "http://www.dogpile.com/provider.xml"); document.body.appendChild(elLink); - - - - - - - - -

(4) After that, a green + circle should appear on the search bar. Click the magnifying glass and look for the bar to add Dogpile search and click that.

Success?

Edit: Here's a second screen shot showing where Dogpile appears in the drop-down list for default search engine.

By the way, the error message you encountered on the Add-on site may be caused by one or more Ubuntu/Unity extensions that were bundled with your distribution. If you prefer to add search engines from the Add-ons site, try doing it in Firefox's Safe Mode where those extensions will be disabled.

You can restart Firefox in Safe Mode using either:

• "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Restart with Add-ons Disabled
• Help menu > Restart with Add-ons Disabled

and OK the restart.

A small dialog should appear. Click "Start in Safe Mode" (not Refresh).

To return to normal, exit Firefox and start it up again.

Thank you, that worked. Your script first gave a syntax error of a missing ; which I couldn't find but simply repasting it took care of that even though I used the same script from the clipboard again without recopying it. I appreciate your help.

Thanks for reporting back. I don't know why Dogpile doesn't just add that link tag into their page -- everyone else is doing it these days.