No way to change default search keywords (19.0.1326.9)

[sverrimohrolsen]

sverrimohrolsen last edited by

Hi,

When I use the "w" search keyword (Wikipedia) I am sent to the Danish version (da.wikipedia.org). Yes, I live in Denmark, but that is not how I want "w" to work. I want it to always send me to the English version (en.wikipedia.org). If I want to see the page in another language then I will change it myself.

When this started to happen (a few days ago, probably as part of an update) I tried to change the behaviour, but I do not see any way to change the default search keywords. I did find some Opera configuration file that contains all the search keywords and their respective URLs, but it was a huge file (around 8000 lines). I did not want to break anything so I let it be.

Can something be done about this?

And if you see this Opera devs: Please do not force I18n stuff on people. It is annoying as hell, especially when you cannot change it.

[leocg]

leocg Moderator Volunteer last edited by

By now you can create a custom search for the Wikipedia in english, that was what i did here.

[sverrimohrolsen]

sverrimohrolsen last edited by

Yes, but you cannot use the "w" keyword. The default keywords are essentially reserved and cannot be used.

The fact that it chooses the language for you is okay, but only if you are able to override it.

[miarffi]

miarffi last edited by

Yes, this is quite infuriating. Has anyone come up with a workaround? I found instructions for older versions where you edited/removed the default_partner_content.json file, but that doesn't exist anymore in Opera 18.

Being able to set your custom keywords without a hassle should be pretty basic stuff. Other than that, the new Opera seems quite nifty.

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

Keywords are case-sensitive — try "W" for the Wikipedia search that you want to use.

[miarffi]

miarffi last edited by

Originally posted by Pesala:

Keywords are case-sensitive — try "W" for the Wikipedia search that you want to use.

This is good to know, thanks.

However, being accustomed to using certain keyword for years makes the extra shift-pressing quite annoying. I wonder if it would be possible to bind the default partners' keywords to uppercase?

[A Former User]

A Former User last edited by

It has been said many times already. They restricted the editing of default searches to prevent malicious attacks by browser hijackers. They are looking for a robust solution — if/when they find one users will be able to modify the default search engine.

[miarffi]

miarffi last edited by

Sorry, could find a mention of it with the forum search.

But I wonder if browser hijackers changing custom search keywords is really that big of a risk? Comparing the inconvenience with the type of attack it supposedly prevents, it sounds like nothing but an excuse for shoving partner content to users' faces. (That said, malware changing browsers' start pages is, of course, a thing.) Secure extension installation from a controlled repository and malware domain blocking go a long way. If Joe Average's computer has already been infected elsewhere, having fixed keywords isn't going to be of much protection.

Also, reasonable defaults may be subjective, but removing the option altogether is crippling the product. Maybe one instance of this kind of design isn't a big deal, but it is telling of the design philosophy, if what you said really is what the developers are after. To use a bad slippery slope of an analogy, making the user unable to change the start page would also protect him, or only allowing safe sites (as deemed by the developers, in this case) to be visited

Well, here's hoping the developers allow changing them in future releases, or at least introduce the possibility in a configuration file.

(P.S. How would making the default search engine KEYWORDS changeable make anything less secure, especially when you can define custom ones anyway? You could still have a hardcoded list of Yahoo, Bing, Altavista from which to select the navigation bar search.)

[l33t4opera]

l33t4opera last edited by

@Sverrimohrolsen, and Miarffi:
If you don't want to use the default search engines (except Google, which will remain untouched anyway), then you can try thisworkaround - I just checked it again in the latest Operas: 18, Next 19, and in Developer 20, and it still works without problems.

However, if you would like to change default search engine (like Google), then you can try to apply thepatch bydqdb1, in which one of the options is the "default search engine editor".

Alternatively, you can experiment a little, and try to edit the settings for the default search engine in two files: "Preferences", and "Web Data", which are located in the profile directory (you can check the path to your profile in O-Menu->About Opera->Paths->Profile). You should be also aware, that in my case, this only works, when I do the same changes in both files (and don't forget to close the Opera, prior to start editing the files).
Note: to view, and edit the second file (Web Data), you can use one of two, free applications: theSQLite Browser, or theSqliteman.

[miarffi]

miarffi last edited by

Originally posted by l33t4opera:

@Sverrimohrolsen, and Miarffi:
If you don't want to use the default search engines (except Google, which will remain untouched anyway), then you can try thisworkaround - I just checked it again in the latest Operas: 18, Next 19, and in Developer 20, and it still works without problems.

However, if you would like to change default search engine (like Google), then you can try to apply thepatch bydqdb1, in which one of the options is the "default search engine editor".

Alternatively, you can experiment a little, and try to edit the settings for the default search engine in two files: "Preferences", and "Web Data", which are located in the profile directory (you can check the path to your profile in O-Menu->About Opera->Paths->Profile). You should be also aware, that in my case, this only works, when I do the same changes in both files (and don't forget to close the Opera, prior to start editing the files).
Note: to view, and edit the second file (Web Data), you can use one of two, free applications: theSQLite Browser, or theSqliteman.

Thanks for this. Must have typoed the search for default_partner_content.json or something.

[sverrimohrolsen]

sverrimohrolsen last edited by

Originally posted by l33t4opera:

@Sverrimohrolsen, and Miarffi:
If you don't want to use the default search engines (except Google, which will remain untouched anyway), then you can try thisworkaround[/URL" target="_blank">http://my.opera.com/community/forums/topic.dml?id=1765552&t=1382011293&page=1#comment14843772]workaround[/URL] - I just checked it again in the latest Operas: 18, Next 19, and in Developer 20, and it still works without problems.

However, if you would like to change default search engine (like Google), then you can try to apply thepatch[/URL" target="_blank">http://my.opera.com/dqdb1/blog/2013/07/22/more-columns-in-speed-dial]patch[/URL] bydqdb1[/URL" target="_blank">http://my.opera.com/dqdb1/about/]dqdb1[/URL], in which one of the options is the "default search engine editor".

Alternatively, you can experiment a little, and try to edit the settings for the default search engine in two files: "Preferences", and "Web Data", which are located in the profile directory (you can check the path to your profile in O-Menu->About Opera->Paths->Profile). You should be also aware, that in my case, this only works, when I do the same changes in both files (and don't forget to close the Opera, prior to start editing the files).
Note: to view, and edit the second file (Web Data), you can use one of two, free applications: theSQLite" target="_blank">http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqlitebrowser/]SQLite Browser, or theSqliteman[/URL" target="_blank">http://sourceforge.net/projects/sqliteman/]Sqliteman[/URL].

The first workaround works great. Thank you for bringing it to our attention :cheers:

[sadachara]

sadachara last edited by

Can you explain to me how you did this within the speeddialpatch program?

it is CRUCIAL I get Google off the default search engine, and add DuckDuckgo. I cannot believe Opera currently doesn't allow switching to a different search engine by default, this is pretty ridiculous.

How would I use Speeddialpatch to add duckduckgo?

Thanks

[thecrap0n]

thecrap0n last edited by

Originally posted by Pesala:

It has been said many times already. They restricted the editing of default searches to prevent malicious attacks by browser hijackers. They are looking for a robust solution — if/when they find one users will be able to modify the default search engine.

I think it's more likely that you were told a fib. I think it's more likely that google, etc paid Opera to force people to use their search engine.

Maybe Opera should also force people to use a specific home page for fear someone might hi-jack that? Or better yet, maybe someone from Opera should surf the internet for me because I might download some malware onto my computer?