The keyword search functionality in Mozilla Firefox allows you to set up shortcuts to search websites directly from the browser address bar. This allows you to save time for frequently performed searches. For example, on my system I have it set up so that I can do a Google search just by typing “g (search term)” in the browser address bar and clicking enter, without having to go to the Google website first.
However, if you want to set up a keyword search for Google Maps, then the usual method of setting up the keyword search bookmark doesn’t work correctly. If you try to set up a keyword search for Google Maps by right clicking in the Google Maps search bar and selecting “Add a Keyword for this Search”, the resulting bookmark has the following URL:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&source=s_q&output=js&hl=en&geocode=&q=%s&mrt=all
This URL will not work and returns a blank page. However, if you edit the bookmark manually and change it to the following URL, then your keyword search will return a useful result:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&iwloc=addr&q=%s
Thanks to Kareeser from the Ubuntu forums for posting this workaround (see his original post).
Additional references:
- Keyword Searches (mozilla.org)
- Firefox keyword search not working on Google Maps? (ubuntuforums.org)
June 8, 2009 at 11:06 am
[...] [via Jot Notes] [...]
June 12, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Thank you! That was most helpful.
August 23, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Thanks, I’ve been trying to sort this one out for a long time.
October 19, 2009 at 2:24 pm
This is exactly what i was looking for. Thanks.
January 7, 2010 at 9:55 am
I tinkered with your URL a little bit in order to avoid getting that “Did you mean…?” results page.
This one seems to cut out that extra page load, and takes you directly to the location pinned on the map:
http://maps.google.ca/maps?f=q&hl=en&iwloc=addr&mrt=loc&q=%s
October 30, 2010 at 6:25 am
Thanks for that hint!
This works for most requirements.
And I have another nice URL for this Keyword Search (Quick Search) – which enables even more features.
If you additionally want…
– a large map (desktop version of google maps)
– be able to directly enter a route search in the URL bar
– have other search-features which the normal (desktop) version of google maps offers
…then try to use this URL in your Search-Bookmark:
http://maps.google.de/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=%s&mrt=all
Now you can type into the URL-bar not just the name of a city but also a route-search.
For example: type into the URL-bar:
berlin to hamburg
Then you directly get displayed the route from the city Berlin to Hamburg.
November 9, 2010 at 5:30 pm
thanks somejotnotes. i also got it working thanks to your post (1st google search result for ‘maps.google.com keyword firefox’).
I always had it working but recently deleted my bookmarks on purpose (de-clutter process) and started adding important urls one by one and it didn’t work but ofcourse now it does.
anyway, thanks again for helping us!!!
November 29, 2010 at 3:27 pm
YES!!!!
I can’t believe I googled this problem and there is actually an answer on here! So glad. I hated having to open a new google map window and navigating to searchbox when I use the quick firefox keyword searches for every site!
Thanks.
March 31, 2011 at 10:20 am
Didn’t work on my FF4.
January 31, 2012 at 4:59 pm
i’m incredibly happy this came up so early in the search. thank you for posting this topic!