Using Google Maps Via Firefox Keyword Search

somejotnotes — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 21:20:21 +0000

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:

Jot Notes » Firefox

Using Google Maps Via Firefox Keyword Search