Creating shortcuts for Edge and Opera

I'm trying to create some shortcuts to my browsers on my new Windows 10 64bit PC, but I'm stuck on a couple issues:

- How can I create a private browsing shortcut for Opera? It's easy to do this for Firefox and Chrome - but I can't figure out how to do it for Opera.

- Is there still no way to create a desktop shortcut for the Microsoft Edge browser? I can't find any info on how to do this. And does Edge have a private browsing mode?

- Also, I'm trying to see if there's some add-on or some way I'm unaware of to shorten the url bar at the top of Opera and Firefox. In Chrome, I can just grab the right edge and move it over to the left to make more room for the extension icons. I have quite a few and in Opera and Firefox the url bar takes up a ton of the horizontal space, giving me little room for the addon icons.

Hi:

I do not use Edge, but perhaps try the suggestions here to create a shortcut:

Microsoft Edge Shortcut - Create in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums

MM

Thanks for the link - I'll give that a try in a bit. If anybody can offer some suggestions for the other questions about Opera and Firefox I'd greatly appreciate it.

One used to be able to customize the width of the URL Bar/Address Bar/Awesome Bar in older versions of Firefox.
I'm not sure it's still possible within Firefox default features.

EDIT: OOPS! Yes, it's still possible. One can change the relative size of the URL bar, but not the total size of the URL bar + Search bar -- the trick is to do it from Mozilla Normal Mode, not Customize mode:

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1043433

Note that if you place the mouse pointer between the location bar and the search bar then the mouse pointer will change to a resize pointer that allows to change the width of the location and search bar by moving the mouse left or right. The total size stays the same and only the relative size changes. You need to do that in normal mode (i.e. not in Customize mode).

But, the CTR extension does provide the ability to specify the minimum and maximum width and the "location bar/search bar" tab.
Classic Theme Restorer :: Add-ons for Firefox

>>NOTE: I use the CTR extension, but have not tried that particular feature.
>>You might want to backup your profile or use the profile manager to create a test profile before you experiment.
>>Let us know if you need help with either of those.

MM

When you say "width" of the bar, do you mean height (top to bottom)? Or length? Because I"m trying to shorten the length so I have more room along the top for my add-ons.

I've already removed the search bar, so the entire length is the url bar now. But it's very long and doesn't leave much room for add-ons. Most "spill" off the browser where I can't click them. Same thing in Opera.

And does Edge have a private browsing mode?

Yes it does. Click the three dots at the top right of the Edge browser window and 'In Private' is near the top of the list of options.

I'm guessing there's no way to start Edge or Opera in private mode direct from a shortcut? With Chrome and Firefox you just add an extra command in the shortcut (like --incognito for Chrome), and then when you click the shortcut it opens the browser in private mode.

rivre said:

When you say "width" of the bar, do you mean height (top to bottom)? Or length? Because I"m trying to shorten the length so I have more room along the top for my add-ons.

I've already removed the search bar, so the entire length is the url bar now. But it's very long and doesn't leave much room for add-ons. Most "spill" off the browser where I can't click them. Same thing in Opera.

Width is width -- horizontal space from left to right.
Height is height -- the amount of vertical space from top to bottom.

As explained in the post quoted in my previous reply here, the combined total horizontal width taken up by the URL bar + search bar is FIXED by Firefox.
You can adjust the *relative* size of one or the other.
But, if, as you describe, you completely removed the search bar, then the URL bar will -- by necessity -- now take up ALL of the allotted space.
In other words, if you make one of them smaller (narrower), then the other one will be bigger (wider).
If you remove one, then the other one will get bigger (wider) to fill all of the allotted space.

Did you look at the CTR extension I mentioned?
As the attached screen shot shows, you can manually customize the width of the 2 bars.
I do not know if doing so will change the TOTAL space allocated to them by Firefox.
You'll need to experiment a bit to find out.
>>You might want to backup your profile or use the profile manager to create a test profile before you experiment.
>>Let us know if you need help with either of those.

There may be other ways, e.g. using Stylish and userchrome, to do what you want. But at some point, you will probably risk irrevocably breaking Firefox.

Cheers,
MM

So does the same limitation apply to Opera? I'm guessing so since I don't see an obvious way of dragging the bar. I don't love the idea of risking breaking Firefox. I was just hoping there was an easy method that didn't require anything risky.

Hi:

The advice I provided applies to Firefox.

Alas, I have no experience with Opera.
Please wait for someone else familiar with Opera to assist you with that other browser.

But do please let us know if adjusting those settings in Classic Theme Restorer for Firefox achieves the effect you want with the Location bar.

Thanks,
MM