1527121 - Search should search the value of the preference as well as the name

Status: RESOLVED WONTFIX

(Toolkit :: Preferences, defect)

Description

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

Previously, about:config searched the value of the preferences as well as the name.

This is very handy for finding prefs with certain values.

The new about:config should search values as well.

Comment 1

[Brian Grinstead [:bgrins]]

I'm guessing the matchesFilter function could be extended to support this: https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/00c0d068ece99717bea7475f7dc07e61f7f35984/browser/components/aboutconfig/content/aboutconfig.js#106-108

Comment 2

[:Paolo Amadini]

We've explicitly decided to design the search box so it only looks for preference names. This provides a more consistent user experience for the most common use case. In fact, some people find that this is an improvement over the old behavior, where sometimes spurious results containing long identifiers or encoded values would show up unexpectedly.

While some people would prefer filtering values using the filter box, we can't please everyone. We do support searching in values quite easily using the "Show All" command and "Find in This Page". You can also use the case-sensitive version of "Find in This Page" for more refinement.

We're also not considering adding a hidden preference to control this because, as soon as we filter on anything other than the preference name, code complexity increases and we would need to write a new set of regression tests.

I'll bring this up with Product and reopen if necessary, but I'm expecting this will stay as WONTFIX.

Comment 3

[Tobias H]

Use case:

Firefox gives me this error message when I try to download a file:

C:\Users\TOBIAS~1\AppData\Local\Temp\_uT5MCP9.exe.part konnte nicht gespeichert werden, weil die Quelldatei nicht gelesen werden konnte.

(Translate: C:\Users...xxx.part could not be saved because source file could not be read)

I recently moved my profile to a new machine and TOBIAS~1 is not a valid directory here.

How am I supposed to fix this if I do not know where TOBIAS~1 is used as a value?

(This is about the use case, not solving my problem. However, help is greatly welcome)

Comment 4

[Tobias H]

I thought I am smart searching for TOBIAS~1 in about:config to fix Firefox, but it is used in Windows to point to my existing profile folder, so the link should work. My error is therefore caused by my internet connection, I guess.

I am still put off that one cannot perform such a search.

Comment 5

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

This question is better placed on our support site:

https://support.mozilla.org/products/firefox