SLED: Firefox scrolling, middle mouse button, like windows

This document (3652209) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 10

Situation

Scrolling in Firefox does not behave like it does in windows with the middle mouse button.

Resolution

Since natively Linux will try to paste the top most thing in your clipboard when you click your middle mouse button. When your in firefox and you do this, firefox will try to open what you pasted as a URL.

If you would like to get rid of this functionality just for the Firefox browser follow these easy steps

1. In the Address Bar type inabout:configand hit Enter. This will open the Advanced Preferences in Firefox.

2. In the Filter bar type inmiddleand you will see about 5 options
‑ double click middlemouse.contentLoadURL so that it changes to false.
‑ double click middlemouse.paste so that it changes to false.

3. In the Filter Bar type inscrolland you will see about 20 options, and the second one down from the top is general.autoScroll. Double click general.autoScroll so that it changes to true.

4. Now you can just close your browser and the settings are saved.

Now your ready to scroll with your middle mouse button. Try it out on one of your favorite news sites. :)

Disclaimer

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