On the addons site, if you scroll down to the bottom and expand the Versions list, you can find the page with older versions. Not sure exactly how to prevent it from re-updating, however.

Thanks. That sorted it. I got the older version. 1.2.1 is terribly flawed.

you can switch off 'automatic updates' of that addon in the settings.

Thanks.

I created an account just to reply here and say thank you for this helpful tip.

I have been using Ctrl+Shift+F to bring up the "Element Information" floating box in the upper left corner of a webpage for many years and the newer versions of the Web Developer Toolbar 1) removed this shortcut and 2) use some obtrusive, slow, and resource unfriendly feature similar to FireBug. I simply couldn't stand it!! I was about to see if Chrome has a Web Developer addon that was easy to use and I am GLAD I found this solution instead because I am a committed Firefox user! Thanks!!

Now that I've got the old functionality back, I'd like to share a few things.

First, the link on the addons site that jscher2000 is referring to is here: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/web-developer/versions/

Currently I only see one old version, and it's version 1.1.9.

How to switch to this version: 1) Open Firefox and hit Ctrl+Shift+A to open your Add-ons Manager 2) Find your current install of "Web Developer" and click the "Remove" button 3) Restart Firefox and navigate to the versions link posted above. 4) Move your cursor over the div for the older version (currently I see v1.1.9) and a green "+ Add to Firefox" icon should appear to the upper-right corner of the div. Click this to download and add to Firefox 5) Restart Firefox and enjoy the old and much easier to use version!

One thing I notice right away is that the dotted red element outline box is absent from version 1.1.9. Does anyone know if there is an option to bring this dotted outline box back? It was very useful! If so do tell, thank you!!

Hi Huusoku, you wrote:

the dotted red element outline box is absent from version 1.1.9.

Which feature/function is not showing the outline box -- Element Information?

Thank you for the help. In previous versions when I open the Element Information dialog by using Ctrl+Shift+F, a dotted red outline would follow my cursor as I highlighted different elements. I can't seem to get this dotted element square to reappear. I searched the options as well as the about:config and haven't found anything to enable this...

Hi Huusoku, I installed version 1.1.9 on Firefox 16 and didn't quickly see the option, either. Perhaps there was a change in a recent version of Firefox that prevents the focus rectangle from appearing? I didn't use that feature myself, so I don't know when it might have stopped working.

Hi simon_a6, I think the little tag name icons are added by this menu item:

Outline > Show Element Tag Names When Outlining

If you toggle that off and reload, you should *not* get the tags displayed (in 1.2.2, not sure about other versions).