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Stop Firefox from highlighting the filename extension when saving a file?

  • 4 replies
  • 1 has this problem
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  • Last reply by powerdump

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Why does Firefox select the entire filename and extension in the dialogue box when saving? For years this has driven me insane. This is the only application that exhibits this behavior. Filenames on the web tend to get completely garbled with numbers and letter. Ever save a file from Tumblr and you'll know what I mean.

So every siingle time I save anything off the web I have to carefuly mouse the cursor to just before the file extension, drag backwards towards the first letter, then delete, then start typing in a name.

Isn't there anything in about:config that MAKE IT STOP SELECTING THE EXTENSION? THIS IS SO IRRITATING.

Screenshot illustrates exactly what I'm talking about.

Why does Firefox select the entire filename and extension in the dialogue box when saving? For years this has driven me insane. This is the only application that exhibits this behavior. Filenames on the web tend to get completely garbled with numbers and letter. Ever save a file from Tumblr and you'll know what I mean. So every siingle time I save anything off the web I have to carefuly mouse the cursor to just before the file extension, drag backwards towards the first letter, then delete, then start typing in a name. Isn't there anything in about:config that MAKE IT STOP SELECTING THE EXTENSION? THIS IS SO IRRITATING. Screenshot illustrates exactly what I'm talking about.

All Replies (4)

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Screenshot. (didn't upload earlier)

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I'm currently on a Windows system and do not experience this issue. Unfortunately, I don't have a Mac system to test this issue on, but I think that this may the normal behavior from Firefox on a Mac operating system.

If you file a bug report on Bugzilla, our developers can certainly take a look into the issue for you.

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Firefox does not choose the download name. The web site sends that information to the browser.

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FredMcD said

Firefox does not choose the download name. The web site sends that information to the browser.

Fred, do you seriously think that I am under the impression that Mozilla is renaming files? Maybe you need to read more closely or better yet, make sure you comprehend what you are attempting to answer.

To make this perfectly clear in case there are any more Freds out there:

I am trying to find out how to make Firefox select ONLY the filename in the Save dialogue box by default and not the filename & extension. The question has absolutely nothing to do with filenames.

Firefox is the only application I have ever used that exhibits the behavior of highlighting everything including the extension and it's unbelievably annoying.