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Useful opera:config (Opera Preferences Editor) entries

38 Comments
 Published May 20th, 2008 7:45 AM EDT By Tamil

Opera’s preferences window (keyboard shortcut: CTRL+F12) provides access to preferences the are most commonly adjusted. There are many more options that are available for you to adjust, however, they are hidden and can be found in the built-in preferences editor.

To access the hidden preferences editor, type opera:config into the address bar and press enter. To learn more about each opera:config entry, click the help link at top right side in the preferences editor.

Preferences Editor.png
Opera Preferences Editor

The following are some useful opera:config entries.

Entry# Description
opera:config#BitTorrent|Enable Enable file distribution using BitTorrent
opera:config#Cache|ECMAScript Available memory for JavaScript engine in kB
opera:config#Colors|HighlightedBackground Background of text that is highlighted (after a search for instance)
opera:config#Colors|HighlightedBackgroundUnfocused Background of text that is highlighted but has no focus
opera:config#Colors|HighlightedText Color for text that is highlighted
opera:config#Colors|HighlightedTextUnfocused Color for text that is highlighted but has no focus
opera:config#Colors|SelectedBackground * Background of text that is selected
opera:config#Colors|SelectedText * Color for text that is selected
opera:config#DiskCache|Size Disk cache size in kilobytes
opera:config#Extensions|FramesShowActive Show active frame with border
opera:config#Extensions|IFrames Enable inline frames
opera:config#ISP|Id ! Custom user agent substring
User agent with custom string ‘OperaWatch’.

Opera/9.50 (Windows NT 5.1; U; OperaWatch; en)
opera:config#Network|EnableContentBlocker Enable content blocker
opera:config#Network|EnableHostNameWebLookup Use Web service to search if server name lookup fails
opera:config#Network|HostNameWebLookupAddress URL to Web search to use if server name lookup fails
opera:config#SecurityPrefs|PasswordLifetime Expiry time in minutes for master password in memory
opera:config#TransferWindow|KeepEntriesDays Days to keep entries in transfer manager
opera:config#UserPrefs|AddressbarContentSearch * Enable address bar content search
opera:config#UserPrefs|AllowEmptyWorkspace Permits the last tab to be closed
opera:config#UserPrefs|AlternativePageCycleMode Page cycle mode to use when cycling without displaying list of pages
0 = Recently used order
1 = Page bar order
opera:config#UserPrefs|ApplicationIcon ! Full path to alternative icon file. Windows only. See How to customize Opera icon & title?
opera:config#UserPrefs|AutoDropdown Allow auto completion dropdown
opera:config#UserPrefs|BrowserJavaScript Whether to download and use the browser.js file. Enable by setting to 1, Opera will then download the file and set to 2.
0 = Never download or use
2 = Use and check for updates weekly
1 = browser.js signature invalid. On next check for update, a new browser.js will be downloaded and the value set to 2.
opera:config#UserPrefs|CacheDirectory4 Full path to cache directory
opera:config#UserPrefs|CheckForNewOpera Keeps track of weekly check for new updates. Set to 0 to disable. See How to disable check for new version of Opera?
opera:config#UserPrefs|EllipsisInCenter Shorten button and tab names in the middle
opera:config#UserPrefs|EnableEditTripleClick Handling double clicks in text edit fields. UNIX only.
0=Double-click text to select all
1=Double-click to select word, triple-click to select all
opera:config#UserPrefs|EnableUsageStatistics Enable usage statistics sent to Opera. See Help us help you! for more info.
opera:config#UserPrefs|EnableconfigURL Enable opera:config
If you want to enable opera:config after disabling, close Opera, delete the line Enable config URL=0 in opera6.ini file.
opera:config#UserPrefs|HistoryNavigationMode 1 = Automatic mode
2 = Compatible mode
3 = Fast mode
Read more about history navigation.
opera:config#UserPrefs|IgnoreTarget Disallow documents to create new windows/pages
opera:config#UserPrefs|MaxDirectHistoryLines Maximum numbers of typed-in URLs
opera:config#UserPrefs|MaximumFontSize Do not allow fonts larger than value in pixels
opera:config#UserPrefs|MinAllowedGDIResources Attempt to free system resources when low by value in percentage. Windows only.
opera:config#UserPrefs|NumberOfHits Preferred number of search results per page.
0 = Use search engine’s own default
Google only. To work in other engines, you have to append &x=%i to search engine address where x is search query name for number of results. For Google, http://www.google.com/search?q=%s&num=%i
opera:config#UserPrefs|OpenDialogUnderMouse Launch dialog where mouse pointer is already located. UNIX only.
opera:config#UserPrefs|ScrollIsPan * Enable grab-and-scroll mode. Alternatively, hold down CTRL+ALT and then click & drag the page to enable on the fly scroll.
opera:config#UserPrefs|ShowAddressInCaption! Display URL rather than page title in title bar
opera:config#UserPrefs|SpeedDialSearchType Set to 0 to remove Speed Dial search bar
opera:config#UserPrefs|SpeedDialState Available options:
0 = Folded (”Show speed dial” message)
1 = Normal view
2 = Read Only (Hides “What is Speed Dial” & “Show speed dial” buttons)
3 = Disabled
opera:config#UserPrefs|Title Main caption on title bar. Shows standard caption by default; Page title and Opera. Add “%s” to display Opera’s build number. See How to customize Opera icon & title?
opera:config#UserPrefs|UseIntegratedSearch Use available multi-search field or “Find in page” field instead of dialog for “Find in page”
opera:config#UserPrefs|UserJavaScriptonHTTPS Allow User JavaScript on secure servers. Use with caution.
opera:config#UserPrefs|VisitedPages * Enables content search
opera:config#VisitedLink|StrikeThrough Strikethrough on visited links

# = Copy & paste in address bar or select entry, right click & click Go to URL
! = Requires Opera restart
* = Available in Opera 9.50

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38 Comments

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  1. 1 Rhonnysparks May 20th, 2008 at 8:24 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    nice list.

    I didn’t know about history navigation mode, having to wait when going back in history really bugged me, so good to have (nearly) instant history navigation again :)

  2. 2 drumblius May 20th, 2008 at 8:37 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Is there any chance of changing text highlight color when searching text in source code.
    Now background is white and highlight color is light grey. Usualy it’s difficult to find what’s highlighted

    example: http://clip2net.com/page/m0/188704

  3. 3 Ravindran May 20th, 2008 at 8:50 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    Amazing list!!!

  4. 4 Gongo May 20th, 2008 at 9:04 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    opera:config#UserPrefs|AllowEmptyWorkspace

    this would be the “most” useful configuration on mac … but it’s not available :’(

  5. 5 suribe May 20th, 2008 at 9:36 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    very useful list, thanks and please made more post like this one ;)

  6. 6 Fleawin May 20th, 2008 at 11:48 am
    using Opera Opera 9.27 on Windows Windows XP

    Nice list! Thanks a lot.

    But even if I understand these configuration-options are not for everyone, I still think they should be more accessible to the user. This is far from intuitive. (please let some opera-dev see this post).

  7. 7 Tamil May 20th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    I didn’t know about history navigation mode

    I’m surprised, you didn’t find this for almost 2 years. You should read Opera Changelogs carefully. ;)

    Is there any chance of changing text highlight color when searching text in source code.

    AFAIK, no.

  8. 8 Q May 20th, 2008 at 3:23 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows Server 2003

    opera:config#UserPrefs|MaxVisitedPagesIndexSize isn’t used anymore, setting does nothing at the moment and will soon be removed

  9. 9 Madis May 20th, 2008 at 6:04 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Wow, the opera:config#UserPrefs|AllowEmptyWorkspace is really fastening up the start time of Opera.

  10. 10 Kyle Baker May 20th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    @Madis

    Wow, the opera:config#UserPrefs|AllowEmptyWorkspace is really fastening up the start time of Opera.

    I’ve found that enabling the option to minimize tabs by clicking them, and minimizing them all before closing Opera (so they’re all minimized on the next start) has helped my start time significantly.

    I minimize all of the tabs in each window except for a few that I’m working with at any given moment. Doing both of these, I’ve found that Opera starts faster and also during use is faster and more responsive since many of the tabs are minimized. Just feels faster. :D

    I never have an empty window. :P

  11. 11 Rhonnysparks May 20th, 2008 at 9:01 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    I’m surprised, you didn’t find this for almost 2 years. You should read Opera Changelogs carefully. ;)

    has it really been nearly 2 years? I remember at one point noticing that history navigation was reloading some pages but I thought it was a weekly bug…but then it never went away.
    Anyway I definitely should pay more attention to changelogs :p

    on a side note: how come it says my platform is linux even though I’m running ubuntu (7.10)?

  12. 12 Manoj May 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pm
    using Mozilla Firefox Mozilla Firefox 1.5.0 on Windows Windows XP

    Wow! Thanks Tamil.

  13. 13 jimbo May 20th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows Vista

    Thanks, that was very helpful

  14. 14 Tamil May 20th, 2008 at 11:58 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    has it really been nearly 2 years?

    Yes, Opera 9.00 was released on June 20, 2006.

    how come it says my platform is linux even though I’m running ubuntu (7.10)?

    You user agent string should contain Ubuntu. Check your user agent.

  15. 15 André T. May 21st, 2008 at 3:20 am
    using Opera Opera 9.27 on Windows Windows XP

    Can I change the Speed Dial search engine? And what does the “Allow Empty Workspace” feature?

  16. 16 Tamil May 21st, 2008 at 3:44 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    Can I change the Speed Dial search engine?

    Yes, see How to set default search engine & Speed Dial search engine in Opera?

    And what does the “Allow Empty Workspace” feature?

    It will allow you to close last tab (Speed Dial).

  17. 17 André T. May 21st, 2008 at 3:50 am
    using Opera Opera 9.27 on Windows Windows XP

    Thanks Tamil.

  18. 18 Madis May 21st, 2008 at 5:38 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    @Kyle Baker

    I’ve found that enabling the option to minimize tabs by clicking them, and minimizing them all before closing Opera (so they’re all minimized on the next start) has helped my start time significantly.

    I minimize all of the tabs in each window except for a few that I’m working with at any given moment. Doing both of these, I’ve found that Opera starts faster and also during use is faster and more responsive since many of the tabs are minimized. Just feels faster.

    I never have an empty window.

    I actually have chosen that Opera starts up with empty window, as I usually don’t resume browsing my previously opened pages. However, if I want to do that I just save the session.

  19. 19 Rhonnysparks May 21st, 2008 at 9:10 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Linux Linux

    Ok I checked and my user agent doesn’t contain ubuntu, I wonder why not?

  20. 20 Tamil May 21st, 2008 at 11:19 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    Ok I checked and my user agent doesn’t contain ubuntu, I wonder why not?

    Opera won’t send Ubuntu along user agent but Ubuntu Firefox will send.

  21. 21 Tamil May 22nd, 2008 at 2:08 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    opera:config#UserPrefs|MaxVisitedPagesIndexSize isn’t used anymore, setting does nothing at the moment and will soon be removed

    Thanks updated with opera:config#UserPrefs|VisitedPages

  22. 22 Pierre May 22nd, 2008 at 8:27 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Opera won’t send Ubuntu along user agent but Ubuntu Firefox will send.

    To append “Ubuntu” or any other words/numbers, User-Agent can be slightly tuned with opera:config#ISP|Id option :)

  23. 23 Tamil May 22nd, 2008 at 3:00 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    To append “Ubuntu” or any other words/numbers, User-Agent can be slightly tuned with opera:config#ISP|Id option

    Thanks, added. :D

  24. 24 yellowfour Jun 12th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    awesome page. thanks yous.

  25. 25 illoperathat Jun 22nd, 2008 at 2:26 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows Vista

    Thanks some very useful

  26. 26 noobie Jun 22nd, 2008 at 7:00 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    Hi i just want to ask, how to turn off URL Look-up in version 9.5

  27. 27 Tamil Jun 22nd, 2008 at 9:38 am
    using Opera Opera 9.51 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    Disable opera:config#UserPrefs|AutoDropdown

  28. 28 noobie Jun 22nd, 2008 at 7:16 pm
    using Internet Explorer Internet Explorer 7.0 on Windows Windows XP

    Thanks Tamil :D

  29. 29 jip Jun 23rd, 2008 at 4:29 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows XP

    hi all
    does anyone know how to display a media inspector, as we can find on other browsers ?
    it just displays all media files loaded on the page, with minimum info about them …
    thanks

  30. 30 Tamil Jun 23rd, 2008 at 7:01 am
    using Opera Opera 9.51 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    @jip, please ask in Opera forums.

  31. 31 Notumbo Jun 25th, 2008 at 11:38 am
    using Opera Opera 9.50 on Windows Windows 2000

    Nice list, very helpful. But here’s a request:

    The URL address bar has one specific shortcoming – you can’t customize the list. You can’t change the display order (from last entered on top to first entered, or alpheabetical, for example). This would make finding web addresses easier. I upgraded to 9.5 recently, and I was surprised to see it scambled my history list – everything is still there, but its all out of any kind of order. I ended up clearing my History as a result, and now am starting over. But I want to be able to customize the order of display.

    Any thoughts?

  32. 32 newbie Aug 22nd, 2008 at 12:04 am
    using Opera Opera 9.52 on Windows Windows XP

    Is it possible to make “Fit to Width” as default setting for all tabs.

  33. 33 Tamil Aug 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 am
    using Opera Opera 9.60 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    CTRL+F12 → Web Pages → Fit to width

  34. 34 newbie Aug 23rd, 2008 at 12:41 am
    using Opera Opera 9.52 on Windows Windows XP

    Thanks Tamil

  35. 35 Newbie Sep 9th, 2008 at 12:07 am
    using Opera Opera 9.52 on Windows Windows XP

    all opera speed dial items reload after deleting private data. any solution?

  36. 36 Tamil Sep 9th, 2008 at 11:10 am
    using Opera Opera 9.60 on Ubuntu Linux Ubuntu Linux

    AFAIK, there is no solution.

  37. 37 mustafa sazak Oct 1st, 2008 at 4:34 am
    using Opera Opera 9.52 on Windows Windows XP

    Thanks man. Worked well. Now I can customize my opera according to my own

  38. 38 ashar Nov 13th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
    using Opera Opera 9.60 on Windows Windows XP

    http://www.opera.com/support/usingopera/operaini/

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