Skip navigation.

Opera FAQs, Tips, Tricks & Tweaks

Cool tips for Opera browser

Posts tagged with "Speed Dial"

Change Opera Speed Dial background image automatically

Saturday, 24. October 2009, 22:21:10

, , , ...

I have more than 500 beautiful wallpapers :yes: including lone tree and images in Hindu Gods & Goddesses photo album.

Changing Speed Dial background image is boring after several times and time consuming. So, I have added an option in Opera Launcher to change Speed Dial background image automatically with one of the images from specified directory after specified time interval.

Set time interval to 0 days, to see new Speed Dial background image after every Opera startup.

25 comments

Opera Standard 10 Slim Skin

Wednesday, 9. September 2009, 15:35:09

, , , ...

Opera Standard skin with

  1. Smaller toolbars.
  2. Clear Speed Dial (without border, number and close button).
  3. Thin drag bar [ ... ].
  4. Buttons without borders in tab bar tail.
  5. Yellow attention color.

Opera Standard Skin
Opera Standard skin

Opera Standard Slim Skin
Opera Standard 10 Slim skin

Download skin from Opera Standard Slim skin page or click direct download link.

Known Issue: Speed Dial State 2 won't work with this skin due to side effect of hiding Speed Dial number.

You can get Speed Dial background shown in screenshot from here.

25 comments

Opera Speed Dial Sliding Puzzle

Monday, 3. August 2009, 10:32:34

, , , ...

Sliding puzzle can be played with Opera Speed Dial by dragging a Speed Dial slot horizontally or vertically and dropping in nearby empty Speed Dial slot.

Opera Speed Dial sliding tile puzzle scrambled
Scrambled tiles

Opera Speed Dial sliding tile puzzle solved
Solved puzzle

You can download above Speed Dial background and tile images in a zipped file from here. See this to change Speed Dial thumbnail images.

You can also play by adding numbers 1-8 to your existing Speed Dial thumbnail images.

Additional info

The following changes should be made in skin.ini inside skin file.

Speed Dial border and Speed Dial button border can be removed by commenting those lines. 

[Speed Dial Thumbnail Widget Skin]
; Tile Center = backgrounds/speeddial.png

[Speed Dial Thumbnail Widget Skin.selected]
; Tile Center = backgrounds/speeddial-selected.png

[Speed Dial Button Skin]
; Tile Center = buttons/push_button_speeddial.png

Speed Dial title text color and Speed Dial button text color can be changed as shown below. 

[Speed Dial Thumbnail Title Label Skin]
Text Color = #ffffff

[Speed Dial Button Skin]
Text Color = #ffffff

Speed Dial remove icon can be removed by commenting it. 

[Boxes]
; Speeddial Close = pagebar_close_button/close.png

"Click to add a Web page" and "What is Speed Dial?" texts can be removed by specifying empty strings in en.lng file. 

-1799226240=

528772207=

This Speed Dial was one of the selected hot picks in Speed Dial Hot Picks contest.

Update: Aug 12, 2009

51 comments

How to open multiple web pages from Opera Speed Dial?

Friday, 8. May 2009, 00:10:46

, , , ...

There are several ways to open multiple web pages in Opera.

  • Bookmarking web pages to a folder, navigating to folder from bookmarks menu and clicking Open All Folder Items.
  • Bookmarking web pages to a folder, giving nickname to folder and entering nickname in address field or setting nickname as home page in Tools > Preferences... > General > Home page.
  • Opening web pages, saving them as session File > Sessions > Save This Session... and opening it File > Sessions.

The advantage of sessions over bookmarks is it can store several settings (zoom, fit to width, images, etc.) per tab.

Sessions can be opened quickly by assigning it to a Speed Dial slot.

  • Open web pages.
  • Save them as session File > Sessions > Save This Session....
  • Assign it to a Speed Dial slot.

The path to session file should not contain space. If path has space use DOS name. To find DOS name of a directory/file, open Command Prompt, change path to parent directory of directory/file and type the following command. 

dir /x

Command Prompt to find DOS name
Command Prompt to find DOS name


Directory name DOS name
Program Files PROGRA~1
Documents and Settings DOCUME~1
Application Data APPLIC~1

Opera Speed Dial dialog with path to session file
Speed Dial edit dialog with path to session file

Note the WIN extension at the end of the session name.

Opera Speed Dial with session
Speed Dial with session

Opera will show above thumbnail for session but you can replace it with any image.

[Eric J. Goers via forums]

24 comments

How to change Speed Dial site titles in Opera?

Sunday, 1. March 2009, 13:04:07

, , , ...

Several people wants to change the Speed Dial site title as some websites have long page title. You can change title in speeddial.ini, but Opera won't show the modified title. You can change Speed Dial site titles easily using the following trick.

  1. Create a HTML file preferably inside profile directory with the following content and change the name & website address. 
    <html>
<head><title>Name</title></head>
<frameset><frame src="http://www.site.com/">
<noframes>Enable <a href="opera:config#Extensions|Frames">Frames</a> and save.</noframes>
</frameset>
</html>
  2. Open created file and Speed Dial page.
  3. Drag & drop opened page tab to a Speed Dial slot.
Opera Speed Dial with default title
Before: Long title 		Opera Speed Dial with custom title
After: Short & meaningful title

The URL won't change even if you visit another page/site via links on that Speed Dial page. That can be overcome by using the following but it needs JavaScript enabled and won't show thumbnail image. Thumbnail image can changed as shown here or by changing opera:blank to an image path. 

<html>
<head><title>Name</title></head>
<script type="text/javascript">
function load() { window.location="http://www.site.com/"; }
</script>
<frameset><frame onload="load()" src="opera:blank">
<noframes>Enable <a href="opera:config#Extensions|Frames">Frames</a> and save.</noframes>
</frameset>
</html>

The above trick uses local file and won't work in synced devices.

You can also use Opera Image Dial Generator.

Update: Oct 30, 2009

28 comments

How to change Speed Dial thumbnail images in Opera?

Tuesday, 30. December 2008, 14:40:25

, ,

If you don't like the default Speed Dial thumbnail images, you can change them easily.

  1. Convert the image you want to use as thumbnail to PNG format using Microsoft Paint (Open image, File > Save As and select 'Save as type' as PNG) or any image editor. There is no limitation on size of image but 256x192 pixels or less is recommended.
  2. Go to profile\thumbnails directory. For Opera 10 in Windows, go to %USERPROFILE%\Local Settings\Application Data\Opera\Opera!\thumbnails directory.
  3. Find and replace already existing thumbnail image with new image with original name.
  4. Set 'Read only' attribute (Right click on image > Properties) to prevent update of thumbnail image when you use reload.
  5. Restart Opera to see new thumbnail image in Speed Dial.

Opera Speed Dial with custom thumbnail images
Speed Dial with custom thumbnail images

! = Opera installation directory name

[Alexis C. Chua via forums]

Update: Jun 23, 2009

102 comments

Opera Launcher

Sunday, 23. November 2008, 16:47:44

, , , ...

Opera Launcher was created using AutoHotkey. It can

Download (size < 210 KB), unzip, place OperaLauncher.exe inside Opera installation directory, C:\Program Files\Opera and run it to launch Opera. The following settings dialog will be shown when you run it first time.

Opera Launcher settings dialog
Opera Launcher settings dialog

Keystrokes
Keystrokes can be used to perform an action after starting Opera. ^=Ctrl, !=Alt and +=Shift

Examples:

Action Keyboard Shortcut Keystrokes
Enter fullscreen F11 {F11}
Hide Opera Ctrl+Alt+Shift+H ^!+h
New tab Ctrl+T ^t
Minimize Opera Alt+Space+N !{Space}n

Restart
Use Restart Opera button! or create new keyboard shortcut/mouse gesture in application section with the following action. 

Execute program, "C:\Program Files\Opera\OperaLauncher.exe", "/ro"

! If your path to OperaLauncher.exe is different change it in toolbar configuration file after closing Opera.

Restore bookmarks/notes
To restore previous version of bookmarks/notes file, close Opera, move previous version of opera6*.adr/notes*.adr from profile\backups directory to profile directory and rename it to opera6.adr/notes.adr.

Changelog
Date Changes
Oct 24, 2009
  • Option to change Speed Dial background image automatically.
  • Added help button.
Jul 23, 2009
  • Option to hide Opera title bar. Thanks to lunigma.
  • Opera restart.
May 11, 2009
  • Updated for Opera 10.00 Alpha Build 1413.
  • Performance improvements.
  • Tray icon balloon error message.
  • Transparent icon.
Feb 23, 2009
  • Option to delete old backup files. To disable, set it to 0.
  • Sessions backup will be created every time Opera starts.
Feb 10, 2009 Didn't empty temporary download directory in non-English versions of Windows. Fixed.
Feb 8, 2009
  • Command line parameters passed to Opera. Thanks to itcpeter.
  • Updated for Opera 10.00 Alpha Build 1139.
  • Opera Launcher can be placed anywhere, but path to Opera Installation Directory should be added in OperaLauncher.ini file.
Jan 8, 2009 Option to send keystrokes.
Nov 26, 2008 Option to empty temporary download directory.
Nov 23, 2008 Initial release.

78 comments

How to add more Speed Dials in Opera?

Friday, 13. June 2008, 11:16:59

, , , ...

Opera has 9 Speed Dials by default but you can add more in Opera 9.50.

  1. Note the path to speeddial.ini file.
  2. Close Opera.
  3. Open speeddial.ini file in any text editor.
  4. Add the following lines and adjust number of rows & columns to your need. If you use widescreen monitor, increase number of columns. Use trial & error method and adjust rows & columns so that Speed Dials will fit on your screen properly. 
    [Size]
Rows=3
Columns=4
  5. Start Opera.

More Speed Dials in Opera
Click on image to view fullsize screenshot

Keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+1 to Ctrl+9 will open Speed Dials 1-9 respectively. To open extra Speed Dials using keyboard shortcut, create new keyboard shortcuts in Application section with action Go to speed dial, X where X is Speed Dial number.

To remove Speed Dial search box,
Above Opera 9.60, Tools > Preferences... > Search > [Select] Speed Dial search engine > Edit... > Details>> > [Disable] Use as Speed Dial search engine
Below Opera 9.60, set Speed Dial Search Type to 0

[RemcoLanting]

Update: Nov 22, 2008

130 comments

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

Saturday, 14. April 2007, 05:01:35

, , ,

Default search engine

Tools > Preferences > Search > [Select] Search engine > Edit... > Details >> > [Check] Use as default search engine

Speed Dial search engine

Tools > Preferences > Search > [Select] Search engine > Edit... > Details >> > [Check] Use as Speed Dial search engine

Google as default search engine & Speed Dial search engine
Google as default search engine & Speed Dial search engine

53 comments

Download Opera, the fastest and most secure browser

Photos

Easter Hunt 06.pngEaster Hunt 02.pngEaster Hunt 07.pngEaster Hunt 01.pngNewest Members from Norway.pngEaster Hunt 05.pngEaster Hunt 04.pngEaster Hunt 08.pngEaster Hunt 03.png

Countdowns

165 days until 16th birthday to Opera Desktop

Opera

Opera

Opera Blogs

Softwares (Freeware)

  • Opera

    Opera is a fast and safe web browser.

  • PDF-XChange Viewer

    PDF-XChange Viewer is a faster & fully featured PDF Viewer.

  • Notepad++

    Notepad++ is a source code editor and Notepad replacement, which supports several programming languages.

  • StrokeIt

    StrokeIt is an advanced mouse gesture recognition engine and command processor.

  • VLC media player

    VLC media player is a cross-platform media player which supports a large number of multimedia formats, without the need for additional codecs.

  • Ubuntu

    Ubuntu is a linux-based operating system.

  • Avast Home Edition

    Avast is a complete anti-virus package.

  • TrueCrypt

    TrueCrypt is a on-the-fly encryption (OTFE) program for Microsoft Windows and Linux.

  • AutoHotkey

    AutoHotkey is a free, open-source utility that can automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks.

  • Universal AutoCorrect

    An AutoHotKey script that will automatically correct a predefined list of misspellings.

  • XYplorerFree (Last freeware version)

    XYplorerFree is a multi-tabbed portable file manager for Windows.

  • Total Uninstall (Last freeware version)

    Total Uninstall monitors any changes made to your system during the installation of a new application. It allows you to perform a complete uninstall without having to rely on the supplied Add/Remove program which can leave files or changes behind.

  • Dup Detector

    Dup Detector finds duplicate and near duplicate images.

  • IrfanView

    IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative graphic viewer for Windows.

  • WordWeb Free

    WordWeb is a one-click English thesaurus and dictionary for Windows that can look up words from in almost any program.

  • Autoruns

    See what programs are configured to startup automatically when your system boots and you login.

  • Process Explorer

    Find out what files, registry keys and other objects processes have open, which DLLs they have loaded, and more.

  • Process Monitor

    Monitor file system, registry, process, thread and DLL activity in real-time.

  • VirtualBox

    VirtualBox allows you to run an entire operating system inside your current operating system.

  • Revo Uninstaller

    Uninstall programs even if you have problems in uninstalling.

Softwares (Nagware)

  • WinRAR

    WinRAR is a powerful compression tool with many integrated additional functions.

  • Sandboxie

    Sandboxie allows you to run any program but all changes that result from the usage are kept in a sandbox environment, which can then be deleted later.

Softwares (Shareware)

  • XYplorer

    XYplorer is a multi-tabbed portable file manager for Windows, featuring a very powerful file search, versatile preview facilities, a highly customizable interface, and a large array of unique ways to efficiently automate frequently recurring tasks.

  • Beyond Compare

    Beyond Compare is a advanced file and folder comparison utility.