The default source viewer for all browsers mentioned in the title is not optimal and sometimes posing more problems than solving them. Mozilla Firefox is displaying the source in a new stripped down Firefox window, the Internet Explorer is using Notepad and Opera is displaying it in a new Opera tab.
All three ways to display the source are not really comfortable although both Firefox and Opera use colors to mark certain elements. I prefer to use a software like Notepad++ or a real source viewer to display the sources of websites. This default source viewer can be changed in all three browsers, here is how you would do that.
Two changes have to be made to the Firefox configuration to add an external source viewer. Load about:config in the address bar and filter the results for view_source.
view_source.editor.path is the first setting. Enter the full path to the source viewer that you want to use, for example “c:\apps\notepad++.exe”. Double-click view_source.editor.external afterwards to set this value to true. The new source viewer will be available after the next restart.
Opera makes it a little bit easier. Click on Tools > Preferences. In the new menu on the Advanced tab and there on Programs in the left menu. Click on the Edit button next to “Choose Application for viewing source”. Check “Open with another application” and browse to that application on your hard drive. Changes take effect immediately.
Changing the default source viewer in Internet Explorer is only possible in the Registry. Open the Registry by pressing Windows R. Type regedit in the run box and hit enter. Navigate to the key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Internet Explorer and create a new key called “View Source Editor”.
Create another key below View Source Editor and name it “Editor Name”. Now change the default value to the path to the source editor that you want to use from now on. Changes will become active after a restart of Windows.
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Thanks for that one Martin. Very handy. I too prefer the idea of using Notepad++ instead of the Firefox default
it was just what i was looking for right now and a very useful bit of information for me. thank you.
Thanks for the hint. Do you know how to replace the partial source view window with an editor of choice?
At times I would like to edit the souce-code in captured scrapbook-files.