How to Open Man Pages In Firefox

Experience Level: Beginner

Prerequisites: None

The Konqueror web browser allows one to open man pages inside the browser, this feature is sometimes convenient if you are copying and pasting into forums or if you find some command on a web site and wish to review the commands usage without googling or opening a terminal. A feature some many use and others may just stick to the terminal, but nonetheless here is how one can do the same in Firefox.

If you are familiar with Firefox here is the basic idea:

Install man2html and create a bookmark with keyword man and location:

http://localhost/cgi-bin/man/man2html?query=%s

Now typing man command in Firefox’s address bar for some (installed) linux command will open the commands man page in Firefox.

Open a terminal and install man2html by the command below:

sudo apt-get install man2html

Now open Firefox and open Firefoxes Bookmark Window now called the Library window, CTRL-Shift-O or Click the Firefox button in FF 4 and choose Bookmarks (or in FF 3.6 click the bookmark menu item) and then Show All Bookmarks (In FF 3.6, Organize Bookmarks) In the left panel choose a location to store the book mark, any place other than All Bookmarks will do. Now right click the location you have chosen and click New Bookmark.

In the Name field type Man and for the Location field paste the line:

http://localhost/cgi-bin/man/man2html?query=%s

And in the Keyword field type man. For Tags and keyword add what you wish. Click Add. You can close the Library window now.

Now typing man command in Firefox’s address bar for some (installed) linux command will open the commands man page in Firefox.

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