Frequently Asked Questions 2.2

Can I customize samfind and to what extent?

Of course, that is the whole point. The default arrangement of Topics and Websites that we provide is merely an example of what you can do (and so we don't provide you with an empty Bar), so remove them if you don't use them. On the other hand, the default websites have their full functionality enabled, including searching into the website and pretty little favicons, so if you decide to use them, it may make setting up samfind quicker. samfind is completely customizable, everything from where it sits, what's on it, and what features you choose to use are customizable. Sometimes it is a bit intimidating because you have so much control. But I will walk you through everything:
To customize samfind, right click on the Bar and select "Customize samfind...".

Can you walk me through the entire Customization Window?

To get to the customization panel, right click on the Bar and select "Customize samfind...".
Main tab

Placement

From the Main tab, you can place the bar where you want it:

as a Standard Toolbar, or below the webpage where the Status Bar used to be in Firefox 3.x,
on the Same row as the URL bar - where you type the address of the websites you go to,
or as a Sidebar (we call it "Sidesam") that takes up the left side of the browser, but only appears when you want it. If you select this one, also go to the "Sidesam" tab in the Customization Window to tweak its settings.

Layout

You can also make the Topics and Websites configured in a way that makes sense to you:

Showing one topic at time - this reduces clutter on the Bar and also makes it so you can fit lots of Topics and Websites on the Bar in a really clean way. You select a Topic and then see only the Websites related to that Topic. To return to the Topic list select the button representing the Topic to the right of the samfind icon on the Bar,
Topics always visible - is similar to "Show one topic at a time," but it keeps the Topics accessible to the right of the websites, essentially saving you one click in having to get the list of Topics back.
Topics always visible with websites drop-down menu - is most similar to the Firefox Bookmark Toolbar layout. Only the Topics appear, and clicking on the Topic's button shows all of the Websites dropping down below the Topic.
Just websites in topic order - only shows the Website buttons, not the Topic buttons. Websites are organized by Topic, but you usually don't have to click more than button to get to any website you want to visit.

Topics and Websites

Depending on your selections of Placement and Layout (above) you can customize every aspect of how the individual buttons look on your Bar:

whether there are only Icons, only Text (the name of the Topic or Website), or Icons and Text,
whether there is a pipe (bar) separating Topics or Websites to make it easier to find things,
how much space there is between Topic and Websites,
the default setting of how the website opens up, for example, whether it opens in a New Tab or in the Current Tab or in a New Window,
whether the RSS feed or Widgets related to each website appear (the little orange dots on the Bar) - clicking on the little orange buttons next to the Website buttons will make a sidebar open with the RSS feed or Widgets (for select websites like Digg or Reddit).

How do I customize samfind?

Everything about samfind is customizable using this Customization Window. You can always get to the Customization Window by right-clicking on the Bar and choosing "Properties … " or "Customize …". Once here you can customize Topics & Websites manually or automatically.
Manually, you can remove any or all of the default topics and websites and add ones that work for you straight from the Customization Window
Also manually, you can add websites by clicking the samfind button on the right side of the URL bar. If you don't see a samfind button there, click on the Other tab and enable samfind in URL bar.
Automatically, you can do any of the following from the Topics & Websites tab:

Add your most visited websites. samfind will look through your Browser history and find the web sites you visit often and add them to a Most Visited Topic. Every time you click that button, it will add more web sites. You can always, edit them or pare the down like any other Websites.
Add websites that are already part of your Bookmarks Toolbar. We are working on making multi-level folders so for now if you have multiple levels deep folders, adding from the Bookmarks Toolbar may make a lot of folders.
Add default samfind Bookmarks. Here you can add Topics and Websites that are pre-formatted and already have search and favicons configured. If you just want to grab some of the websites out of these Topics and add them to your own Topics, you can simply drag and drop the websites you like.

How can I lay out the Topics and Websites?

You can control the layout options on the Main tab. Assuming you are not using Sidesam, the Sidebar placement of samfind, there are lots of different ways to arrange your Topics and Websites. • If you are used to the way Firefox Bookmarks Toolbar is set up, you can choose "Topics always visible with websites drop-down." This will display a series of Topics and the Websites will drop down below the Topics. samfind does not have subfolders (yet) so you cannot sub-categorize your websites. • The horizontal version of "Topics always visible with websites drop-down" is "Topics always visible." When you click on a Topic, it becomes the active Topic. You can go to those websites or search within them. In this layout, if you use the default Maps Topic, you will get a from and to box for Maps. You don’t' have to use them both if you just want to plot an address, just type in one box and press the Website you want to search. • If you have lots of Topics and Websites, a nice layout to use is "Show one Topic at a time." All of your Topics appear and you select the one you want to see the Websites of. When you are done with that Topic, click the Topic name again and you get all of your Topics back. If you have tons of Websites in lots of your Topics, then you have the whole width of the Bar to list out your Websites. • If you want your Websites to be accessible with the least clicks possible, then choose "Just websites, in topics order." This is all your Websites organized by Topic laid out right in front of you.

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