[S|ntax]

i use firebird on the pc and have very used to certain mouse shortcuts, in particular using the side button on my mouse to go back and to use the wheel button to open a new tab. is it possible to assign those buttons in safari?

i should clarify that i mean wheel clicking on one of the bookmarks just under the address bar. in firebird it would open a new tab, where as in safari it will open the link in your current window.

also i found that you can highlight some text, right click and do a google search. very helpful but again i would like it to open in a new tab, is that possible?

[::maroma::]

You just need to assign the keyboard combos that you want to use in Safari to your mouse. Depending on the mouse, you should be able to do this with the drivers that came with the mouse, or you can use USB Overdrive.

For example, I have Command-Click assigned to my middle scroll wheel button, which opens a new tab in Safari. I have Command-Left Arrow and Command-Right Arrow assigned to side buttons on my mouse that go back and forward in pages.

[Apfhex]

Sure! Both Logitech and Microsoft's drivers allow you to do this (the two brands I have experience with), or you can download USB Overdrive.

To go back and forward, set the buttons to use Command-leftarrow and Command-rightarrow (for the two brands I mentioned above, the software comes with this setting by default). To open pages in new tabs, set the middle mouse button to perform a Command-click.

When selecting text, hold down Command and then right-click to bring up the menu, when you select "Google Search" it should open in a new tab (make sure to hold down the Command key first; also, this does not seem to work using a click from the middle mouse button).