Why I can't switch to Safari, but would like to

Question

I use FF on my macbook and I've tried Safari and like it, but this is what keeps me going back to Firefox. I have some issues in FF also, which Safari doesn't have and am trying to get to a single browser, if possible.
1) I want tabs. Not just for links from Applications, but when I click on a link on a web page, I want it to open in a new tab not a window. Yes, I know I can Command-click to get it in a new tab. But, I shouldn't have to. I've told Safari, in Preferences that I want things to open in a new tab and I should be able to simply click on the link, not hold down another button and click.
2) In FF, when I download my statements from my bank and my credit card company, it automatically loads Quicken. In Safari, it just downloads the file. I've set (in More Info) the QFX files to be opened by Quicken; but I can't get Safari to recognize the file as a "safe file". Is there a way to do this.
3) Menu Customization. I'd like to have a button on the menu bar to create a new, blank tab. I know the key strokes to do it and that I can control click on the tab bar, but I'd like to have a button on the menu bar.
4) Flash blocking. I can give up the ad blocks (don't want to, I love AdBlocker on FF), but I really want to block the flash items until I want to see them. in FF, I use Flashblock, which gives me a button to click on to display the flash item, if I want to. Is there a way to do this in Safari with a minimum of clicks?
As you can see from my issues, I like things easy and with minimal clicks.
Thanks!
Mike

Answer 1

Hi Mike,
There are a few components involved in this. One, is enabling folder actions, which you've already done. The second is writing an applescript to perform the desired action on files added to it, and saving it in your '/Library/Scripts/Folder Action Scripts/' folder. And finally, applying it to the download folder. To design a script, you'll have to use the Script Editor provided with Mac OS X.
I don't know much scripting myself, but to incorporate the information on Rubicode's website, and assuming Quicken is the default application associated with .qfx files, something along the lines of this should work...
on adding folder items to this_folder after receiving aFile
  tell application "Finder"
    if the name of aFile contains ".qfx" then
      set file type of aFile to "WBCN"
    end if
  end tell
  open aFile
end adding folder items to
Of course, the above example is included only for its conceptual value. Results will vary. You'd do well to get input from someone's who's familiar with scripting. Also, I found this article on MacOSXHints which is probably related to what you wish to do. Of interest is that there is an added line which sets the creator type as well. Given the age of the article, I'm not sure if that is necessarily required.
        MacOSXhints: A script to prepare Safari-downloaded Quicken files
Good luck!
Yang