Dev : Extensions : install.rdf

Not sure if it should be here, and not at Dev : install.rdf. Most (maybe all) of information below applies also to themes Asqueella 13:44, 26 Jul 2004 (PDT)

A new Extension Manager is used in Firefox 0.9 and Thunderbird 0.7 upwards. In order to be supported by the new EM you have to package your extensions as described in this mozilla.org document.

Creating install.rdf for your extension using tools

You can use any of these tools: Ted Mielczarek's webapp for install.rdf creation or Extenzilla - Windows-only install.rdf and XPI generator by Will Ryan (disscussion thread at MZ forums).

Creating from a template

Alternatively you can create it from template below.

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<RDF xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#" xmlns:em="http://www.mozilla.org/2004/em-rdf#">

	<Description about="urn:mozilla:install-manifest">
	
		<em:id>{XXXXXXXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXXXXXXXXXX}</em:id>
		<em:name>Sample Extension</em:name>
		<em:version>1.0</em:version>
		<em:description>A sample extension with advanced features</em:description>
		<em:creator>Your Name Here</em:creator>
		<!-- optional items -->
		<em:contributor>A person who helped you</em:contributor>
		<em:contributor>Another one</em:contributor>
		<em:homepageURL>http://sampleextension.mozdev.org/</em:homepageURL>
		<em:optionsURL>chrome://sampleext/content/settings.xul</em:optionsURL>
		<em:aboutURL>chrome://sampleext/content/about.xul</em:aboutURL>
		<em:iconURL>chrome://sampleext/skin/mainicon.png</em:iconURL>
		<em:updateURL>http://sampleextension.mozdev.org/update.rdf</em:updateURL>

		<em:file>
			<Description about="urn:mozilla:extension:file:sampleext.jar">
				<em:package>content/</em:package>
				<!-- optional items -->
				<em:skin>skin/classic/</em:skin>
				<em:locale>locale/en-US/</em:locale>
				<em:locale>locale/ru-RU/</em:locale>
			</Description>
		</em:file>

		<em:targetApplication> <!-- Firefox -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.9</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>1.0</em:maxVersion>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
 		<em:targetApplication> <!-- Thunderbird -->
			<Description>
				<em:id>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</em:id>
				<em:minVersion>0.7</em:minVersion>
				<em:maxVersion>1.0</em:maxVersion>
			</Description>
		</em:targetApplication>
	
	</Description>

</RDF>

Generating a GUID

You’ll have to generate a GUID for each extension you create and put it inside the <em:id> tag. You can either download MS guidgen (a Windows GUID generator), use uuidgen (for *nix), or go to irc://irc.mozilla.org/#botbot and say 'botbot uuid'. However, it is difficult for users to find your extension in their profile when it is disguised by an ugly GUID, so it is recommended that you replace up to the first 8 characters of the GUID with the name of your extension.

Extension versioning

As stated in the official documentation on mozilla.org, extension versions must be of form major.minor.release.build[+]. Old-style versions like 0.5pre are now invalid.