Install.rdf: Difference between revisions

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{{extdev}}
{{extdev}}


Firefox 0.9, Thunderbird 0.7 and all subsequent versions of these products use the Extension Manager. In order to be supported by it you have to package your extensions as described in [http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/extensions/packaging/extensions.html this mozilla.org document]. This includes providing a valid "install.rdf" file.
Firefox 0.9, Thunderbird 0.7, Nvu 0.? and all subsequent versions of these products use the Extension Manager (''"EM"''). In order to have your extension supported by it you have to package your extensions as described in "[http://www.mozilla.org/projects/firefox/extensions/packaging/extensions.html Packaging Firefox/Thunderbird Extensions]" document at mozilla.org. This includes providing a valid install.rdf file.


Note that the Mozilla Suite currently makes no use of (and ignores) the "install.rdf" file. If you wish to support the Mozilla Suite, you must instead (or in addition) include an [[install.js]] file. Moreover, if you wish to submit your extension to [http://update.mozilla.org/ update.mozilla.org] then you should include the correct targetApplication item for the Mozilla Suite in a valid "install.rdf" file anyway (see [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=99246 this thread]).
==Creating install.rdf using tools==
 
==Creating "install.rdf" for your extension using tools==
You can use any of these tools:
You can use any of these tools:
*[http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/extensiondev/ Extension developer's extension] has Extension Builder functionality.
* [http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/extensiondev/ Extension developer's extension] has Extension Builder functionality.
*Ted Mielczarek's [http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/ffinstall/ webapp for install.rdf creation].
* Ted Mielczarek's [http://ted.mielczarek.org/code/mozilla/ffinstall/ webapp for install.rdf creation].
*[http://willbert.unserious.com/?go=extenzilla Extenzilla] - Windows-only install.rdf and XPI generator by Will Ryan ([http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=96578 disscussion thread at MZ forums]).
* [http://willbert.unserious.com/?go=extenzilla Extenzilla] - Windows-only install.rdf and XPI generator by Will Ryan ([http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=96578 disscussion thread at MZ forums]).
*[http://physnet.uni-oldenburg.de/~schlenk/tcl/firefox/extensionmaker.kit Extensionmaker] - A Tcl Starkit for windows, that generates an install.rdf. You need a tclkit runtime for windows to start it (see [http://www.equi4.com/tclkit.html]). Its currently beta.
* [http://physnet.uni-oldenburg.de/~schlenk/tcl/firefox/extensionmaker.kit Extensionmaker] - A Tcl Starkit for windows, that generates an install.rdf. You need a tclkit runtime for Windows to start it (see [http://www.equi4.com/tclkit.html]). It's currently beta.


==A template "install.rdf" file==
==Template==
If you choose to manually create an "install.rdf" file, you can use the template below as a guide.
If you choose to manually create an "install.rdf" file, you can use the template below as a guide.


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<em:minVersion>0.9</em:minVersion>
<em:minVersion>0.9</em:minVersion>
<em:maxVersion>1.0</em:maxVersion>
<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>
<em:targetApplication> <!-- Mozilla Suite -->
<Description>
<em:id>{86c18b42-e466-45a9-ae7a-9b95ba6f5640}</em:id>
<em:minVersion>1.7</em:minVersion>
<em:maxVersion>1.8</em:maxVersion>
</Description>
</Description>
</em:targetApplication>
</em:targetApplication>
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</pre>
</pre>


==Generating a GUID==
==Target applications' GUIDs==
<table>
<tr><td>Firefox      </td><td>{ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}</td></tr>
<tr><td>Thunderbird  </td><td>{3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}</td></tr>
<tr><td>Nvu          </td><td>{136c295a-4a5a-41cf-bf24-5cee526720d5}</td></tr>
<tr><td>Mozilla Suite </td><td>{86c18b42-e466-45a9-ae7a-9b95ba6f5640}</td></tr>
<tr><td>"Seamonkey"  </td><td>{92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}</td></tr>
</table>
 
===Notes===
* Mozilla Suite ignores install.rdf, but you ought to include corresponding targetApplication item in install.rdf if you support The Suite and are going to submit your extension to [http://update.mozilla.org/ update.mozilla.org], see [http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?t=99246 this thread]. '''You still must include an [[install.js]] file if you support Mozilla Suite.'''
* A note on "Seamonkey".
 
 
==Generating extension's GUID==
You&rsquo;ll have to generate a GUID for each extension you create and put it inside the &lt;em:id&gt; tag. You can either download [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=94551F58-484F-4A8C-BB39-ADB270833AFC&displaylang=en MS guidgen] (a GUID generator for Windows NT-based systems), use uuidgen (for *nix), use a web-based generator such as [http://kruithof.xs4all.nl/uuid/uuidgen this] and [http://www.hoskinson.net/webservices/guidgeneratorclient.aspx this], or open your [[IRC]] client, go to ''irc://irc.mozilla.org/#botbot'' and say 'botbot uuid'.
You&rsquo;ll have to generate a GUID for each extension you create and put it inside the &lt;em:id&gt; tag. You can either download [http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=94551F58-484F-4A8C-BB39-ADB270833AFC&displaylang=en MS guidgen] (a GUID generator for Windows NT-based systems), use uuidgen (for *nix), use a web-based generator such as [http://kruithof.xs4all.nl/uuid/uuidgen this] and [http://www.hoskinson.net/webservices/guidgeneratorclient.aspx this], or open your [[IRC]] client, go to ''irc://irc.mozilla.org/#botbot'' and say 'botbot uuid'.



Revision as of 13:43, 17 April 2005

This page is part of the extension development documentation project.

Ask your questions in MozillaZine Forums. Also try browsing example code.

Note: development documentation is in process of being moved to Mozilla Development Center (MDC).

Firefox 0.9, Thunderbird 0.7, Nvu 0.? and all subsequent versions of these products use the Extension Manager ("EM"). In order to have your extension supported by it you have to package your extensions as described in "Packaging Firefox/Thunderbird Extensions" document at mozilla.org. This includes providing a valid install.rdf file.

Creating install.rdf using tools

You can use any of these tools:

Template

If you choose to manually create an "install.rdf" file, you can use the template below as a guide.

<?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: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>

                <!-- This is not needed for Firefox 1.1 and later. Only include this 
                     if you want to be compatible with older versions -->
		<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>
	</Description>

</RDF>

Target applications' GUIDs

Firefox {ec8030f7-c20a-464f-9b0e-13a3a9e97384}
Thunderbird {3550f703-e582-4d05-9a08-453d09bdfdc6}
Nvu {136c295a-4a5a-41cf-bf24-5cee526720d5}
Mozilla Suite {86c18b42-e466-45a9-ae7a-9b95ba6f5640}
"Seamonkey" {92650c4d-4b8e-4d2a-b7eb-24ecf4f6b63a}

Notes

  • Mozilla Suite ignores install.rdf, but you ought to include corresponding targetApplication item in install.rdf if you support The Suite and are going to submit your extension to update.mozilla.org, see this thread. You still must include an install.js file if you support Mozilla Suite.
  • A note on "Seamonkey".


Generating extension's 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 GUID generator for Windows NT-based systems), use uuidgen (for *nix), use a web-based generator such as this and this, or open your IRC client, go to irc://irc.mozilla.org/#botbot and say 'botbot uuid'.

As Firefox/Thunderbird install each extension in a folder with name taken from <em:id> in install.rdf, some people (e.g. clav) are using human-readable strings as ID for their extensions. However, extensions with such IDs are reported to be rejected by update.mozilla.org, so you need to use a 'real' GUID for your extension if you're going to submit it to u.m.o. (discussion thread)

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.