Installing extensions: Difference between revisions

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There are several ways of installing extensions, and these depend on how Firefox is used.
By default, extensions are installed for the current user only, but they can also be installed across multiple profiles and even globally.


If you have any issues related to installation or update of an extension you should first check on the home page for that extension.
Once installed, extensions can be configured by opening the Extensions Manager ("Tools -> Extensions"), selecting the extension from the list, and then clicking the "Options" button. (If this button is disabled then the extension is not user-configurable.) If you experience problems installing or [[Updating extensions | updating]] an extension you should consult the author’s home page for that extension to see if there are any relevant known issues.


== Single user==
==Single-user installation==
To install an extension in the current user profile, simply activate the installer file (which has a ".xpi" file extension) within Firefox. This can be done by clicking on a link to an installer file (such as the "Install" button on [https://addons.mozilla.org Mozilla Add-ons]) or by saving the installer file to your computer and dragging it into any Firefox window or opening it from the File menu.


If you are the only person using your machine, or you don't care about other users.
Extensions installed in this way will not appear in any other profiles which currently exist or which are later created.


=== Easy install ===
==Multi-user installation==
Multi-user installations are useful if more than one person uses your Firefox application. You should install and use the [https://addons.mozilla.org/extensions/moreinfo.php?id=421 Mr Tech Local Install] extension to configure your extension installations for multiple users. Alternatively you could simply allow multiple users to use the same profile; you must ensure that the [[profile folder]] is accessible to each of them on your system.


The easiest way to install the extension is to click on the '''Install''' button. This automatically downloads the extension and installs it against your user configuration.
==Global installation==
A global installation will install an extension to the application directory rather than within a profile, so it will be available to all users. To perform a global installation you should not activate the .xpi installer file within Firefox. Instead, download and save it to disk and ensure that you [[Kill application | close Firefox completely]]. Then restart Firefox with the following [[command line arguments]]:
-install-global-extension "<path-to-extension>\extname.xpi"
where "extname.xpi" is the name of the installer file.


Don't forget to configure the extension after it is installed.
Depending on the extension, each user may need to configure a globally-installed extension independently.


=== Alternative install ===
==Changing installation status==
If you wish to change the installation type of an extension from single-user to global (or vice versa), or move or copy it from one user [[profile]] to another, you should uninstall the extension and perform one of the installation methods above.


Instead of clicking the extension to install it, download it and save it. Open Firefox and drag the extension file into the Firefox window. It will be installed.
Advanced users may wish to try moving the extension files manually between the appropriate locations, as described below.


== Multi user ==
==Location of extension files==
 
Extension files are located in the "extensions" subfolder of the [[profile folder]] (single-user) and in the "extensions" subfolder of the [[installation directory]] (global); there is one folder per extension, named using their ID codes. To tell which is which, look inside each folders "chrome" subfolder where you will find some human-readable information regarding the extension.
If several people use the machine and are likely to want the same extensions. You can install extensions globally (once) and save user effort and disc space and maintenance effort. Instead of clicking the extension to install it, download it and save it. Repeat the download for as many extensions as you want.
 
=== Using shared profiles ===
 
If using profiles, a profile can be set to use another profiles directory; just make sure the profile directory is accessible to the other user.
 
=== Use the ''Mr Tech Local'' extension ===
 
Install the Mr Tech Local extension, and use that to configure your extensions for multiple users.
 
=== Global install ===
 
Having downloaded the extensions you want, open a command / terminal window and type '<path-to-firefox>firefox -install-global-extension "<path-to-extension>extension.xpi" '. This installs the extension to the application directory and will be available to all users.
 
Don't forget to configure the extension after it is installed - all users may need to do this.
 
=== Manual movement of extension installs ===
 
If you have installed an extension locally (i.e. single user) or globally and want to move it between users or global access, the files can be manually copied or moved. The preferred way has to be to uninstall and install it properly.
 
*THIS IS NOT GUARANTEED, AND MAY BREAK THE EXTENSION - IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY*
 
In the 'extensions' folder there is one folder per extension, but they are named by their id codes. To tell which is which, they all have a subfolder called 'chrome'. That will give you some readable names that (mostly) refer to the extension.
 
Copy, or move, the appropriate folders from the 'extensions' folder in one profile to the 'extensions' profile in the second profile.
 
 
NOTE: This information is written about Firefox on Windows XP. The technical information may be different for other systems.


[[Category:Extensions (Firefox)]]
[[Category:Extensions (Firefox)]]

Revision as of 11:19, 9 January 2006

By default, extensions are installed for the current user only, but they can also be installed across multiple profiles and even globally.

Once installed, extensions can be configured by opening the Extensions Manager ("Tools -> Extensions"), selecting the extension from the list, and then clicking the "Options" button. (If this button is disabled then the extension is not user-configurable.) If you experience problems installing or updating an extension you should consult the author’s home page for that extension to see if there are any relevant known issues.

Single-user installation

To install an extension in the current user profile, simply activate the installer file (which has a ".xpi" file extension) within Firefox. This can be done by clicking on a link to an installer file (such as the "Install" button on Mozilla Add-ons) or by saving the installer file to your computer and dragging it into any Firefox window or opening it from the File menu.

Extensions installed in this way will not appear in any other profiles which currently exist or which are later created.

Multi-user installation

Multi-user installations are useful if more than one person uses your Firefox application. You should install and use the Mr Tech Local Install extension to configure your extension installations for multiple users. Alternatively you could simply allow multiple users to use the same profile; you must ensure that the profile folder is accessible to each of them on your system.

Global installation

A global installation will install an extension to the application directory rather than within a profile, so it will be available to all users. To perform a global installation you should not activate the .xpi installer file within Firefox. Instead, download and save it to disk and ensure that you close Firefox completely. Then restart Firefox with the following command line arguments: 

-install-global-extension "<path-to-extension>\extname.xpi"

where "extname.xpi" is the name of the installer file.

Depending on the extension, each user may need to configure a globally-installed extension independently.

Changing installation status

If you wish to change the installation type of an extension from single-user to global (or vice versa), or move or copy it from one user profile to another, you should uninstall the extension and perform one of the installation methods above.

Advanced users may wish to try moving the extension files manually between the appropriate locations, as described below.

Location of extension files

Extension files are located in the "extensions" subfolder of the profile folder (single-user) and in the "extensions" subfolder of the installation directory (global); there is one folder per extension, named using their ID codes. To tell which is which, look inside each folders "chrome" subfolder where you will find some human-readable information regarding the extension.

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