Updating add-ons: Difference between revisions
(whoops, wrong article ;-)) |
Wintogreen (talk | contribs) |
||
Line 11: | Line 11: | ||
==Updating compatible but not installable extensions for a new application version== | ==Updating compatible but not installable extensions for a new application version== | ||
If you're updating Firefox or Thunderbird and the extension was already installed on your previous version, it is sometimes possible to re-enable it by going to "Tools -> Extensions", right-clicking on the extension, selecting "Enable" and then restarting the application. | |||
In some cases extensions that are compatible with the latest version of Firefox or Thunderbird cannot be installed simply because the extension hasn't yet been repackaged with the newer version number. If this is the only problem, it can usually be cured very easily like this: | |||
# Download to your computer a copy of the extension (the ".xpi" file). | |||
'''<em:maxVersion>0 | # Extract (unzip) the .xpi file. It is simply a zipped file with an .xpi extension, so you should be able to use something like unzip or Stuffit-expander (on Mac) to extract it. | ||
# Open the "install.rdf" file with a text editor such as Notepad. Find a tagline like this showing the "maxVersion" number (in this case 1.0, but it may differ depending on the extension): '''<em:maxVersion>1.0</em:maxVersion>''' | |||
# Change the "1.0" to "1.5" or whatever you need. That tells the installer that the version can be installed with the corresponding version number of Firefox or Thunderbird. | |||
# Optionally, to indicate that you modified the extension for your own private use, you can also edit the lines describing the author/contributor and version of the extension. | |||
# Save the changes you made to the install.rdf file. | |||
# Create a zip archive containing all the files that were in the original .xpi file, including your modified install.rdf file. Rename it to "myExt.xpi" or whatever you like. The crucial thing here is to use ".xpi" for the file extension. | |||
# Strongly recommended: before installing the extension, make a temporary [[profile backup | backup]] of your [[profile folder]] or at least of the "extensions" folder inside your profile folder, which contains the installed extensions. That way, if something goes wrong, you can revert the changes easily. | |||
# Finally, install the extension: If it's a Firefox extension, open the .xpi file from Firefox and it should install. If it's a Thunderbird extension, install it via the "Tools -> Extension" menu. | |||
If Firefox/Thunderbird won't start up properly after you've installed an incompatible extension, try starting up in [[Safe Mode]], going to "Tools -> Extensions", and uninstalling the extension. | |||
' | |||
[[Category:Installation and update (Firefox)]] | [[Category:Installation and update (Firefox)]] |
Revision as of 12:23, 6 November 2005
Automatic updating of extensions
You can configure Firefox and Thunderbird to update your extensions and themes automatically. (This is part of the Software Update feature.)
Disable auto-update for individual extensions
It is possible to prevent individual extensions from updating automatically even when you have the Software Update feature enabled. Further details can be found here.
- This section is a stub. You can help MozillaZine Knowledge Base by expanding it.
Updating compatible but not installable extensions for a new application version
If you're updating Firefox or Thunderbird and the extension was already installed on your previous version, it is sometimes possible to re-enable it by going to "Tools -> Extensions", right-clicking on the extension, selecting "Enable" and then restarting the application.
In some cases extensions that are compatible with the latest version of Firefox or Thunderbird cannot be installed simply because the extension hasn't yet been repackaged with the newer version number. If this is the only problem, it can usually be cured very easily like this:
- Download to your computer a copy of the extension (the ".xpi" file).
- Extract (unzip) the .xpi file. It is simply a zipped file with an .xpi extension, so you should be able to use something like unzip or Stuffit-expander (on Mac) to extract it.
- Open the "install.rdf" file with a text editor such as Notepad. Find a tagline like this showing the "maxVersion" number (in this case 1.0, but it may differ depending on the extension): <em:maxVersion>1.0</em:maxVersion>
- Change the "1.0" to "1.5" or whatever you need. That tells the installer that the version can be installed with the corresponding version number of Firefox or Thunderbird.
- Optionally, to indicate that you modified the extension for your own private use, you can also edit the lines describing the author/contributor and version of the extension.
- Save the changes you made to the install.rdf file.
- Create a zip archive containing all the files that were in the original .xpi file, including your modified install.rdf file. Rename it to "myExt.xpi" or whatever you like. The crucial thing here is to use ".xpi" for the file extension.
- Strongly recommended: before installing the extension, make a temporary backup of your profile folder or at least of the "extensions" folder inside your profile folder, which contains the installed extensions. That way, if something goes wrong, you can revert the changes easily.
- Finally, install the extension: If it's a Firefox extension, open the .xpi file from Firefox and it should install. If it's a Thunderbird extension, install it via the "Tools -> Extension" menu.
If Firefox/Thunderbird won't start up properly after you've installed an incompatible extension, try starting up in Safe Mode, going to "Tools -> Extensions", and uninstalling the extension.