Closed Bug 1178164 Opened 9 years ago Closed 8 years ago

customize_help.xhtml: Mention "Firefox & Thunderbird Add-on Converter for SeaMonkey"

Categories

(SeaMonkey :: Help Documentation, defect)

SeaMonkey 2.35 Branch
Unspecified
All
defect
Not set
normal

Tracking

(Not tracked)

RESOLVED FIXED
seamonkey2.48

People

(Reporter: RainerBielefeldNG, Assigned: isaacschemm)

References

(Blocks 1 open bug)

Details

Attachments

(2 files, 1 obsolete file)

Until we will have the fix for "Bug 1145026 - AMO Add-On-Descriptions: Add link function leading to SeaMonkey add-on-converter and filling URL input pane" the possibility of converting add-ons for SeaMonkey should be mentioned in Help. On <http://addonconverter.fotokraina.com/> there is a short description how to use the converter, so I think in SM help it is sufficient to mention that the converter does exist.

Suggested Location in Help: Installing Add-ons > Notes

Suggested Text:

Firefox & Thunderbird Add-on Converter for SeaMonkey
----------------------------------------------------
Many add-ons what have been created for Thunderbird and Firefox also can be used with SeaMonkey after a conversion by the converter <http://addonconverter.fotokraina.com/> before qou install the add-on. You find compatibility hints at mozillaZINE <http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=2834855> and in the SeaMonkey wiki <https://wiki.mozilla.org/SeaMonkey/AddonCompat#Converted_Version_Compatible>.
Well, modifying the Help text isn't a "short" solution, especially if it contains links to external sites which may change over time (and I'm certain you will find some dead links in the Help content somewhere which have disappeared or been moved since that text was written).

I'd prefer the suggestion quoted in bug 1145026 comment #31 to use the carousel in the "Get Add-ons" page of the Add-ons Manager, which /should/ be easier to maintain on a short term if links or content change, provided that we get access to that carousel content. Once that is done, a generic text can be added to this Help section, mentioning that add-ons may become compatible with SeaMonkey after applying a converter as offered in the discovery pane.
Depends on: 1145026
(In reply to rsx11m from comment #1)
Of course we should avoid unnecessary work. But I do not believe that there will be a quick solution for Bug 1145026 or "Bug 1151227 - Add-on Manager discovery pane: add Banner with link to Add-on-converter"
See Also: → 1145026, 1151227
No doubt, this one is a valid RFE
Status: UNCONFIRMED → NEW
Ever confirmed: true
See Also: → 1206519
This one blocks "Bug 1268037 (meta) Help cleanup 2016"
Summary: Mention "Firefox & Thunderbird Add-on Converter for SeaMonkey" → customize_help.xhtml: Mention "Firefox & Thunderbird Add-on Converter for SeaMonkey"
I'll create the help text
Assignee: nobody → RainerBielefeldNG
Status: NEW → ASSIGNED
OS: Unspecified → All
The attached edited version of "customize_help.xhtml" contains a text suggestion under heading "Using the Add-on-Converter" and a completed table of contents below heading "Add-ons".

That document has been edited using SeaMonkey HTML Editor, it might contain horrible bad xhtml, it's only a contents suggestion, not a patch
Someone Else will have to make a patch from this suggestion.
This one needs localization and also help index should be adapted
Assignee: RainerBielefeldNG → nobody
Status: ASSIGNED → NEW
@Isaac:
can you help?
How about this? Works in [brackets] would be links.

"The [Add-on Converter] has been created to convert Firefox and Thunderbird extensions for use in SeaMonkey. You can try to convert any extension by uploading it from your computer or by pasting the download URL from [addons.mozilla.org] (AMO) into the appropriate input line on the Add-on Converter start page. Experts can adjust options in the Advanced Options area.

Not all Firefox and Thunderbird extensions will work in SeaMonkey. Most extensions will install successfully, but some may not work properly once installed. The [compatibility list] will help you to anticipate how well a converted extension will work.

The easiest way to use the Add-on Converter is to install the [AMO Browsing for SeaMonkey] extension, which will overlay additional information and links onto the Add-on pages at addons.mozilla.org. If the Add-on is not already compatibile with SeaMonkey, a link will be added to the Add-on Converter, which will select appropriate conversion parameters automatically."

If that works, I can create a patch.
(In reply to Isaac Schemm from comment #9)
I agree, the chance that users will really use the Browsing Add-On and the Converter might be better with some more detailed description in Help. For me your text looks fine.
Assignee: nobody → isaacschemm
Status: NEW → ASSIGNED
(In reply to Isaac Schemm from comment #9)

I missed a typo:
wrong:   compatibile   
correct: compatible
Attached patch addon-converter-help.patch (obsolete) — Splinter Review
Here's a patch to add my above text to Help (typo fix included.)
Attachment #8771800 - Flags: review?(iann_bugzilla)
Blocks: 1287518
Comment on attachment 8771800 [details] [diff] [review]
addon-converter-help.patch

>+++ b/suite/locales/en-US/chrome/common/help/customize_help.xhtml

>+<p>The <a href="http://addonconverter.fotokraina.com/">Add-on Converter</a>
>+  has been created to convert Firefox and Thunderbird extensions for use in
>+  &brandShortName;. You can try to convert any extension by uploading it from
>+  your computer or by pasting the download URL from
>+  <a href="https://addons.mozilla.org">addons.mozilla.org</a> (AMO) into the
>+  appropriate input line on the Add-on Converter start page. Experts can
>+  adjust options in the Advanced Options area.</p>
For the last sentence, it could be read as someone other than the user, so maybe something like "If you are an expert user you can make adjustments in the Advanced Options area."
>+
>+<p>Not all Firefox and Thunderbird extensions will work in &brandShortName;.
>+Most extensions will install successfully, but some may not work properly once
>+installed. The <a href="http://addonconverter.fotokraina.com/compatibility/">
Nit: indentation incorrect for the two lines above.
>+  compatibility list</a> will help you to anticipate how well a converted
>+  extension will work.</p>

r=me with those addressed.
Attachment #8771800 - Flags: review?(iann_bugzilla) → review+
Attachment #8771800 - Attachment is obsolete: true
Attachment #8775147 - Flags: review?(iann_bugzilla)
Comment on attachment 8775147 [details] [diff] [review]
1178164-addon-converter-help-v2.patch

r/a=me
Attachment #8775147 - Flags: review?(iann_bugzilla) → review+
Keywords: checkin-needed
http://hg.mozilla.org/comm-central/rev/cd5ba215a523
Status: ASSIGNED → RESOLVED
Closed: 8 years ago
Keywords: checkin-needed
Resolution: --- → FIXED
Target Milestone: --- → seamonkey2.48
See Also: → 1301367
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