1592581 - The Firefox browser is not pinned to the taskbar if the taskbarpin preference is set via Normandy

Status: RESOLVED INVALID

(Shield :: Shield Study, defect)

Description

[Cosmin Muntean [:cmuntean], Ecosystem QA]

[Notes]:

• The issue is reproducible with both "default" and "user" preference types of the Normandy multi-pref recipe.
• The issue is NOT reproducible if you manually add the "installer.taskbarpin.win10.enabled" boolean pref to "true" on Firefox Beta 70 then update to Firefox Beta 71.

[Affected Versions]:

• Beta 70.0bx
• Beta 71.0bx

[Affected Platforms]

• Windows 10 1809 x64;

[Prerequisites]:

• In order to reproduce the issue, there are a few setups that need to be done. Here is a doc that describes the setups and the data used in order to reproduce the issue: Gdoc.
• Have a Firefox Beta version under 68 installed. (We have used the Firefox Beta 67.0b19).
• Have an update server set and running as described in the Gdoc.
• Have an active multi-pref recipe that sets the "installer.taskbarpin.win10.enabled" boolean pref to "tue". You can use this recipe.
• Have a profile that can be targeted by the created recipe. You can use this user.js file.

[Steps to reproduce]:

1. In the directory where the Firefox Beta 67.0b19 is installed create the "distribution" folder and add the "policies.json" file described in the Gdoc from prerequisites.
   • The "policies.json” file points to the local XML file that enables the browser to be updated to the 70.0b14 version.
2. Open the browser and update it.
   • The browser will be updated to Firefox 70.0b14 version. It will be recognized as the latest version.
3. In the browser's profile folder add the "user.js" file described in the Gdoc from prerequisites.
   • This file contains the changes needed to be targeted by the Normandy recipe.
4. Restart the Firefox browser.
   • The Normandy recipe will be executed and the "installer.taskbarpin.win10.enabled" pref will be added and set to "true".
5. Delete the "distribution" folder created in step 1.
   • This will allow the Firefox Beta 70.0b14 to be updated to the latest version 71.0b5.
6. Restart the browser and update it to the latest version (71.0b5).
7. Restart the browser and observe the Firefox shortcut from the taskbar.

[Expected results]:

• The Firefox browser is pinned to the taskbar.

[Actual results]:

• The Firefox browser is not pinned to the taskbar.

[Additional Notes]:

• Here is a link with the screen recording of the issue: Link.
• I will also test on Windows 10 1803 version and will add a comment if the issue is also reproducible,

Comment 1

[Molly Howell (she/her) (mostly inactive)]

The name of the pref that Normandy is setting has a space in front of it; it's " installer.taskbarpin.win10.enabled" when it should be "installer.taskbarpin.win10.enabled". That's why the installer code isn't picking it up.

Comment 2

[Cosmin Muntean [:cmuntean], Ecosystem QA]

Oh, I missed that. I have edited the recipe and now everything works as expected.
Thanks Molly!