1779018 - Unable to run JNLP file automatically (FF ESR 102.0)

Status: REOPENED

(Firefox :: File Handling, defect, P3)

Description

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Steps to reproduce:

Browser: Firefox ESR 102.0

Download a file from a URL, for example a JNLP file (jnlp file extension).

Actual results:

Firefox always shows a dialog window that saves the file.

Expected results:

Firefox should present the "What should Firefox do with this file?" prompt so files can be opened with the associated program on the OS.

Comment 1

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Created this bug per the Filetype handlers policy (jnlp-files) conversation on the Mozilla Enterprise forum:
https://groups.google.com/a/mozilla.org/g/enterprise/c/lXkUSNYNvu4/m/nUI8Hhl_AwAJ

The download behavior by Firefox with the recent changes are documented here:
https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-firefox-behavior-when-open-file

Per our testing, the conclusion is that setting "What should Firefox do with other files"? does not behave as expected. Even if set to 'Ask whether to open or save files', the prompt does not appear. In extension to that, the JNLP content type never gets registered under Applications.

Users should be able to run downloaded files (such as JNLP files) without user interaction. IT administrators must be able to configure Firefox ESR using browser policies for specific file types.

Related bugs:
Bug 1738916 Firefox asks for a file location when "always ask me where to save files" is enabled, even if the file is configured always to open in an external app
Bug 1576762 (New) Improve usability for JNLP and other executables

Comment 2

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

So for 102, I implemented a policy to to stop the warning on running JNLP files, but this doesn't give us the exact same behavior we added for Firefox 91.

Firefox Firefox 91, you could actually launch JNLP as a helper.

I'm going to look into making the helper code use the policy as well.

Comment 3

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

URLs for testing:
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/webstart/examplesIndex.html
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorialJWS/samples/deployment/dynamictree_webstartJWSProject/dynamictree_webstart.jnlp

Comment 4

[stephan.lanner]

My testing brought this result with IcedTea-Web installed for JNLP-handling:
FF 91.11.0 esr:
Starting jnlp-files works fine with the string <"application/x-java-jnlp-file":{"action":0,"extensions":["jnlp"]}> in handlers.json
In the Configuration-Tab under "Applications" I see "Filetype/Open with: JNLP File/Open with javaws.exe (Default)"

FF 102.0 esr:
With the string 'application/x-java-jnlp-file":{"action":0,"extensions":["jnlp"]}' in handlers.json it does not work any more.
If I change the action for JNLP-File filetype to "Open with javaws.exe" (without 'Default') by selecting my installed javaws.exe via the "Other Application"-Menu item, JNLP-files are executed without interaction. The string in handlers.json looks like this:
<"application/x-java-jnlp-file":{"action":2,"extensions":["jnlp"],"handlers":[{"name":"javaws.exe","path":"C:\Program Files\IcedTeaWeb\WebStart\bin\javaws.exe"}]}>

Comment 5

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Thanks for acknowledging the issue @mkaply. As our enterprise customers use Firefox ESR with our software, we do go through a certification process to ensure a new Firefox ESR release works correctly with our software as it did with the previous Firefox ESR release (with or without additional browser configuration requirements). I can understand it may take a bit more time for you to conclude on the most suitable solution for this issue, though appreciate that we'll have enough time left to verify your solution and if needed, advise you on any further improvements that may be needed. Any chance that a first attempt to solve the issue at large would get included in Firefox ESR 102.1 (soft-freeze on 2022-07-21)?

Comment 6

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

Any chance that a first attempt to solve the issue at large would get included in Firefox ESR 102.1 (soft-freeze on 2022-07-21)?

That's my hope. I'm working on the patch now. Worst case scenario, we go back to the old way for one more ESR.

Comment 7

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

Attachment: Bug 1779018 - Use policy to determine if executable files can be launched.

Comment 8

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Just to get confirmation, I take it that the code changes did not made it in the most recent Firefox ESR 102.1.0 as the code changes require further improvements?

Comment 9

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

(In reply to Pieter Breugelmans from comment #8)

Just to get confirmation, I take it that the code changes did not made it in the most recent Firefox ESR 102.1.0 as the code changes require further improvements?

Correct, sorry. I tried to get it in then. I'm working on finishing it up this week and it should go in.

Comment 10

[alexis.decarvalho]

Hi, any chance of a patch for Firefox ESR version 102.2.0? I can't imagine asking thousands of users to manually add "javaws.exe" to automatically open jnlp files...

Thanks in advance for your work

Comment 11

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

It's in review right I'm hoping to get it in within a few days.

Comment 12

[Pulsebot]

Pushed by [e-mail]:
https://hg.mozilla.org/integration/autoland/rev/7c9b1a12942b
Use policy to determine if executable files can be launched. r=Gijs

Comment 13

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Would it be possible for us to test the changes ahead of the Firefox ESR 102.2 release, just to confirm all works as intended? I understand that there are no nightly builds of Firefox ESR, but did want ask if there's any possibility to obtain e.g. an early build with your latest code changes included.

Comment 14

[Cosmin Sabou [:CosminS]]

https://hg.mozilla.org/mozilla-central/rev/7c9b1a12942b

Comment 15

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

You can use Firefox nightly to test this feature.

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/desktop/#nightly

Unfortunately the timing is such that it won't be in 102.2, but we're going to verify it against nightly and then it will be in the next ESR.

Mike

Comment 16

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Kindly confirm that "... in the next ESR" implies Firefox ESR 102.3 because we cannot tell our enterprise customers that they can no longer run JNLP files automatically from Firefox. Alternatively, as you has previously hinted, requesting you to reconsider the option to restore the behavior as it was with Firefox ESR 91.x.

For what its worth, tested today on Firefox nightly:
https://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/firefox/nightly/2022/08/2022-08-18-06-57-02-mozilla-central/firefox-105.0a1.en-US.win64.installer.exe

Name Firefox
Version 105.0a1
Build ID 20220818065702
User Agent Mozilla/5.0 (Windows NT 10.0; Win64; x64; rv:105.0) Gecko/20100101 Firefox/105.0
OS Windows_NT 10.0 19044

Our dynamically generated JNLP file gets saved by Firefox without a file extension, and does not launch automatically despite the ExemptDomainFileTypePairsFromFileTypeDownloadWarnings policy being set.

Comment 17

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

When you go to preferences, under the Handlers box, which option is checked, Save files or ask whether to open or save files?

IF save files is checked, can you check the other option and test the behavior?

If I can't figure this out in the next week, we will definitely switch to the other behavior for ESR 102.

Comment 18

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

And yes, next ESR means 102.3. There will be a solution to this before we move everyone from 91 to 102.

Comment 19

[Pieter Breugelmans]

Appreciate your prompt response as always.

Changed the setting What should Nightly do with other files? --> Ask whether to open or save files.

The Opening ... dialog does appear with the option to Open with Java(TM) Web Launcher (default) and the checkbox to Do this automatically for files like this from now on.

Opening dialog: https://i.imgur.com/Osp7xep.png
Policy configuration: https://i.imgur.com/nO4RRni.png

Enabling the box to do it automatically from now on, yet Firefox does not remember the selected option upon subsequent downloads of JNLP files. The Opening frmservlet.jnlp dialog window keeps coming up.

Comment 20

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

Attachment: Screenshot 2022-08-18 101005.png

Does it do it for the same jnlp or only a different jnlp? What do you see for jnlp in the handlers section in preferences?

(I'm using notepad as my handler for jnlp and I only have the one JNLP file to test)

Comment 21

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

I think I was able to recreate the behavior you're seeing.

I'm checking to see if it's a generic Firefox bug or a bug in my code.

Comment 22

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

I'm reopening this ticket. I think I'm going to have to give up and just enable jnlp for ESR 102.

I found a case deep in our C++ code that checks for executable and that's where we're failing.

I'm going to back this change out for now.

Comment 23

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

I opened bug 1785830 to just support JNLP on the ESR.

Comment 24

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

The change to do the same thing as Firefox 91 made it into Firefox ESR 102.2

So the policy is no longer needed.

I'll revisit trying to implement the policy in a few weeks (but that would be for the next ESR next year).

Comment 25

[[e-mail]]

Ok i am trying to be polite however ....

Simply put STOPPPPPP trying to decide what I want to run

I spent over 4 hours trying to get dell's poweredge 610 .jnlp file to allow to run

IT DOES NOT WORK

Give me an option to allow open this file and remember it

THERE IS NO OPTION TO ADD AN APPLICATION
USE THE WINDOWS APPS NOT MIMETYPES

PLEASE ADVISE HOW TO GET AROUND THIS, THERE ARE SEVERAL GOOGLED REFERENCES TO THIS ISSUE GOING ALL THE WAY BACK TO FF90

HANDLERS FILE DOES NOT WORK

ABOUT:CONFIG OPTIONS ARE IGNORED

Comment 26

[Mike Kaply [:mkaply]]

We support running JNLP files on the ESR only.

Running a JNLP is effectively the same as running an EXE, so we do not allow them to be run for regular users.

Comment 27

[[e-mail]]

Attachment: no ability to open file with app

Comment 28

[[e-mail]]

Attachment: dell 610 drac 6 card screenshot, java must run WITHIN THE BROWSER