Closed Bug 254116 Opened 20 years ago Closed 8 years ago

Smarter handling of non-FireFox (ThunderBird) XPIs

Categories

(Toolkit :: Add-ons Manager, enhancement)

enhancement
Not set
normal

Tracking

()

RESOLVED WONTFIX
mozilla2.0

People

(Reporter: mozilla, Unassigned)

References

(Blocks 1 open bug)

Details

(Whiteboard: [intent-to-close])

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040707 Firefox/0.9.2
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 5.1; en-US; rv:1.7) Gecko/20040707 Firefox/0.9.2

If the user attempts to install an XPI which is not supported by the current
product (Attempts to download/install a TB XPI in FB), FB should offer to save
the XPI as a normal download to ease the user confusion when downloading TB
extensions from within FF.

Reproducible: Always
Steps to Reproduce:
Status: UNCONFIRMED → NEW
Ever confirmed: true
*** Bug 269705 has been marked as a duplicate of this bug. ***
There may be XPIs, which are intended for both products: Firefox and
Thunderbird. So Firefox should provide the following solutions:

XPI Firefox only or intended for Firefox and Thunderbird:
Provide an Download Button in the Install-Now-Dialog.

XPI Thunderbird only:
Force Firefox to Download the XPI.

Note, that there are so many users, which are confused by the error messages,
when trying to download xpis. It's not an positive experience, to have error
messages.
> XPI Firefox only or intended for Firefox and Thunderbird:
> Provide an Download Button in the Install-Now-Dialog.
> 
> XPI Thunderbird only:
> Force Firefox to Download the XPI.
> 
> Note, that there are so many users, which are confused by the error messages,
> when trying to download xpis. It's not an positive experience, to have error
> messages.

I think, some explanatory messages should be added.
Case:	FF-specific extension:
	The same procedure like now.
Case:	Mozilla Suite extension:
	"This extension is intended for the Mozilla Suite. Please use the Suite to
	download and install this extension."
	Maybe the user should have the possibility to save the file?
Case: Thunderbird extension:
	"This is an extension for Mozilla Thunderbird. Please save this extension
	to your hard disc and install it using Thunderbird's Extension Manager."
	After that dialog, a download windows should appear in order to save the
	xpi.

The mixed cases should be handled, too. But I have no idea, how to handle them.
I think of an extension which can be installed in FF, TB and the Suite. Then the 
user should be notified that he has to use the Mozilla Suite for downloading and 
installing. Thunderbird users should be imformed, that they have to save the 
file and Firefox users should be able to install the file.
That's a lot of stuff for one dialog :-(

Michael

Maybe someone (Ben?) could improve Firefox EM behaviour for non-firefox extensions until Firefox 2.0?
Blocks: 361886
As pointed out by bug 361886, it would be even better if Firefox could somehow offer to install the extension into Thunderbird, or hand the extension to Thunderbird for Thunderbird to install it.
This bug doesn't directly depend on, but is related to, bug 299372.  I just posted an expanded version of the following comment there, which turns this into a more severe bug than just an enhancement request:

I'm trying to install the Lightning calendar extension for Thunderbird, and because of the way they do their indirect linking to the .xpi, I can't download the extension at all using Firefox.
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/calendar/
Depends on: 367033
Jesse in comment #5:
> As pointed out by bug 361886, it would be even better if Firefox could somehow
> offer to install the extension into Thunderbird, or hand the extension to
> Thunderbird for Thunderbird to install it.

also related: bug 263893, bug 248819 -- dupe ?

Assignee: bugs → nobody
QA Contact: bugs → extension.manager
Still alive in Fx 3.0 RC 1/2
Product: Firefox → Toolkit
Target Milestone: --- → mozilla1.9.2
Target Milestone: mozilla1.9.2 → mozilla1.9.3
Due to a long period of inactivity on this bug (6.69 years), I am intending to close this bug within a month or so in accordance with: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Add-ons/OldBugs Please remove [intent-to-close] from the whiteboard and comment on this bug if you would like to keep it open.
Whiteboard: [intent-to-close]
As the one who originally logged the bug, I couldn't care less either way. The fact that rough edges like this never get addressed is a big part of why I cannot recommend to non-technical users that Firefox is a good choice, and why I rarely use Firefox as my browser of choice.

But I will note, Chrome has no problem downloading a XPI for Thunderbird while this can still be a struggle with Firefox in certain circumstances.
Status: NEW → RESOLVED
Closed: 8 years ago
Resolution: --- → WONTFIX
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