Need help with installing Firefox extensions - how is it done? **mostly solved**

[Jeff7]

I already checked the Help file - basically, it seems that you click on the Install link given for most extensions on their respective websites. I guess this is supposed to do something with the XPI file there. Well I click the link, and nothing happens.
I've tried downloading the file, and having Explorer open it with Firefox - a blank browser window opens, and it just sits there.
I have also checked Tools Menu -> Extensions. All that's there is a DOM Inspector 1.0. The buttons are Uninstall (which is not available), Update, and Get More Extensions. Any of those extra extensions I try give the same result - absolutely nothing. I can't seem to find a moron's guide to installing FireFox extensions - or else something's not working right here.

 

[John]

file > open file

 

[igowerf]

Normally, you can just click on a link to an XPI file and a window will pop up to handle the installation. Try reinstalling Firefox and make sure to delete your profile folder too.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: John
file > open file

Absolutely nothing happened.

Normally, you can just click on a link to an XPI file and a window will pop up to handle the installation. Try reinstalling Firefox and make sure to delete your profile folder too.

Profile folder...is that in Docements and Settings, or where?
Ok, I see it - yeah, DaS folder.

 

[igowerf]

Under WinXP, it's Docuements and Settings\userName\Application Data\Mozilla\

Don't delete the profile folder that you see in DaS! That's your Windows profile!

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: igowerf
Under WinXP, it's Docuements and Settings\userName\Application Data\Mozilla\

Don't delete the profile folder that you see in DaS! That's your Windows profile!

Thought so. Got rid of it (saved the bookmarks though), and uninstalled and reinstalled Firefox.
Firefox now lets me install extensions for the most part. However, it seems to be limited to 2 new extensions per program restart. After I install two, it just goes back to doing nothing when I try to install another one. Good enough I guess. This Mozilla thing seems promising. It's lacking just a few things that IE has - New Window cloning for one, and a few minor usability tweaks.

 

[igowerf]

That's still kind of strange. I installed all of my extensions in one restart. What version are you running now and which version did you have before? I think in version 0.8, the profile folder was Application Data\Firefox\ and with 0.9, they moved it to Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\. Maybe there's some left over weird stuff with old profiles? 0.9 knows how to import old profile data so that might be causing problems.

EDIT: Also the clone window feature can be added with an extension. I forget what it's called though. An extension called Tab Browser Extension will do it, but it's a pretty bloated, although feature packed, extension.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: igowerf
That's still kind of strange. I installed all of my extensions in one restart. What version are you running now and which version did you have before? I think in version 0.8, the profile folder was Application Data\Firefox\ and with 0.9, they moved it to Application Data\Mozilla\Firefox\. Maybe there's some left over weird stuff with old profiles? 0.9 knows how to import old profile data so that might be causing problems.

EDIT: Also the clone window feature can be added with an extension. I forget what it's called though. An extension called Tab Browser Extension will do it, but it's a pretty bloated, although feature packed, extension.

v0.9.1 before, then I removed it, then installed 0.9.2, then re-installed 0.9.2. I only discovered the wonders of extensions after I moved to 0.9.2 the first time - I'm new to Firefox.

Will any of these extensions get added to Firefox as regular features? If Firefox wants to make it mainstream, it's going to need to include more of these things, since its number 1 competitor, IE, already has them.