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How do I install a Thunderbird add-on for all users? Putting the XPI file into Extensions folder didn't work.

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  • Last reply by finitarry

Darrn
Darrn
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I'm trying to install Enigmail 1.8.2 for all users. I thought I read somewhere that you don't need to unpack the XPI file. Whilst writing this, I did some experimenting and found a solution, but it's messy (see below). Is there an easier way?


Fresh install of Thunderbird 31.6 on Windows 7 x64. Have observed the following:

1. If I install the extension for one user via the Add-Ons GUI (from the marketplace, not from a local file), it does work. The Appdata\Roaming\Mozilla\Extensions folder is empty. Folder {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5} is created in Appdata\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\extensions\staged\ and moved from staged to extensions when TB is restarted.

2. If I download the XPI file from Enigmail site and copy it to Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\Extensions folder, then Thunderbird's Extensions screen says "You don't have any add-ons of this type installed".

3a. If I rename the xpi to zip (e.g. enigmail-1.8.2-tb+sm.xpi.zip) then I can open it and see that the contents are similar to what was created at point (1). If I unzip the contents, then Thunderbird doesn't recognise the add-on, unless I rename the folder to the GUID above (which could be found in install.rdf or chrome.manifest, once you know what you're looking for).

Presumably I could also have done a per-user install, copied the folder from the profile, removed the extension, then pasted the copy into the program folder. That would save looking up the GUID but is only a little less fiddly.

3b. After renaming the folder and restarting TB, it gives me a new tab "Install Add-on" which says "Another program on your computer would like to modify Thunderbird with the following add-on: ... Location: C:\Program Files (x86)". Once I allow the add-on, it is listed in Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\extensions.ini.

Aside: Disabling the add-on simply removes the line from extensions.ini, so how does TB distinguish between an unapproved add-on and a disabled one? It seems to be in extensions.json.

I'm trying to install Enigmail 1.8.2 for all users. I thought I read somewhere that you don't need to unpack the XPI file. Whilst writing this, I did some experimenting and found a solution, but it's messy (see below). Is there an easier way? Fresh install of Thunderbird 31.6 on Windows 7 x64. Have observed the following: 1. If I install the extension for one user via the Add-Ons GUI (from the marketplace, not from a local file), it does work. The Appdata\Roaming\Mozilla\Extensions folder is empty. Folder {847b3a00-7ab1-11d4-8f02-006008948af5} is created in Appdata\Roaming\Thunderbird\Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\extensions\staged\ and moved from staged to extensions when TB is restarted. 2. If I download the XPI file from Enigmail site and copy it to Program Files(x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird\Extensions folder, then Thunderbird's Extensions screen says "You don't have any add-ons of this type installed". 3a. If I rename the xpi to zip (e.g. enigmail-1.8.2-tb+sm.xpi.zip) then I can open it and see that the contents are similar to what was created at point (1). If I unzip the contents, then Thunderbird doesn't recognise the add-on, unless I rename the folder to the GUID above (which could be found in install.rdf or chrome.manifest, once you know what you're looking for). Presumably I could also have done a per-user install, copied the folder from the profile, removed the extension, then pasted the copy into the program folder. That would save looking up the GUID but is only a little less fiddly. 3b. After renaming the folder and restarting TB, it gives me a new tab "Install Add-on" which says "Another program on your computer would like to modify Thunderbird with the following add-on: ... Location: C:\Program Files (x86)". Once I allow the add-on, it is listed in Profiles\xxxxxxxx.default\extensions.ini. Aside: Disabling the add-on simply removes the line from extensions.ini, so how does TB distinguish between an unapproved add-on and a disabled one? It seems to be in extensions.json.

All Replies (1)

finitarry
finitarry
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Is Thunderbird already installed in the computers? If so, you could download the .xpi file and drag and drop it into the extensions window (after opening that) to install it in all the computers, following which you click the Install buttons when they become enabled, and you might have to restart Tbird afterwards.