How can I download extension xpi files for different platforms?
I'm accustomed to downloading the xpi files for extensions of interest, and installing them from the file. I do this by visiting the extension's home page, right-clicking on the download button, and clicking "save link as".
But I've encountered a new situation. Some extension file names are downloading with suffixes like "-1.0-fx-windows.xpi", suggesting that this particular file is packaged only for Windows. Presuming I know the extension supports Linux and Mac, as well, is there a way that I can download the xpi files for the other platforms?
Alla svar (5)
You can change the user agent to spoof Firefox on Windows or possibly download and save the extension's XPI file (Save Link As) and install the extension locally.
I used the User Agent Overrider extension to override my user agent, and then was able to download the xpi files for other platforms. But this is a trashy process. The mentioned extension does not even provide a "reset" button to get back to normal, so I had to uninstall it and cleanup about:config.
It would be great if anyone knows how to download xpi files for various platforms by following a link to an ftp page, or whatever.
Did you try to download the XPI file via the right-click context menu of the Downloads (Add to Firefox) button?
That has always worked for me. You can also expand the versions link at the bottom of the page and possibly open the version page.
I use the PrefBar extension to modify the user agent if necessary and can easily reset the user agent to the default.
Cor-el, this has been helpful - especially the useragent information. I was able to download the other versions using this. But it's a cludgey process, so perhaps someone may find a better way to navigate to the versions.
As for downloading the xpi using the context menu and installing locally - this is exactly what I've been doing all along. I thought I stated that in the original post. But the context menu gives you no choice of platform versions, so you get only the one for your platform.
And the versions link at the bottom of the extension's page does not provide access to the other platform-specific files either.
Also I tried the PrefBar extension after you recommended it. It does have a cleaner interface and a reset button. But the latest - 7.0.0 - that I just tried out has no UA for Firefox on Mac. One would have to go to some effort to import more UA strings. User Agent Overrider did provide all 3 platforms, but it's trashy.
Bottom line - I got done what I wanted to, but perhaps in the future someone will come up with, or discover, a more user-friendly interface for downloading platform versions.
If the Add-ons site offers different versions for each platform then only changing the user agent will work. If the site refuses to install the XPI file because the platform isn't supported then you should still be able to download and save the extension. I don't know if Firefox would refuse to install the extension because of an unsupported platform in this case. Now that signing becomes mandatory this will be difficult to fix in future versions.