How to easily switch proxy to/from proxy auto-config (PAC) file URL
Windows 7 - Firefox v57.0.4 64bit I'm a computer programmer and work for a corporation that requires Firefox to utilize a proxy URL that is pointing to a proxy auto-config (PAC) file URL. My job requires me to often switch FF to use, and then to not use, the pac proxy. With FF prior to Quantum, this was not an issue as there were multiple add-ons that handled this for me with a single click. The add-on developers tell me that there is no Quantum API provided by FF to allow them to develop one-click solutions that work with .pac files.
In a nutshell, I need to be able to dynamically switch to and from a proxy URL pointing to a .pac file in one click, without going thru menus.
Can you tell how to do this within FF, or alternatively, provide FF profile and properties information as to where the menu-driven proxy information is stored so that maybe I can write a local program that will do the switching?
Thanks, Phil
Modified by philmitchell
All Replies (13)
There are proxy related extensions you can look at.
No FF addon currently can support this. See this FF bug which has existed in Quantum for months, unresolved. https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1396485
I have also the problem, that "FoxyProxy" is not working with FF 59.0.2 portable. :-(
Some proxy extensions that are WebExtensions. Proxy SwitchyOmega https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/switchyomega/ SmartProxy https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/smartproxy/ Proxy Switcher and Manager https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/proxy-switcher-and-manager/
cor-el said
Proxy SwitchyOmega https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/switchyomega/
Works! Many thanks Michael
You're welcome.
cor-el said
Some proxy extensions that are WebExtensions. Proxy SwitchyOmega https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/switchyomega/ SmartProxy https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/smartproxy/ Proxy Switcher and Manager https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/proxy-switcher-and-manager/
The problem is NOT finding a WebExtension that works, but finding a WebExtension Proxy Switcher that can handle PAC files. None of the ones you listed do. Thanks.
Yesterday, it seemed to work. Today, same issue as with the foxyproxy, which is not working. I don't have a pac in use. I tried with configured SOCKS5 proxy within FF and without in all combinations with my VPN-Client (conneted/disconnected). The set profile of the addons is not used. The configured setting within FF is used all the time. The only thing is, that the time to load a website is much longer or the site is not loaded at all (without message). Funny is the info regarding PAC files. Switchy omega provides the ability to export a pac file, but cannot handle it itself???
Any ideas? Thanks Michael
As reported, the real issue is WebExtensions not being able to use PAC files, so far. Multiple add-ons have been available, some of them pretty basic (Toggle Proxy was my favorite). Frankly I can’t do without it, so this is an issue all right. I do believe one of the add-ons mentioned above is waiting for some implementation, but that goes for any of them. There are bugs like this one and this one (and probably others) that could solve things, but they may take time.
If only there would be an add-on that would allow to add/customize built-in commands in Firefox - in this case the Reload button in Connection Settings - that and e.g. a batch file able to switch PAC files would be an easy workaround. I haven’t been able to find such an add-on.
Hi,
Thanks for the reply, but I don't use a pac-file. So this is not my problem. I just use a single SOCKS5 entry to which I need to switch to. Actually my company uses a dat-file to configure different proxies for the case the one is not available. But for me it's OK to just configure one of them manually and switch it ON or OFF.
KR Michi
Hi. I understand this is not your problem, but it was a reply to the original question where both switching settings and using a PAC file are an issue. ;)
(Not intended to be unfriendly, but this is why similar but separate issues from others should basically be posted in a new question. *)
Hi, Sorry. Yes you're right. I thought that I opened the thread. Normally I do this, when the topic it not to tight matching. KR Michi
Hi,
I found out my problem with the proxy switchers: Even for the case, that the used proxy is an SOCKSv5 proxy, you'll have to define it as an http proxy in the proxy switcher addOn's (at least in the "proxy switcher" addOn. Than it works properly.
KR Michael