Firefox info/help thread!

[Fraoch]

Originally Posted by PCBruiser

Fraoch, the extensions I was thinking of, IIRC, allow you to highlight the word you want defined within the text and then grab the definition without having to use the search function. I thought that was what proFeign was looking for.

Oh sorry, my response was to proFeign. I should have used the "quote" button.

I'm just wondering why Firefox offers two dictionary searches.

[CrowdAds]

[ABoard]

The Dict extension provides the functionality that has been described here (highlight word, right-click, select "define word" and a pop-up shows the definitions ... see screenshots):

https://addons.update.mozilla.org//e...umpg=10&id=302

I've been using this one for quite some time (first used with Mozilla) then continued with it after switching to FireFox.

[ABoard]

Sorry, guys. Bad news about the DICT extension (you can apply any pun here, likely using a homophone of DICT).

After posting that DICT was a perfectly working (and excellent) extension, and after posting screenshots of it in action with FireFox v 1.03, I revisited the extension's homepage only to discover that someone had posted a negative comment stating that the extension, which the reviewer previously considered quite good, was now broken under 1.03 (whether that is cause for a negative review so shortly after the release of 1.03 is open for debate). Anyway, my first respose was, "No way. I tested it. I even have screenshots to prove it". So, I tested it again by highlighting a word on a web page and right-clicking. Sure enough, as the reviewer noted, now there was a blank space in the context menu where there should have been "define 'what-ever-word-is-highlighted'". How could this be? What had changed? Well, nothing other than the fact that my original tests / screenshots were taken in the ABXZone forum as I was posting / typing in the message box whereas the new tests that were failing were being done on "normal" web pages. What difference could this possibly make? Seems it makes all the difference in the world for some reason.

Here's what I've found:

- If I highlight a word of text in the message box as I'm typing a message to be posted in a forum, the DICT context menu appears normally and it functions;

- If I then immediately (without closing FireFox) go to a "normal" web page and use DICT, the context menu item appears as it should but it does not function, i.e., clicking on the menu item does not active the pop-up window with the definitions;

- If I then close FireFox and return to a "normal" web page to use DICT, the context menu does not appear but a space where the item should be does appear ... clicking on the blank space does nothing even though hovering the mouse over the space changes its color from normal gray to blue (again, see screenshot in this post).

This probably is not important to most people, but it is an odd occurance and one that I never would have guessed would have an impact on whether an extension worked or not.

I still recommend DICT as soon as it is updated (the author's most recent update was 3-5-2005). As I said, I have used the extension for a long time with both Mozilla and FireFox, and this is the first time that an upgrade of either a browser or DICT itself has broken any of the versions of DICT that I have ever used.

Notes:
- Screenshot DICT3.jpg shows the DICT context-menu failing to appear on a "normal" web page (tested on my previous post in this thread).

- Screenshot DICT4.jpg shows the DICT context-menu working properly, but only after clicking on the Quote button and entering the "post message" input box.

[switch_abx]

cool find, thanks!

Originally Posted by c_white_wolf

......Here's a nice little addition to the list of firefox extensions:It will show the IP address in the statusbar. Right click will allow various operations including traceroute and whois.

[proFeign]

Originally Posted by ABoard

The Dict extension provides the functionality that has been described here (highlight word, right-click, select "define word" and a pop-up shows the definitions ... see screenshots):

https://addons.update.mozilla.org//e...umpg=10&id=302

I've been using this one for quite some time (first used with Mozilla) then continued with it after switching to FireFox.

Awesome find! I like M-W more than Dictionary.com because it's cross referenced more and it also has quick linking to thesaurus functions etc. I prefer it, also they respond to questions, if you're into that kind of thing.

proF

[c_white_wolf]

Dictionary Search has been updated and now works with Firefox 1.0.3

[ABoard]

Originally Posted by c_white_wolf

Dictionary Search has been updated and now works with Firefox 1.0.3

Yeah. Seems the developers of extensions have been busy. DICT is now fully functional with v1.03.

Note:
The MozillaUpdate page still shows version 0.6.5 in the text, but 0.6.6 is available when you update or download from that site (confirmed by checking the Firefox menu, "Tools->Extensions", after updating / installing). The DICT homepage does correctly list the 4/18/2005 updated version as 0.6.6. If you do visit the homepage, you will see that the developer considers version 0.6.6 "usable" because it seems that not all features planned for 1.0 have been implemented yet (makes sense, but I think it's great as it is ... oh well).

MozillaUpdate
https://addons.update.mozilla.org//e...umpg=10&id=302

DICT Homepage
http://dict.mozdev.org/

[redline001]

Hi guys. I am having a problem (actually my sister is) she got her laptop to work. Thanks for all the help (it was the fan it was dust that was causing the shutdown). She just updated Mozilla Firefox V 1.0.3 and when she went to go open Firefox the page is blank. Is this a bug? Luckily she has the .exe of the previous version she was using before V 1.0.2.

[Fraoch]

I am having severe problems with FF 1.0.3 on my work laptop.

Everything was fine until last night when I updated several extensions using the automated updater. I can't remember which ones specifically - I think it was Dictionary Search, Copy Plain Text and something else.

This morning when I open FF it looks more or less like normal except that the update button is active. But the entire program is unresponsive. No buttons work, no menus work, I can't get a cursor in the URL bar. Essentially useless.

It persists through reboots as well and (amazingly) even after uninstall-reinstall. I can only run FF in safe mode now.

Since it persists through an uninstall I suspect one of two things:

- an extension is causing this - one of the ones I updated last night
- my profile is corrupted

I sure hope I can identify what's causing it because my main rig is similarly configured and the updates will come through to that one the next time I use it.

[PCBruiser]

Do you have or update Tabbrowser Extensions? If so the most recent few versions are totally busted. Go back and install the 1.13.030502 version from here and you should be OK after that:

http://piro.sakura.ne.jp/xul/tabexte.../index.html.en

[Fraoch]

Originally Posted by PCBruiser

Do you have or update Tabbrowser Extensions? If so the most recent few versions are totally busted. Go back and install the 1.13.030502 version from here and you should be OK after that:

http://piro.sakura.ne.jp/xul/tabexte.../index.html.en

I have never used Tabbroswer Extensions.

I suspect it may be Dictionary Search, I noticed it got updated *again* today. That's two updates in less than 12 hours. Surely it must be a bug fix.

[PCBruiser]

It sure sounds like one of the extensions is broken, Fraoch. One other trick, close FF, and then manually delete all the cache files. Sometimes the cache (particularly the cache_map) gets corrupted and then FF acts really wierd until you delete the entire contents manually.

[proFeign]

Originally Posted by PCBruiser

It sure sounds like one of the extensions is broken, Fraoch. One other trick, close FF, and then manually delete all the cache files. Sometimes the cache (particularly the cache_map) gets corrupted and then FF acts really wierd until you delete the entire contents manually.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but when my FF crashes I just taskmanager and kill all processes that say firefox and usually it'll fire right back up without a reboot.

It might be worth a shot, but it is a little weird that it would persist through reboot and reinstall... I'd try it if I were you, though, since it's a 10-second procedure.

Also have you run spysweeper/adaware lately? Updated them lately? That's another thing that I'm sure you guys already know to do....

[proFeign]

Anybody know how to use FTP with FF? If you want to see exactly what happens when I try (MSIE works fine) go to ftp.fouronefive.com with FF.

I looked around for FTP stuff for FF but the only plugin I could find had had its sourceforge/FF dev project cancelled or deleted; nowhere to be found...

Can you use FTP with FF yet? I assume it's possible by somehow writing into the address bar the login and pw but that seems sketchy to me... Any help would be much appreciated.

[PCBruiser]

Originally Posted by proFeign

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but when my FF crashes I just taskmanager and kill all processes that say firefox and usually it'll fire right back up without a reboot.

Actually it does in a way. There is still some kind of bug in how FF manages the cache IMO. If you clear the cache (or it auto-clears as it reaches the max set size), if some of the files are currently protected (a download in progress, the open page, etc.) you can wind up with a partially cleared cache, and a mangled cache_map. I have seen occasions where this will, in fact, prevent FF from closing completely. Oh, it "closes" but when you check Task Manager - there it still is. One hint is you try to open FF and it refuses to do so - if that happens check Task Manager, your prior instance(s) may still be there. Forcing it to close via Task Manager will always close it.

But, force closing may not always fix the problem if your cache_map is mangled. So, you are correct, forced closing almost always works, but not always. Manually clearing the cache if you are experiencing problems is just one of those tricks to remember if FF starts behaving badly for no known orobvious reason. And, it can sometimes help you avoid a clean reinstall.