Hello,

I have successuly installed FireFox .8 on my Mandrake 10 Community install running KDE 3.2. I really like it, but I cannot set it as the default browser. I followed the instructions posted elsewhere in this forum and on the internet to no avail. Here's what I did:

1) Opened kcontrol --> components --> File Associations
2) Selected html; added firefox to the list (/usr/share/firefox/firefox %u).
3) moved it to the top.
4) Closed KControl

When I click on a link in Thunderbird, it opens Konquerer. I can go back and verify that the settings are there, and they are. It's like it's just IGNORING what I put in. Running the command /usr/share/firefox/firefox url from the console works fine.

What do I need to do here? Thanks in advance!

Lance
Reg. Linux User 352893

I'm not sure if this info is still current http://www.mozilla.org/projects/thun...linuxurls.html or http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewto...36044&start=90
It's a lot easier if you have Gnome installed, go to Desktop Preferences> Advanced> Preferred Applications and select Custom Web Browser: Command: /path/to/firefox/firefox %s

I've done some tinkering and I've figured some things out.

The problem is NOT with KDE. When I open an html file on my disk, it opens in Firefox. I had to use a script to make sure I did not get the open user profile error if FIrefox was already opened (I also have one for thunderbird -- if anyone needs either, just shoot me a line).

So, now I can open Firefox as the default browser from within KDE, but NOT from Thunderbird. Thunderbird insists on opening Konquerer. I've poked around all the menus and found nothing. Does anyone know how to make Firefox the default from Thunderbird?

Thanks!

Lance

Selected html; added firefox to the list (/usr/share/firefox/firefox %u)

you say you added firefox to the list, if there were other entries, remove those and leave firefox.

I found the way to do it from one of the links posted by Andrew Benton above. Okay, heres what I had to do....

First I had to copy a bash script (which I will of course give to anyone interested. It's also on the links above). Then I had to add a line to the prefs.js file within ~/.thunderbird.

The link I used is:
http://www.mozilla.org/projects/thun...linuxurls.html

It all seems to work now, so I'm happy -- but I wish it were a little easier.

Lance

I wanted to do the same thing and, thanks to this thread, it almost works. The problem is that Tbird downloads the html file and opens /tmp/xxxxxxx.html in the browser instead of opening the page from its remote location. Any idea how I can change this?

Hmmm... I'm not really sure. There must be some sort of setting within TBird that's making it act that way. I wish i could be of more help... Let me know if you want to know anything about my setup (which seems to be working - at the moment).

.

Never mind, I fixed it:
for some reason, until I added than line to prefs.js, Tbird was willing to open URL's correctly in epiphany. So I removed the line from prefs.js, renamed the epiphany wrapper script and replaced it with a link to my firefox wrapper script. And now it all works

Can anyone sum this up ?

noob-proof please...

can anyone please tell me where do I find the file pref.js

thanks in advance

Its in your home directory under .thunderbird/default/odlnbyc9.slt/

so if your username is joebob it should be at:

/home/joebob/.thunderbird/default/odlnbyc9.slt/prefs.js

the directory odlnbyc9.slt may be different on your computer. Its hard to find because in Linux the directories beginning with a . are hidden.

I'm in exactly the same position as the thread starter. except i am almost a total working it out as i go along and i think I'm doing OK. i now hardly boot my windows partition except for if i want to use my web cam or if i want to play games.

i used one of the texts linked to above and found that for me it worked to add the line to the prefs.js file
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http", "/usr/local/firefox/firefox");
where /usr/local/firefox is where i installed (copied the files to) fierfox then obviously the fierfox bit on the end is the script to launch fierfox.

here is my guide on what i done for a total noob. i hope it helps:

note: close thunderbird before you change the file as thunderbird will overwrite the changes on exit

you have to edit the prefs.js file, to get to this file just go to your home folder.
if you can see the .thunderbird folder doubleclick on it
--if you dont have hidden folders shown then type in ".thunderbird" at the end of the address line then press enter eg. "/home/USERNAME/.thunderbird"
you will then be able to navigate to the "default" (/home/USERNAME/.thunderbird/default)folder
from there find the .slt folder (i think the name before the .slt changes from person to person as mine is different to the one posted above) then in there open the "prefs.js" with your preferred text editor
Add the line to the bottom:
user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http", "/usr/local/firefox/firefox");



your installation folder for fierfox is probably differant from mine if ive put it in the wrong place let me know as I'm a noob.

this seemed to work for me. my installation opened up epiphany browser rather than konquerer :S. i hope this is of help. i still get the problem with it wanting me to create a new profile if i already have fierfox loaded (i just create one that is gone next time it asks me) hey this is a beta so there are bound to be a few rough edges but lets face it it walks all over M$ shit.

i hope this helps someone

There is a simple workaround. Just copy the script on http://www.mozilla.org/projects/thun...linuxurls.html (you may need to change the value of MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME) and save it as /usr/bin/firefox-launcher. Make sure you set it as executable. Then point thunderbird at /usr/bin/firefox-launcher instead of firefox.

Then, whenever you click a link in thunderbird, it will open firefox if firefox hasn't been opened, and a new window if it has. So you won't have to bother with all the profile crap.

ok i have changed the script in the /usr/bin called fierfox from being a copy of the fierfox script that licates the launcher to the below script:

#!/bin/sh

export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME="/usr/local/firefox"

url="$1"
if [ "x$url" = "x" ]; then
url="about:blank"
fi

if $MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME/mozilla-xremote-client openURL\("$url"\); then
exit 0
fi
exec $MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME/firefox "$url"

only changing one part of one line which was:
export MOZILLA_FIVE_HOME="/usr/local/firefox"
as my installation is in /usr/local/firefox
this seems to work perfectly

thanks to all

I have copied the script listed and set the path to firefox, then pointed Thunderbird to the script. Now when I click a link in thunderbird, Firefox is opened and the page displayed. If Firefox is already open it uses the window already open and displays the webpage for the link clicked. It does not open a new window.

Any ideas?