Reputation: 30126
How can I download a Firefox extension (add-on) without having it automatically installed?
Here is the problem in details:
I am using Selenium web-driver in order to do some "web-testing" stuff.
I need the Lightbeam plugin to be available on the Firefox instance that I create with Selenium.
The method (in Java) is simple:
FirefoxProfile profile = new FirefoxProfile();
profile.addExtension(new File("lightbeam.xpi"));
WebDriver webDriver = new FirefoxDriver(profile);
But I cannot find a way to download the file 'lightbeam.xpi' without having it automatically installed...
Alternatively, you can tell me where to look for the XPI file after the installation is complete.
I have not been able to find it, and I suspect that it is deleted immediately upon completion.
Thanks
Upvotes: 5
Views: 4082
Reputation: 33162
E.g. for Lightbeam go to the website and right click Add to Firefox and select Save Link As... This should work for all addons.mozilla.org hosted add-ons and most non-mozilla hosted ones. If it does not for some site, you might have luck sniffing out the XPI location via the Web Console/Network tab and/or Browser Console.
To get XPIs for already installed add-ons, open about:support
in a tab and click the Show in Finder/*Show Folder* or whatever that button says in your OS.
There will be an extensions
subdirectory where all non-global extensions are located. You usually can copy any *.xpi
files without problem.
There might be some extensions that are unpacked (are a subdirectory). You usually can re-zip these subdirectories with your favorite zip tool, but you have to make sure the zip does contain the files flat (/install.rdf
not somesubdir/install.rdf
).
For some add-ons copying *.xpi
around or re-packing XPIs might not work. You'll have to get the original XPI then.
Those already installed add-ons might have funky file/directory names. This is the add-on ID, which is either a GUID (old school) or an @-address (newer style). about:support
contains a table telling you the names corresponding to add-on IDs.
Upvotes: 3