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I need to edit the .js file for an add-on, but my text editor won't let me

ChrisG
ChrisG
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I'm sorry to have to include much detail, as I really don't understand what is important or not for this question. Using FF43.0.2 and Snow Leopard. A forum using the file name gave no hits.

The add-on file that needs editing is dstocks2.js (/Users/cglenn/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/a683761i.default/extensions/[email protected]/chrome/content/dstocks2.js). However, the file does not exist in Finder. Instead, in Finder, I go to [email protected], click on that, and my text editor (TextWrangler) opens that file. In finder, the .xpi file is the end file with no sub-flolders, but in textwrangler, new folder are "created", so that the file path is [email protected]/chrome/content/dstocks2.js.

Since this file does not "exist" for searching, I can't select the file and edit it. When I try, textwrangler says I must save dstocks2.js to a file to edit, so I finish that dialog, but the file is not saved, even when FF is closed.

I'm at a loss how to edit the dstocks2.js file.

I'm sorry to have to include much detail, as I really don't understand what is important or not for this question. Using FF43.0.2 and Snow Leopard. A forum using the file name gave no hits. The add-on file that needs editing is dstocks2.js (/Users/cglenn/Library/Application Support/Firefox/Profiles/a683761i.default/extensions/[email protected]/chrome/content/dstocks2.js). However, the file does not exist in Finder. Instead, in Finder, I go to [email protected], click on that, and my text editor (TextWrangler) opens that file. In finder, the .xpi file is the end file with no sub-flolders, but in textwrangler, new folder are "created", so that the file path is [email protected]/chrome/content/dstocks2.js. Since this file does not "exist" for searching, I can't select the file and edit it. When I try, textwrangler says I must save dstocks2.js to a file to edit, so I finish that dialog, but the file is not saved, even when FF is closed. I'm at a loss how to edit the dstocks2.js file.

All Replies (4)

ChrisG
ChrisG Question owner
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I don't see a 'edit post' tab, so here is my edit to the above post:

By copy>paste, I was able to create a new dstocks2.js file, with the edits, on my desktop. But now the issue is how to copy this file to where it goes. As said above, I can't get there with Finder.

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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This "signing" thing in Firefox 43 and later precludes users from doing hacks like that.

Sorry, I don't know anything about the text editor in MacOSX. But if you edit any file in an XPI package, it will break the signing "seal" for the add-on. Changes like that would require the XPI to be signed again - but it ain't that easy.

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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An XPI file is a ZIP archive. If Finder can't search for files in a ZIP archive and open such a file then you would have to use an archive manager. Note that you can open such a file in Firefox for inspection via the chrome protocol.

  • chrome://dstocks2/content/dstocks2.js

But you can't modify (edit) this file because that will break the signing information stored in the META-INF folder.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 10 Contributor
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What kind of edit is needed? You could try contacting the author Didier Lafleur about the problem at [email protected] and see whether you can get it fixed officially.