(In the other thread, Bo said...)
I went through the whole process with the DLM extension. You download the extension, which launches the Adobe Downloader, which then installs Flash.Bo,
Starting from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/ you click on "Agree and install now" , then you click "Allow" in the yellow warning bar that appears on the next page, then the Software Installation window for "Adobe DLM" appears, then you click the Install button. Then what happens, exactly? D you have to restart Firefox before the extension launches the Adobe Downloader, or is it all done in one session?
Also, does the Adobe DLM extension get automatically removed, or is it still there in the Add-ons Extensions list after a restart? What about the GetPlus ("np_gp.dll"?) plugin, is that also removed from the Add-ons Plugins list? (jmorlan on this dslreports forum thread said, regarding the Adobe DLM GetPlus extension that's installed with Adobe Reader 9, 3. Using Firefox, it required installation of the GETPLUS extension which handled the download and installation. The extension was removed automatically after a reboot. 4. It also installed a service called GETPLUS_HELPERSVC which disappeared automatically after a reboot.)
I'm asking all this because some users may not be happy about these additions, and we may want to mention that these add-ons can be avoided by simply not allowing the Software Installation and just using the "click here to download" link on the Thank you page (the page wehre you land after clicking the "Agree and install now" button) for people that just want to save the install_flash_player.exe file and run it outside of Firefox.
I don't know if it's necessary to detail the entire process or just say "follow the onscreen instructions" after clicking the Install button but I'm curious to know. (Chris?Cww?)
(In the other topic, Bo said...)
It's not a big deal, but it seems wholly unnecessary. You can install Flash perfectly well without it by using the plugin finder service (which we already have documented). Bo,
What we want is instructions for updating Flash from a previous version, not just installing it when Flash is not installed (which is what the plugin finder service does).
Ref: Bug 512755
Description From [:Cww] 2009-08-26 12:11:29 PDT (-)
Flash has a new installer that installs the GetPlus extension which then
installs the GetPlusPlus plugin which then installs the Flash Player Plugin.
(Windows only). We need to update the Flash article to reflect this new
install path.
(Major because we'll be prompting users to update Flash in 3.0.14/3.5.3)
KB article: [[Managing the Flash plugin]]
'''X-Ref:'''
[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=512755 Bug 512755 - Update Using Adobe Flash article to reflect their new installer]
I thought that this deserved a new topic so I'm continuing the discussion that was started in the [https://support.mozilla.com/tiki-view_forum_thread.php?comments_parentId=423882&forumId=3 Useful Article comments: August 9 - August 15 thread].
(In the other thread, Bo said...)
''I went through the whole process with the DLM extension. <br/>You download the extension, which launches the Adobe Downloader, which then installs Flash.''
'''Bo,'''
Starting from [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/] you click on "Agree and install now" , then you click "Allow" in the yellow warning bar that appears on the next page, then the Software Installation window for "Adobe DLM" appears, then you click the Install button. Then what happens, exactly? D you have to restart Firefox before the extension launches the Adobe Downloader, or is it all done in one session?
Also, does the Adobe DLM extension get automatically removed, or is it still there in the Add-ons Extensions list after a restart? What about the GetPlus ("np_gp.dll"?) plugin, is that also removed from the Add-ons Plugins list? ([http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20727944-Update-Adobe-Reader-90 '''jmorlan''' on this dslreports forum thread] said, regarding the Adobe DLM GetPlus extension that's installed with Adobe Reader 9, '''''3. Using Firefox, it required installation of the GETPLUS extension which handled the download and installation. The extension was removed automatically after a reboot. 4. It also installed a service called GETPLUS_HELPERSVC which disappeared automatically after a reboot.''''')
I'm asking all this because some users may not be happy about these additions, and we may want to mention that these add-ons can be avoided by simply not allowing the Software Installation and just using the "click here to download" link on the [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/thankyou/xpi/?installer=Flash_Player_10_for_Windows_-_Other_Browsers&g= Thank you page] (the page wehre you land after clicking the "Agree and install now" button) for people that just want to save the install_flash_player.exe file and run it outside of Firefox.
I don't know if it's necessary to detail the entire process or just say "follow the onscreen instructions" after clicking the Install button but I'm curious to know. ('''Chris?''' '''Cww?''')
We're going to get users who are confused about [http://www.adobe.com/products/reader/dlm/firefox_steps.html Adobe's instructions for Firefox users] that are linked from the [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/thankyou/xpi/?installer=Flash_Player_10_for_Windows_-_Other_Browsers&g= Thank you page], which are all wrong.
(In the other topic, Bo said...)
''It's not a big deal, but it seems wholly unnecessary. You can install Flash perfectly well without it by using the plugin finder service (which we already have documented). ''
'''Bo,'''
What we want is instructions for updating Flash from a previous version, not just installing it when Flash is not installed (which is what the plugin finder service does).
Ref: [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=512755#c0 Bug 512755]
<blockquote> Description From [:Cww] 2009-08-26 12:11:29 PDT (-)
Flash has a new installer that installs the GetPlus extension which then
installs the GetPlusPlus plugin which then installs the Flash Player Plugin.
(Windows only). We need to update the Flash article to reflect this new
install path.
(Major because we'll be prompting users to update Flash in 3.0.14/3.5.3)</blockquote>
P.S. Here are a couple of screenshots on what a Windows user sees when starting the Flash installation by clicking "Agree and install" button at http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
P.S. Here are a couple of screenshots on what a Windows user sees when starting the Flash installation by clicking "Agree and install" button at [http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/]
It wants to install the Adobe DLM extension. Screenshot 5
The DLM installer is pretty terse; it shows a progress bar and then goes away. Screenshot 6
Then the DLM launches itself and starts installing the new Flash. Screenshot 7.
After it finishes it says it was finished and gives you a giant close button. I missed saving that screenshot.
The new version in installed and works like plugins do; no restart of Firefox necessary. Screenshot 8
The Adobe DLM is listed in appwiz.cpl. Screenshot 9
After a restart, the Adobe DLM is gone.
I guess I'll doctor the screenshots and adapt what I just wrote to the article. We'll still get questions about why Adobe installs seemingly-extra stuff.
The Adobe "Thank you!" instructions (which are for Reader, and Firefox 1.5) are embarrassing...
Here's a complete process:
# Old version installed. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/01_plugins_old_flash.PNG Screenshot 1]
# Going to [http://www.adobe.com/products/flash/about] as Adobe says in their update documentation. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/02_version_check.png Screenshot 2]
# At the Player download page. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/03_download_center.png Screenshot 3]
# Prompted to install an extension. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/04_xpi_prompt.png Screenshot 4]
# It wants to install the Adobe DLM extension. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/05_xpi_prompt_dlm.png Screenshot 5]
# The DLM installer is pretty terse; it shows a progress bar and then goes away. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/06_install_dlm.png Screenshot 6]
# Then the DLM launches itself and starts installing the new Flash. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/07_dlm_installing.png Screenshot 7].
# After it finishes it says it was finished and gives you a giant close button. I missed saving that screenshot.
# The new version in installed and works like plugins do; no restart of Firefox necessary. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/08_new_version_installed.png Screenshot 8]
# The Adobe DLM is listed in appwiz.cpl. [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/09_addremove_programs.png Screenshot 9]
# After a restart, the Adobe DLM is gone.
I guess I'll doctor the screenshots and adapt what I just wrote to the article. We'll still get questions about why Adobe installs seemingly-extra stuff.
The Adobe "Thank you!" instructions (which are for Reader, and Firefox 1.5) are embarrassing...
And is the np_gp.dll plugin that is included in the XPI installer also gone? Googling on that file I noticed that some antivirus programs report it as malware.
And is the '''np_gp.dll''' plugin that is included in the XPI installer also gone? Googling on that file I noticed that some antivirus programs report it as malware.
I downloaded the gp.xpi installer from http://platformdl.adobe.com/NOS/getPlusPlus/1.6/gp.xpi (the URL in [http://bo.idiofx.com/pictures/05_xpi_prompt_dlm.png Screenshot 5]) and found '''np_gp.dll''' inside.
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 084C-E3D6
File Not Found
Working on the screenshots for the article now.
<code>
C:\>dir /s np_gp.dll
Volume in drive C has no label.
Volume Serial Number is 084C-E3D6
File Not Found
</code>
Working on the screenshots for the article now.
Thanks for taking the article edit, Bo, and for the dos lesson, too. I've never tried searching for files that way. I tried it with a file I knew existed and it displayed a list of directory locations with a summary at the end. Nice.
P.S. I'm not sure why a bug was filed on this since it is an article edit, not a new article but maybe you should take the bug, too (it's assigned to nobody right now).
Thanks for taking the article edit, Bo, and for the dos lesson, too. I've never tried searching for files that way. I tried it with a file I knew existed and it displayed a list of directory locations with a summary at the end. Nice.
P.S. I'm not sure why a bug was filed on this since it is an article edit, not a new article but maybe you should take the bug, too (it's assigned to nobody right now).
Interesting note, if you visit http://www.adobe.com/go/getflash with Minefield or another non-Firefox user agent, you just get the normal Adobe Installer instead of the DLM...
Interesting note, if you visit [http://www.adobe.com/go/getflash] with Minefield or another non-Firefox user agent, you just get the normal Adobe Installer instead of the DLM...
[[*Using the Flash plugin with Firefox]] is updated, a proofread + review would be awesome. I marked [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=512755 Bug 512755] FIXED.
In the Installing Flash section, I would change the note to:
If the yellow bar doesn't come up or you get an error during installation, you can install Flash from Adobe's site
...and, for Windows and Mac, I would add to the note:
by using the same instructions for #Updating Flash|Updating Flash given below.
I would then remove the numbered steps after the note for Windows and Mac and just leave the Linux information.
In the Updating Flash section, for Windows:
You should remove the last sentence,
For more information, read Adobe's Flash Player installation instructions.
...since Adobe's instructions no longer apply to Firefox users on Windows.
P.S. So you are asked to restart Firefox after you click the "Install" button on the "Adobe DLM" Software Installation window! That wasn't given in your outline above (you didn't include it between steps 5 and 6).
Review
In the '''Installing Flash''' section, I would change the note to:
'''If the yellow bar doesn't come up or you get an error during installation, you can install Flash from [http://www.adobe.com/go/getflashplayer Adobe's site]'''
...and, for Windows and Mac, I would add to the note:
'''by using the same instructions for [[Managing the Flash plugin|#Updating Flash|Updating Flash]] given below.'''
I would then remove the numbered steps after the note for Windows and Mac and just leave the Linux information.
In the '''Updating Flash''' section, for <u>Windows</u>:
You should remove the last sentence,
For more information, read [http://www.adobe.com/products/flashplayer/productinfo/instructions/ Adobe's Flash Player installation instructions].
...since Adobe's instructions no longer apply to Firefox users on Windows.
P.S. So you ''are'' asked to restart Firefox after you click the "Install" button on the "Adobe DLM" Software Installation window! That wasn't given in your outline above (you didn't include it between steps 5 and 6).
All I changed was the "Updating" section, I should have said. The rest of the article does need some work.
And yes, I neglected to mention you have to restart Firefox to install the DLM extension.
All I changed was the "Updating" section, I should have said. The rest of the article does need some work.
And yes, I neglected to mention you have to restart Firefox to install the DLM extension.
