SUMO community discussions

[Firefox 14.0.1] Problems ahead with "plugins.click_to_play"?

  • 19 Replies
  • Last reply by AliceWyman
  1. FARLUIZ
    FARLUIZ 4 posts
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    Friends of Contributors Forum I think we will have problems ahead with "plugins.click_to_play" on Firefox 14.0.1.

    Issue 1: PDF files don't open.

    I can't open pdf files with FIREFOX 14.0.1, "plugins.click_to_play" enabled and Adobe Acrobat Plugin version 10.1.3.23 installed (latest version that supports Protected Mode even in Windows XP).

    Please do the following test with FIREFOX 14.0.1 and Adobe Acrobat plugin 10.1.3.23 installed:

    a) In about:config, change "plugins.click_to_play" to true;

    b) Try to open any PDF file. For example:

    http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.pdf

    c) "Click to play" to enable the Adobe Plugin;

    d) What are the results?

    I tested in 3 computers with Windows XP SP3, Firefox 14.0.1 and the new Adobe Acrobat 10.1.3.23 plugin. In all computers, the PDF only opens with "plugins.click_to_play" set to "false".

    Is Adobe widening his "nightmare" to the Acrobat Reader?


    Issue 2: Netflix SilverLight Plugin

    a) In about:config, change "plugins.click_to_play" to true;

    b) In Netflix page, http://movies.netflix.com/WiHome (requires an account) choose any title to watch. SilverLight plugins starts blocked. That's fine here;

    c) There is no way to enable the plugin. There is no place to "click to play". The icon to "enable plugins in this page", on the left side of address bar, also don't appear.

    Right?

    Friends of Contributors Forum I think we will have problems ahead with "plugins.click_to_play" on Firefox 14.0.1. Issue 1: PDF files don't open. I can't open pdf files with FIREFOX 14.0.1, "plugins.click_to_play" enabled and Adobe Acrobat Plugin version 10.1.3.23 installed (latest version that supports Protected Mode even in Windows XP). Please do the following test with FIREFOX 14.0.1 and Adobe Acrobat plugin 10.1.3.23 installed: a) In about:config, change "plugins.click_to_play" to true; b) Try to open any PDF file. For example: http://cran.r-project.org/doc/manuals/R-intro.pdf c) "Click to play" to enable the Adobe Plugin; d) What are the results? I tested in 3 computers with Windows XP SP3, Firefox 14.0.1 and the new Adobe Acrobat 10.1.3.23 plugin. In all computers, the PDF only opens with "plugins.click_to_play" set to "false". Is Adobe widening his "nightmare" to the Acrobat Reader? Issue 2: Netflix SilverLight Plugin a) In about:config, change "plugins.click_to_play" to true; b) In Netflix page, http://movies.netflix.com/WiHome (requires an account) choose any title to watch. SilverLight plugins starts blocked. That's fine here; c) There is no way to enable the plugin. There is no place to "click to play". The icon to "enable plugins in this page", on the left side of address bar, also don't appear. Right?
  2. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    cor-el posted these links for more information about the new plugin "Click-To-Play" feature in a recent support forum thread:

    cor-el posted these links for more information about the new plugin "Click-To-Play" feature in [https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/931789 a recent support forum thread]: *https://wiki.mozilla.org/Opt-in_activation_for_plugins *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=738698 bug 738698] - [meta] Users should have the ability to activate plugins on demand
  3. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    P.S. The Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes say this, under "What's New"

    NEW | Plugins can now be configured to only load on click
    (requires an about:config change)

    ...but without steps to enable. This new feature is disabled by default and requires changing a preference that most users wouldn't know about. I did a web search and there are a number of articles about this new feature, including this recent "how to" with detailed instructions and screenshots:


    ... which might be why users are trying out this feature and why we're getting support questions about it.

    P.S. The [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/14.0.1/releasenotes/ Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes] say this, under "'''What's New'''" ----- NEW | Plugins can now be configured to only load on click <br> (requires an [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Opt-in_activation_for_plugins about:config change]) ----- ...but without steps to enable. This new feature is disabled by default and requires changing a preference that most users wouldn't know about. I did a web search and there are a number of articles about this new feature, including this recent "how to" with detailed instructions and screenshots: *http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57475223-285/how-to-configure-firefox-plug-ins-to-load-only-when-clicked/ ... which might be why users are trying out this feature and why we're getting support questions about it.
  4. FARLUIZ
    FARLUIZ 4 posts
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    What I'm trying to say to you is:

    In my tests, some plugins, Adobe Reader 10 and SilverLight, don't work with the new "plugins.click_to_play" in Firefox 14.0.1.

    I need someone else to test issues 1 and 2 above, to verify that the behavior described is really occurring and, if yes, to file a bug report.

    Please, test the issue 1 and 2 above and let me know the results.

    Please, I don't have no one doubt about Firefox operation!

    What I'm trying to say to you is: In my tests, some plugins, Adobe Reader 10 and SilverLight, don't work with the new "plugins.click_to_play" in Firefox 14.0.1. I need someone else to test issues 1 and 2 above, to verify that the behavior described is really occurring and, if yes, to file a bug report. Please, test the issue 1 and 2 above and let me know the results. Please, I don't have no one doubt about Firefox operation!
  5. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    FARLUIZ, Those are known bugs, which are listed among many others in the meta-bug 738698 under "Depends on":

    FARLUIZ, Those are known bugs, which are listed among many others in the meta-bug [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=738698 738698] under "Depends on": *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=747105 Bug 747105 - Click to play breaks acrobat reader] *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=775418 Bug 775418 - With "plugins.click_to_play enabled", can't activate SilverLight Netflix Plugin]
  6. FARLUIZ
    FARLUIZ 4 posts
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    Alice, it was exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for the info!

    Bug 775418 was filed by me. I was in doubt about Acrobat Bug. Already filed. Very good!

    Alice, Bug 747105 was filed in april/2012. I think that Mozilla should not have released "plugins.click_to_play" while Bug 747105 was open. It is asking for trouble ...

    Thank you again!

    Please close this thread.

    Alice, it was exactly what I needed to know. Thanks for the info! Bug 775418 was filed by me. I was in doubt about Acrobat Bug. Already filed. Very good! Alice, Bug 747105 was filed in april/2012. I think that Mozilla should not have released "plugins.click_to_play" while Bug 747105 was open. It is asking for trouble ... Thank you again! Please close this thread.
  7. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    On the Silverlight bug you filed, Bug 775418 - With "plugins.click_to_play enabled", can't activate SilverLight Netflix Plugin: the comment by Loic dated 2012-07-19 was that it needs to be confirmed but it is likely a duplicate.

    I don't have a Netflix account but I tested in Firefox 14.0.1 on Windows 7, with "plugins.click_to_play" set to "true" and visiting these Silverlight test pages, linked from http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins#Embedded_media

    No "click here to activate plugins" is shown where the plugin content should be. Instead, I see a "Click to Install" box inviting me to install Microsoft Silverlight. This is Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install

    On the Silverlight bug you filed, [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=775418 Bug 775418 - With "plugins.click_to_play enabled", can't activate SilverLight Netflix Plugin]: the comment by Loic dated 2012-07-19 was that it needs to be confirmed but it is likely a duplicate. I don't have a Netflix account but I tested in Firefox 14.0.1 on Windows 7, with "plugins.click_to_play" set to "true" and visiting these Silverlight test pages, linked from http://kb.mozillazine.org/Testing_plugins#Embedded_media * [http://www.silverlight.net/learn/graphics/windows,-screens,-navigation/navigation-framework Navigation Framework] video * [http://www.iis.net/media/experiencesmoothstreaming Experience Smooth Streaming] No "click here to activate plugins" is shown where the plugin content should be. Instead, I see a "Click to Install" box inviting me to install Microsoft Silverlight. This is [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=743102 Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install]

    Modified by AliceWyman on

  8. finitarry
    finitarry 43 posts
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    If that click-to-play setting was known to be buggy, why was it left in a final release? Having that setting available and then finding out that it does not work properly is just frustrating.

    If that click-to-play setting was known to be buggy, why was it left in a final release? Having that setting available and then finding out that it does not work properly is just frustrating.
  9. Kensie
    Kensie 666 posts
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    There's no guarantee for settings you have to flip by going to about:config. I'm sure it would have been not so simple to back out the work already done. The mistake was not mentioning in the release notes that it doesn't work with all plugins yet. Maybe a bug can be filed to downgrade it to "developer" or add a warning? Maybe they need to be added to the wiki page linked from the release notes as well?

    There's no guarantee for settings you have to flip by going to about:config. I'm sure it would have been not so simple to back out the work already done. The mistake was not mentioning in the release notes that it doesn't work with all plugins yet. Maybe a bug can be filed to downgrade it to "developer" or add a warning? Maybe they need to be added to the wiki page linked from the release notes as well?
  10. FARLUIZ
    FARLUIZ 4 posts
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    Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install : Status: RESOLVED FIXED

    What was fixed? The bugs are there like me and Alice show. More, Mozilla released "plugins.click_to_play" in Firefox 14.0.1 with Bug 747105 unresolved! Acrobat is one of the most used plugin of a browser!

    This thread is a great, great example what The Rapid Release Schedule is doing to our beloved Firefox!

    Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install : Status: RESOLVED FIXED What was fixed? The bugs are there like me and Alice show. More, Mozilla released "plugins.click_to_play" in Firefox 14.0.1 with Bug 747105 unresolved! Acrobat is one of the most used plugin of a browser! This thread is a great, great example what The Rapid Release Schedule is doing to our beloved Firefox!

    Modified by FARLUIZ on

  11. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    FARLUIZ said

    Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install : Status: RESOLVED FIXED What was fixed?

    According to Bug 743102 comment 8 This bug seems to have been fixed by https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=749455 ... and that bug is fixed in mozilla 16 . So yes, the bug is fixed but it's still "broken" in Firefox 14.

    ''FARLUIZ [[#post-47941|said]]'' <blockquote> Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install : Status: RESOLVED FIXED What was fixed? </blockquote> According to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=743102#c8 Bug 743102 comment 8] ''This bug seems to have been fixed by https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=749455 '' ... and that bug is fixed in mozilla 16 . So yes, the bug is fixed but it's still "broken" in Firefox 14.
  12. cor-el
    cor-el 1494 posts
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    It seems to be working in the current Firefox 15 beta version as well, at least with the Silverlight 4 version that is available for Linux.

    It seems to be working in the current Firefox 15 beta version as well, at least with the Silverlight 4 version that is available for Linux.
  13. NoahSUMO
    NoahSUMO 527 posts
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    Farluiz, I was also confused as well. I thought I read every detail in that bug but overlooked the link in comment #8 Alice pointed out.

    Also some key information was missing from that bug which would have helped me see the connection between that bug & the one that was going to fix it:
    Bug 749455 - Click to play brings up missing plugins warning

    When a bug depends on another bug to be fixed, I just look at the "Depends on:" field. But this time it wasn't filled out. So I fixed it to avoid confusion by others.

    So to summarize, Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install was fixed by Bug 749455 - Click to play brings up missing plugins warning. And according to a tiny note in comment #18 of Bug 749455, the fix is going to be in Firefox 16, whenever that releases. I can tell by the tiny text that says:
    Target Milestone: --- → mozilla16

    I wish there was a more clear comment in that bug about what version of Firefox that patch was going to land on but sometimes they forget to do that.

    Farluiz, I was also confused as well. I thought I read every detail in that bug but overlooked the link in comment #8 Alice pointed out. Also some key information was missing from that bug which would have helped me see the connection between that bug & the one that was going to fix it: <br> [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=749455 Bug 749455 - Click to play brings up missing plugins warning] When a bug depends on another bug to be fixed, I just look at the "Depends on:" field. But this time it wasn't filled out. So I fixed it to avoid confusion by others. So to summarize, [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=743102 Bug 743102 - Desktop Click to play blocks Silverlight - prompted to Install] was fixed by [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=749455 Bug 749455 - Click to play brings up missing plugins warning]. And according to a tiny note in [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=749455#c18 comment #18 of Bug 749455], the fix is going to be in Firefox 16, whenever that releases. I can tell by the tiny text that says: <br> '''Target Milestone: --- → mozilla16''' I wish there was a more clear comment in that bug about what version of Firefox that patch was going to land on but sometimes they forget to do that.
  14. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    Related to Bug 747105 - Click to play breaks acrobat reader mentioned above, comment 1 is worth noting: 

    Josh Aas (Mozilla Corporation) 2012-04-19 12:45:34 PDT

    This is almost certainly a dupe of bug 736998. You can build with the patch there to confirm.

    Bug 736998 - Flash click-to-play broken when opening swf directly, was filed about swf files that should open in the Adobe Flash plugin, such as:

    .... but instead, you see a blank page after you click the "click here to activate plugins" button.

    A similar problem happens for other types of media files that are set to open in a plugin,such as these links to media that I have set to open with the QuickTime plugin:

    (When I click the "click here to activate plugin" button, I see a blank page with a blue Q QuickTime symbol) .

    The problem doesn't happen with all direct file links that are set to open with a plugin, though. The "click here to activate plugins" button works fine for direct links to files that open in the Windows Media Player Firefox plugin (np-mswmp.dll) such as this asx file, this asf file or this wmv.

    Related to [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=747105 Bug 747105 - Click to play breaks acrobat reader] mentioned above, comment 1 is worth noting: ----- Josh Aas (Mozilla Corporation) 2012-04-19 12:45:34 PDT This is almost certainly a dupe of [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=736998 bug 736998]. You can build with the patch there to confirm. ----- [https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=736998 Bug 736998 - Flash click-to-play broken when opening swf directly], was filed about swf files that should open in the Adobe Flash plugin, such as: * http://edmullen.net/test/poopboy.swf .... but instead, you see a blank page after you click the "click here to activate plugins" button. A similar problem happens for other types of media files that are set to open in a plugin,such as these links to media that I have set to open with the QuickTime plugin: * http://its.virginia.edu/network/videotest/when-lg.mov * http://edmullen.net/test/hallwayraces.mpg * http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/midi/macarena.mid * http://vll.csumb.edu/html/sound/u01m02ppt002t01x.mp3 (When I click the "click here to activate plugin" button, I see a blank page with a blue Q QuickTime symbol) . The problem doesn't happen with all direct file links that are set to open with a plugin, though. The "click here to activate plugins" button works fine for direct links to files that open in the Windows Media Player Firefox plugin (np-mswmp.dll) such as [http://its.virginia.edu/network/videotest/when-I-go-to-UVA-lg.asx this asx] file, [http://edmullen.net/test/salmon.asf this asf file] or [http://thirdplanetvideo.com/MoviesFlip4Mac/CorpMini1pvQ50k1.wmv this wmv].
  15. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    Just to add more information, a Mac-specific problem with plugins.click_to_play was recently reported here:

    With the new plugin click to play setting set to true, clicking the full screen or larger window box for a YouTube video does nothing. If I set it back to false, those controls work.

    Related bug reports:

    • Bug 775709 - Mac Firefox plugin.click_to_play enabled interferes with video controls

    ... which is a duplicate of:

    • Bug 751809 - click does not work on a plugin content when a plugin is just activated
    Just to add more information, a Mac-specific problem with plugins.click_to_play was recently reported here: * https://support.mozilla.org/questions/932574 Firefox 14 plugin click to play not working well with YouTube ''With the new plugin click to play setting set to true, clicking the full screen or larger window box for a YouTube video does nothing. If I set it back to false, those controls work.'' Related bug reports: *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=775709 Bug 775709] - Mac Firefox plugin.click_to_play enabled interferes with video controls ... which is a duplicate of: *[https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=751809 Bug 751809] - click does not work on a plugin content when a plugin is just activated
  16. Matt_G
    Matt_G 167 posts
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    Hey guys. We discussed this in the last Planning meeting. I know it has caused a lot of confusion by being mentioned in the new features section. It is still 100% experimental and use at your own risk. I know that wasn't made very clear by the way it was listed. We did want some people to try it out, but it is definitely not fully baked. We've discussed this with our friends in Product and hopefully we will come up with a better way of talking about experimental features that are not for the faint of heart to avoid this type of confusion in the future. If you see people reporting these issues in the forums, please pass along the message that it is still experimental and show them how to disable if they don't know how.

    Hey guys. We discussed this in the last Planning meeting. I know it has caused a lot of confusion by being mentioned in the new features section. It is still 100% experimental and use at your own risk. I know that wasn't made very clear by the way it was listed. We did want some people to try it out, but it is definitely not fully baked. We've discussed this with our friends in Product and hopefully we will come up with a better way of talking about experimental features that are not for the faint of heart to avoid this type of confusion in the future. If you see people reporting these issues in the forums, please pass along the message that it is still experimental and show them how to disable if they don't know how.

    Modified by Matt_G on

  17. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    AliceWyman said

    P.S. The Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes say this, under "What's New"

    NEW | Plugins can now be configured to only load on click
    (requires an about:config change)

    ...but without steps to enable. This new feature is disabled by default and requires changing a preference that most users wouldn't know about. I did a web search and there are a number of articles about this new feature, including this recent "how to" with detailed instructions and screenshots:

    ... which might be why users are trying out this feature and why we're getting support questions about it.

    I see the "What's New" entry for the plugins Click-to-Play feature was removed from the Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes.

    ''AliceWyman [[#post-47905|said]]'' <blockquote> P.S. The [http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/14.0.1/releasenotes/ Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes] say this, under "'''What's New'''" ----- NEW | Plugins can now be configured to only load on click <br> (requires an [https://wiki.mozilla.org/Opt-in_activation_for_plugins about:config change]) ----- ...but without steps to enable. This new feature is disabled by default and requires changing a preference that most users wouldn't know about. I did a web search and there are a number of articles about this new feature, including this recent "how to" with detailed instructions and screenshots: *http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-57475223-285/how-to-configure-firefox-plug-ins-to-load-only-when-clicked/ ... which might be why users are trying out this feature and why we're getting support questions about it. </blockquote> I see the "What's New" entry for the plugins Click-to-Play feature was removed from the Firefox 14.0.1 Release Notes.
  18. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    Matt_G said

    Hey guys. We discussed this in the last Planning meeting. .

    Since Matt didn't provide a link I did a google search and found the meeting notes here, for anyone interested:

    https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Planning/2012-07-25

    ''Matt_G [[#post-47978|said]]'' <blockquote> Hey guys. We discussed this in the last Planning meeting. . </blockquote> Since Matt didn't provide a link I did a google search and found the meeting notes here, for anyone interested: https://wiki.mozilla.org/Firefox/Planning/2012-07-25
  19. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    Some Firefox users may enable Click to Play after reading advice in articles about the recent Java 7 exploit, like this one:

    Some Firefox users may enable Click to Play after reading advice in articles about the recent Java 7 exploit, like this one: *http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/261562/six_ways_to_protect_against_the_new_actively_exploited_java_vulnerability.html
  20. AliceWyman
    AliceWyman 6315 posts
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    The Permissions Manager UI (about:permissions page) lets you enable the "plugins.click_to_play" preference by setting Plugins for "All Sites" to "Always Ask", after which you can optionally set individual websites to Allow or Block plugins. See this thread in the Permissions Manager - Give certain websites the ability to store passwords, set cookies and more article's discussion forum:

    The Permissions Manager UI (about:permissions page) lets you enable the "plugins.click_to_play" preference by setting '''Plugins''' for "All Sites" to "Always Ask", after which you can optionally set individual websites to Allow or Block plugins. See this thread in the [[Give certain websites the ability to store passwords, set cookies and more]] article's discussion forum: *https://support.mozilla.org/kb/give-websites-ability-store-passwords-cookies-and-more/discuss/4647