book

Firefox Hacks

Name: Firefox Hacks
Author: Nigel McFarlane
ISBN: 9780596009281

by Nigel McFarlane

March 2005

Intermediate to advanced

398 pages

10h 22m

English

O'Reilly Media, Inc.

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Credits
About the AuthorContributorsAcknowledgments
Preface
Why Firefox Hacks?How to Use This BookHow This Book Is OrganizedConventions Used in This BookUsing Code ExamplesSafari® EnabledHow to Contact UsGot a Hack?
1. Firefox Basics
1.1. Hacks 1-101.2. Get Oriented1.2.1. Finding Firefox Files After Installation1.2.2. Installing an Extension1.2.2.1. Installing from update.mozilla.org1.2.2.2. Installing from elsewhere1.2.3. Setting a Preference with about:config1. Ten Ways to Display a Web Page1.3.1. Normal Browser Window1.3.2. Source Code Window1.3.3. window.open( )1.3.4. Full Screen or Kiosk Mode1.3.5. Chrome-Free Windows1.3.6. Print Preview1.3.7. User-Customized1.3.8. DOM Hierarchy1.3.9. Debug-Enabled1.3.10. Splash Screens2. Ten Ways to Navigate to a Web Page1.4.1. Click on a Link1.4.2. Click on a Bookmark Icon1.4.3. Put Something in the Location Bar1.4.4. Pick Something from Your History1.4.5. Copy and Paste1.4.6. Caret Browsing1.4.7. Drag and Drop1.4.8. Use the Menu Bar1.4.9. Switch Between Windows and Tabs1.4.10. Use Accessibility Devices3. Find Stuff1.5.1. Search a Displayed Web Page1.5.2. Search Web Page Source1.5.3. Search Your History1.5.4. Search Your Bookmarks1.5.5. Search for Lost Logins1.5.6. Search the Web1.5.7. Search for Firefox Preferences4. Identify and Use Toolbar Icons5. Use Keyboard Shortcuts6. Make Firefox Look Different7. Stop Once-Only Dialogs Safely8. Flush and Clear Absolutely Everything1.10.1. Dispose of Ordinary Web Surfing Information1.10.2. Dispose of Everything Else via the User Interface1.10.3. Dispose of Everything via the Filesystem1.10.4. Strip the Firefox Install Area of Extras1.10.5. See Also9. Make Firefox Go Fast1.11.1. Fix Dial-Up Modem Bottlenecks1.11.2. Overclock Firefox1.11.2.1. Speed up network access1.11.2.2. Speed up page display1.11.3. Expand Your Caching1.11.4. Start Up Faster1.11.5. Ultimate Speed Improvements10. Start Up from the Command Line1.12.1. See Also
2. Security
2.1. Hacks 11-2111. Drop Miscellaneous Security Blocks2.2.1. Supply Passwords Automatically2.2.2. Allow Foreign Code to Run2.2.2.1. Turn on ActiveX2.2.2.2. Turn on more plug-in and helper support2.2.3. Drop Browser Security Hobbles2.2.4. Remove Profile Salting2.2.5. Update Firefox Automatically12. Raise Security to Protect Dummies13. Stop All Secret Network Activity2.4.1. Stop Secret Updates2.4.2. Stop Secret Submissions2.4.3. Stop Not-So-Secret Background Downloads14. Work with Single Sign-On Servers2.5.1. The Single Sign-On Technology Jungle2.5.1.1. Locating standards2.5.1.2. Brand names and standards2.5.2. Single Sign-On: The Easy Way2.5.3. Single Sign-On: The Hard Way15. Work with Web Proxies2.6.1. Overview of Proxy Options2.6.2. Setting Up Direct Connects and Static Proxies2.6.3. Setting Up Scripted PAC Proxies2.6.4. Setting Up WPAD Proxies16. Fine-Tune Ports and Sockets2.7.1. Disallow Ports2.7.2. Set Socket Limits17. Manage Digital Certificates2.8.1. Examining Existing Certificates and Authorities2.8.2. Adding More CA Certificates2.8.3. Rejecting Certificates with CRLs and OSCP18. Digitally Sign Content2.9.1. Get Oriented on Security Concepts2.9.2. Get Signing Tools2.9.3. Sign Content for Test Purposes2.9.4. Sign Content for Publication2.9.5. Do Something with Trusted Content19. Grant Trust with Master Certificates2.10.1. Master Certificate Concepts2.10.2. Deploying Master Certificates2.10.3. Delegating Trust to Others2.10.4. Alternatives to Master Certificates20. Restrict Script Behavior with Policies2.11.1. Capabilities and Policies2.11.2. Make a Policy2.11.3. Using a Policy from a Signed Script21. Make Yourself Anonymous2.12.1. Basic Web Surfing Strategies2.12.2. Firefox Changes to Support Anonymity
3. Installation
3.1. Hacks 22-3222. Edit Configuration Files3.2.1. Files in the Install Area3.2.2. Files in the Profile Area23. Play With the Preference System3.3.1. Understanding the Preference Database3.3.2. Tweaking Preferences with about:config3.3.3. Spotting Files that Contribute to Preferences3.3.4. Modifying Preference Files24. Install Complementary Tools3.4.1. Managing Plug-ins and Java3.4.2. Finding Substitutes for Application Suite Features3.4.3. Top Two Helper Applications25. Migrate Firefox Profiles3.5.1. Migrating Between Identical Platforms3.5.2. Migrating Between Mozilla Versions3.5.3. Migrating Between Different Operating System Versions3.5.4. Migrating Between Different Operating System Users3.5.5. Migrating Between Windows and Linux26. Dial Up Automatically on Startup3.6.1. Windows 95/98/98SE/ME3.6.2. Windows NT/2000/XP3.6.3. Mac OS X3.6.4. Linux/Unix27. Fix Web Servers to Support Firefox Content3.7.1. Configuring Firefox Content Types in Apache3.7.2. Supporting Both Standards and Internet Explorer3.7.2.1. PHP content rewriter3.7.2.2. Perl CGI content rewriter3.7.2.3. Native Apache rewriter28. Prepare Firefox for Wide Deployment3.8.1. Getting Leverage on Windows File Paths3.8.2. Using the Standard Install3.8.3. Imaging an Instance of Firefox3.8.4. Customizing the Install3.8.4.1. Preinstall: change the install bundle3.8.4.2. During install: customize user profile creation3.8.4.3. Post-install: overwrite files on login29. Remotely Manage User Configurations3.9.1. Locking Files Using the Operating System3.9.2. Surviving Special Preference Configuration Rules3.9.3. Locking Preferences Using ReadConfig3.9.4. Updating Preferences Using AutoConfig3.9.5. Handling Failover Scenarios30. Install Fonts and Character Support3.10.1. Installing Good Fonts3.10.2. Selecting Good Language Fonts3.10.3. Overriding Web Page Fonts3.10.4. Knowing How Firefox Selects Fonts3.10.5. Using Character References and Entities31. Take Firefox with You3.11.1. Laptop3.11.2. Server-Based VPN3.11.3. Roaming VPN3.11.4. Mobile Consumer Devices3.11.5. USB Drive3.11.5.1. Get PortableFirefox3.11.5.2. Use a USB launcher3.11.5.3. Build a USB-aware Firefox3.11.6. RAM Drive32. Work with Filtering Systems
4. Web Surfing Enhancements
4.1. Hacks 33-4333. Use Fancy Bookmarks4.2.1. Use Tab Group Bookmarks4.2.2. Use Sidebar Bookmarks4.2.3. Use Keyword Bookmarks4.2.4. Live Bookmarks34. Modify Tabbed Browsing4.3.1. Tabbed-Browsing Preferences4.3.1.1. Links from other applications4.3.1.2. Loading tabs in the foreground or background4.3.1.3. Getting rid of tabs when there’s only one4.3.1.4. Single Window mode4.3.2. Extensions that Alter Tabbed Browsing4.3.2.1. Tabbrowser Preferences4.3.2.2. Quick Tab Pref Toggle4.3.2.3. Magpie4.3.3. Tabbrowser Extension: A Complete Tabbing Overhaul35. Govern Image and Ad Display4.4.1. Block Images and Advertising Content4.4.1.1. Using standard features4.4.1.2. Using the Adblock extension4.4.2. Manage the Way Images Are Displayed36. Get More Search Tools4.5.1. Adding Search Engines4.5.2. Searching Without the Search Box4.5.3. Anatomy of a Search Plug-in4.5.3.1. The <search> tag4.5.3.2. The <input> tags4.5.3.3. The <interpret> tag4.5.3.4. The <browser> tag37. Get More Feeds and News4.6.1. Get Feeds with Sage4.6.1.1. Setting up the feed system4.6.1.2. Adding feeds4.6.1.3. Show the content4.6.2. Get Weather News with ForecastFox4.6.2.1. Setting a location4.6.2.2. Tweaking the display4.6.2.3. Customizing tooltips and labels38. Add Stuff to Your Toolbars4.7.1. Try InfoLister4.7.1.1. Displaying the InfoLister window4.7.1.2. Customizing the page4.7.1.3. Saving the page4.7.2. Try Gmail Notifier4.7.2.1. Installing Gmail Notifier4.7.2.2. Getting to your inbox4.7.2.3. Gmail Notifier preferences4.7.2.4. Gmail tips39. Upgrade Firefox Feature Managers40. Integrate Firefox with Other Tools4.9.1. Integrate Email and News4.9.2. Integrate Email Message Counts4.9.3. Integrate IRC4.9.4. Integrate Everything Else with Launchy41. Create Your Own Search Plug-in4.10.1. Building the Plug-in4.10.2. Installing the Plug-in42. Spider the Web with Firefox4.11.1. Save One Complete Page4.11.1.1. Saving using Web Page Complete4.11.1.2. Saving using Print4.11.2. Save Lots of Pages4.11.2.1. Down Them All4.11.2.2. Magpie4.11.2.3. Slogger4.11.3. Learning from the Master43. Waste Time with Toys and Games4.12.1. Messing Around with Games4.12.1.1. Text adventures4.12.1.2. Card games4.12.1.3. Console games4.12.2. Stretching Your Wings with Gestures and Pie Menus
5. Power Tools for Web Developers
5.1. Hacks 44-5744. Tweak and Troubleshoot CSS Designs5.2.1. Install Must-Have Extensions5.2.2. Use the Web Developer Toolbar to Locate Style Rules5.2.3. Use the DOM Inspector to Find Inherited Values5.2.4. Edit CSS in Firefox45. Use Gecko CSS Style Magic5.3.1. Add Fancy Borders5.3.2. Add Fancy Colors5.3.3. Add Unbreakable Fonts5.3.4. Add Fancy Blending46. Write Compatible CSS5.4.1. Remove Older Browsers from the Problem Space5.4.1.1. Deny style access to Netscape 4.x and earlier5.4.1.2. Deny style access to Internet Explorer 5.x on Windows5.4.1.3. Deny style access to Internet Explorer 5 on the Mac5.4.2. Make CSS Work Across All Modern Browsers5.4.2.1. Display contracts5.4.2.2. Viewport5.4.2.3. Box model47. Update Browser Detection Scripts5.5.1. Detect Firefox by UserAgent5.5.2. Detect Firefox via the DOM5.5.2.1. document.all5.5.2.2. document.implementation.hasFeature(type,version)5.5.2.3. document.layers5.5.3. Detect JavaScript Version Support48. Submit Background Form Data5.6.1. Getting Oriented5.6.2. Sending a Synchronous GET Request5.6.3. Sending a Synchronous POST Request5.6.4. Sending an Asynchronous GET Request5.6.5. Sending an Asynchronous POST Request49. Script Plug-ins5.7.1. Requirements for Scriptability5.7.2. Scripting Away50. Quality-Assure Your Web Pages5.8.1. Ensure Code is Valid5.8.2. Check Accessibility5.8.2.1. S.508 and WAI accessibility5.8.2.2. Check those images5.8.2.3. Check those links5.8.2.4. Slow downloads are still a big issue5.8.2.5. Not all screens are the same5.8.2.6. How will a nonhuman see your page?51. Display HTTP Headers5.9.1. Get the Live HTTP Headers Extension5.9.2. Analyze Headers in the Raw52. Stomp on Cookies5.10.1. Using the Cookie Manager5.10.2. Using Cookie Extensions5.10.2.1. View Cookies extension5.10.2.2. Add & Edit Cookies extension5.10.3. Scripting Cookies53. Probe HTML with the DOM Inspector5.11.1. Inspecting a Page5.11.2. Deconstructing a Page5.11.3. Hacking a Page to Bits54. Turn Off Absolutely All Caching5.12.1. Disable Browser Caching5.12.2. Disable HTTP Caching5.12.3. Disable XUL Caching55. Web Document Debugging Tricks5.13.1. Portable Debugging Tricks5.13.1.1. Use alert( )5.13.1.2. Probe page contents with javascript: URLs5.13.1.3. Add diagnostic styles5.13.2. Firefox-Specific Debugging Tricks5.13.2.1. Use watch points5.13.2.2. Tweak preferences5.13.2.3. Log to the JavaScript console56. Debug JavaScript with Venkman5.14.1. Finding and Installing Venkman5.14.2. Experimenting with Venkman5.14.2.1. View web page scripts5.14.2.2. Run web page scripts5.14.3. See Also57. Handle Hangs and Other Bad Juju5.15.1. Separate Out Performance Problems from Hangs5.15.2. Things You Can Do to Bust Firefox5.15.3. Things You Can Do to Recover
6. Power XML for Web Pages
6.1. Hacks 58-7458. Pick Display Modes for HTML and XML6.2.1. Tell Firefox What the Content Is6.2.2. Tell Firefox Which Parser to Use6.2.3. Tell Firefox How to Render the Content59. Get Tools for XML Validation6.3.1. Built-In XML-Checking Tools6.3.2. Web-Based Validation Tools6.3.3. Third-Party Validation Tools60. Mix Content with XML Namespaces6.4.1. Play with XML Namespace Syntax6.4.2. Write Reports in XHTML, MathML, and SVG6.4.3. Create Content Browsers with XHTML and XUL61. Make MathML Content6.5.1. Deal with MathML Fonts6.5.2. Make a MathML Example6.5.3. View MathML Source62. Make SVG Content6.6.1. Understand Versions and Features6.6.2. Make an Interactive Diagram63. Use Client-Side XPath6.7.1. Use Criteria to Select an XML Nodeset6.7.2. Use XPath to Expose Expression Axes64. Use Client-Side XSL6.8.1. Why Use XSL Instead of CSS?6.8.2. Define Firefox and XSL6.8.3. Write Your First Transform6.8.4. Tell Firefox About Your XSL6.8.5. See Also65. Work with Mozilla SOAP Services6.9.1. Locate SOAP in Firefox6.9.1.1. Start with XML Schema6.9.1.2. Review synchronous versus asynchronous messaging6.9.1.3. Review security6.9.2. Understand the Server6.9.3. Make a Web Page with SOAP66. Work with Mozilla XML-RPC Services6.10.1. Locate XML-RPC in Firefox6.10.1.1. Review security arrangements6.10.1.2. Start out on the right foot6.10.2. Create an XUL Test File6.10.2.1. Build the frontend XUL file6.10.2.2. Script XMP-RPC with JavaScript6.10.2.3. Create the Firefox extension67. Work with Mozilla WSDL Services6.11.1. Locate WSDL in Firefox6.11.2. Create a WSDL File6.11.3. Create the Proxy in JavaScript6.11.4. Create an Asynchronous Listener6.11.5. Note Security Issues68. Make Applications and Extensions with XUL6.12.1. Make and Display an XUL Demo6.12.2. Send XUL Application Data to a Server6.12.3. See Also69. Make New Tags and Widgets with XBL6.13.1. Make a <sidebar> element for HTML6.13.2. Make a Custom XUL Widget70. Work with RDF Facts6.14.1. Learn RDF6.14.2. Manipulate Content in Firefox’s Head6.14.3. Display Facts with Templates71. Work with RSS Feeds6.15.1. Understand the RSS Mess6.15.2. Exploit Firefox Support for RSS6.15.3. Receive Notification of New Items72. Connect SQL to XUL6.16.1. Get Ready for Dynamic XUL6.16.2. Make an XUL Template6.16.3. Weigh It Up73. Generate XUL Using PHP Libraries6.17.1. Finding PEAR Libraries for XUL6.17.2. Motivation for Server-Side UI Generation6.17.3. Getting Oriented with XML_XUL6.17.4. Weighing It Up74. Get a Taste of E4X Scripting6.18.1. Where E4X Fits In6.18.2. Setting Up a Playpen for E4X6.18.3. Experiment with E4X Features
7. Hack the Chrome Ugly
7.1. Hacks 75-8375. Do Groundwork for Ugly Chrome Hacks7.2.1. Understanding Chrome7.2.2. Understanding JAR Files7.2.3. Locating Standard Chrome Files7.2.4. Locating Other Chrome Files7.2.5. What to Hack76. Spy on Chrome with the DOM Inspector7.3.1. Inspecting XUL7.3.2. Connecting the Dots77. Customize Firefox’s Interface7.4.1. Identifying the Objective7.4.2. Ready...7.4.3. Aim...7.4.4. Firefox!78. Rebadge Firefox7.5.1. Core Brand Information7.5.2. Rebranding Bookmarks and Bookmark Text7.5.3. Rebranding Icons and Images7.5.4. Rebranding the User Agent79. Make Firefox Match the Desktop7.6.1. Building Static Skins7.6.2. Building Static Skins with Smart Values7.6.3. Exploiting -moz-appearance and Theme Engines80. Make a Toolbar That Can’t Be Hidden7.7.1. Adding a Permanent Toolbar7.7.2. Testing the New Toolbar7.7.3. Decorating the New Toolbar81. Content Filter Without Your Smart Friend Noticing7.8.1. Starting Points7.8.2. Finding the Files to Hack7.8.3. Coding Options7.8.4. Quick-and-Dirty String Changes7.8.5. Wrapping Up82. Add a New XPCOM Component7.9.1. Naming the New Component7.9.2. Creating and Implementing a Module7.9.3. Creating and Implementing a Component7.9.4. Installing the Component7.9.5. Running the Component83. Add a New Command-Line Option7.10.1. Preparation7.10.2. Making the Script Outline7.10.3. Filling in the Script
8. Hack the Chrome Cleanly
8.1. Hacks 84-9084. Do Groundwork for Extension Development8.2.1. Spot Extension Files8.2.2. Spot Extension Installers8.2.3. Three Kinds of RDF Files8.2.4. Compare Locales, Themes, Applications, and Extensions8.2.5. Find the XPInstall Missing Link85. Study Packages with the Chrome Manager8.3.1. Get the Chrome Manager8.3.2. Chrome Simplified8.3.3. Understand Packages8.3.4. Packages Versus Extensions86. Create a Chrome Package8.4.1. Create a Local Folder Hierarchy8.4.2. Create a Package Representation8.4.2.1. Flat file structure8.4.2.2. JAR representation8.4.2.3. Default URL names for package files8.4.3. Register a Package with the Chrome Registry8.4.3.1. Make a contents.rdf manifest file8.4.3.2. Use the new chrome: URLs87. Make a Bottom-Up Overlay8.5.1. Adding an Item8.5.1.1. Register the overlay8.5.1.2. The overlay file8.5.2. Other Places to Overlay8.5.3. Adding a Sidebar8.5.4. Under the Covers8.5.5. Skin Overlays88. Make, Bundle, and Publish an XPI8.6.1. Making a Firefox XPI File8.6.2. Understanding install.rdf8.6.3. The First Big Release8.6.3.1. Using Mozilla Update8.6.3.2. DIY publishing8.6.4. Distribute Software Updates89. Build an Installable Theme8.7.1. Getting the Content Together8.7.1.1. Do the creative bit8.7.1.2. Do the systematic bit8.7.1.3. Collect together skins8.7.2. Building the Theme JAR File8.7.2.1. Build an install-bundled theme8.7.2.2. Build skins into downloadable extensions8.7.2.3. Build skins into complete and separately downloadable themes8.7.3. Installation Support90. Identify Reusable Toolkits8.8.1. Poking Around Inside toolkit.jar8.8.1.1. The global package8.8.1.2. The xul.css master XBL stylesheet8.8.1.3. The mozapps package8.8.2. Scavenging Application Pieces8.8.3. Finding Embedded Components8.8.4. Reusing Script Libraries

9. Work More Closely with Firefox
9.1. Hacks 91-10091. Handle Cross-Platform Differences9.2.1. Handling Obvious Big-Ticket Differences9.2.2. Handling Widget Differences9.2.3. Handling Font Differences92. Get a Custom, Prebuilt Version9.3.1. Rebundled Firefox Versions9.3.1.1. Windows versions9.3.1.2. Linux versions9.3.2. Alternate Builds of Standard Firefox9.3.3. Treasure-Hunting Custom Builds93. Make Firefox Software9.4.1. Pointers for Windows and Macintosh9.4.1.1. Getting oriented under Windows9.4.1.2. Getting oriented under Macintosh9.4.2. Getting Ready for Linux Compilation9.4.2.1. Checking your compile baseline9.4.2.2. Checking your runtime baseline9.4.2.3. Grabbing a source baseline9.4.2.4. Updating the source9.4.3. Compiling Firefox9.4.4. Running Your Own Firefox9.4.5. Creating a New Installer94. Run Multiple Mozilla Browsers9.5.1. Running Different Browsers Simultaneously9.5.2. Running Two Separate Versions of Firefox9.5.3. Running Two Instances of Firefox Simultaneously on Windows9.5.3.1. Temporary solution9.5.3.2. Permanent solution9.5.4. Running Only One Instance of Firefox on Unix/Linux95. Make Extensions Work Outside Firefox9.6.1. Porting Extensions to Thunderbird and NVu9.6.1.1. Changing the target application9.6.1.2. Changing overlay destinations9.6.1.3. Changing overlay content9.6.2. Back-Porting Extensions to the MAS9.6.2.1. Making multiple-application overlays9.6.2.2. Delivering backward compatibility for extensions96. Turn on Firefox Diagnostics9.7.1. Turning On Diagnostics with NSPR Logging9.7.1.1. Turning on logging9.7.1.2. Viewing logged output9.7.2. Finding Talkback Crash Records9.7.3. Hooking Up Firefox to a Debugger97. Find the Right Forum for Your Issues9.8.1. Picking Forums for Pulling Information9.8.2. Picking Forums for Pushing Information9.8.3. Picking Forums for Conversations98. Survive Bugzilla9.9.1. Landing on Planet Bugzilla9.9.1.1. Differences between labor and work9.9.1.2. Gift culture9.9.2. Dissecting Bug Reports99. Find Out What Has Been Fixed9.10.1. Release Notes9.10.2. Change Logs9.10.3. Tree Status100. Help with the Future of Firefox9.11.1. Deciding9.11.2. Contributing Engineering Effort9.11.3. Contributing Organizational Effort9.11.4. Contributing Creative Effort9.11.5. Contributing Professional Effort9.11.6. Being a Fan
About the Author
Colophon
Copyright

Content preview from Firefox Hacks

About the Author

Nigel McFarlane is the author of Rapid Application Development with Mozilla (Prentice Hall, 2003) and Instant JavaScript (Wrox, 1997). As a freelance technology writer and an active member of the Mozilla community, he has also written over 50 articles and tips on Mozilla and related technologies and has written or contributed to a number of books.

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Firefox Hacks

by Nigel McFarlane

About the Author

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