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« Ben Forta presents ColdFusion Powered Flex and Scorpio (CF8) | Find programming documentation »
Alessandro Crugnola on November 3, 2006 in firefox

Flash Switcher for OSX

iflash_switcher_tb.pngAfter the many requests of a mac OSX version of my last Firefox plugin I finally was able to create it.
I have to say I had much more difficulties rather than the one for Windows.
For what I could understand Firefox for Windows unload the NPSWF32.dll once there are no pages displaying an swf. In fact (under windows) before switching plugin I have to be sure there are no pages wih an swf within, then I can clear the dll and copy the new one.

Instead Firefox for OSX  doesn't unload the Flash Player.plugin even when there are no flash contents. For that reason I could not delete the current plugin file, so I decided to first move the running plugin into Trash and then copy the new one in the Internet Plug-ins folder and then ask user to restart Firefox. In this way everything seems to work clean.

Another problem is the fact there are 2 different plugin file for mac Intel and mac PPC. So I had to create 2 different .xpi installers.
Many thanks to Gabriele Farina who help me with this, I completely forgot the fact there were 2 different installer under Mac.

Here the installers (btw, I'm not 100% sure they will work.. a better test should be done):

iFlash Switcher (mac-PPC)
iFlash Switcher (mc-Intel)

 

P.S. Another thing regarding my recent interest on Firefox plugin development.
This morning Jesse Stratford mailed me saying he wrote an article about me (yeas, about me! ooh what a great honor):
http://www.actionscript.org/../Firefox-Plugins-for-Flash-Platform-Developers/

 

 

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38 comments
if you are having trouble on OSX with file write errors try the following: FYI: I do not know if this opens any security issues. install the latest Plugin (http://www.sephiroth.it/firefox/flash_switcher/#install) on your main HD goto Library RIGHT click on Internet Plug-Ins folder Choose Get-Info At the bottom under Sharing & Permissions set Everyone to Read & Write then click on the little Gear icon and choose Apply to enclosed items.
how can i add flash 7.?
Would be great to get an update of this, currently not working for me on osx 10.5 and Mozilla Firefox 3.0.6 (not compatible with 3.0.6) otherwise great addon :)
If you are getting the NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS error, just delete /Library/Internet Plug-Ins/Flash Player.plugin (and flashplayer.xpt if it exists) and then try switching. If you are getting the NS_ERROR_FILE_ACCESS_DENIED error, make sure you have closed any other programs that might be using the plugin, eg. Safari, any WebKit-enabled app like RSS readers, etc.
This happened when you not install your fox player plugin (i.e. install_flash_player.exe and install_flash_player_10_active_x.exe). Install them and feel the difference ;)
As being new to OSX, I'm not sure, but: I think these problems arise because when installing Flash with the Adobe Software, you need to enter the 'administrator' software. I think this creates certain files with the wrong owner. Solutions could be to chown the certain files, or chmod them to something like 777. (This would need you to have a script to do this, asking you for the password. Or to do it yourself in the shell, by logging in as root.) I do not know what the 'certain files' are. For the time being, the solutions I posted before are a good work-around for me.
As being new to OSX, I'm not sure, but: I think these problems arise because when installing Flash with the Adobe Software, you need to enter the 'administrator' software. I think this creates certain files with the wrong owner. Solutions could be to chown the certain files, or chmod them to something like 777. (This would need you to have a script to do this, asking you for the password. Or to do it yourself in the shell, by logging in as root.) I do not know what the 'certain files' are. For the time being, the solutions I posted before are a good work-around for me.
Also, after installation of Flash Switcher, if you install a newer Flash (ie Flash 10 if you only had Flash 9 before installing Flash Switcher), Flash Switcher will fail when attempting to switch versions. The solution is to then use the "save as" option in Flash Switcher, allowing the Flash Switcher to make a copy in its menu for the newer Flash. Then you need to deinstall Flash again (using the Adobe software for deinstalling). Then after you restart FireFox, you can use the Flash Switcher to re-enable any Flash version you like.
Hi, I have had the same problem ( 0x80520008 NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS ) and the likewise error for 0x80520015 (NS_ERROR_FILE_ACCESS_DENIED) [nsILocalFile.remove]. The solution was actually already stated in the help of the previous versions: DEINSTALL FLASH PLAYER BEFORE INSTALLING FLASH SWITCHER !
Mac OS 10.4, Firefox 3.04 tried to remove the flash player 10, but this came up: Component returned failure code: 0x80520015 (NS_ERROR_FILE_ACCESS_DENIED) [nsILocalFile.remove] When trying to switch, there is NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS How can we fix that?
I'm having similar Javascript error messages on my Intel Mac 10.5.5 with FF 3.03 when trying to switch players: Component returned failure code: 0x80520008 (NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS) [nsILocalFile.copyTo] Also, once this is working, any news on the Flash Player 6 option?
Get "Not compatible with Firefox 3.0.3 when attempting to install". I'm on OSX 10.5.5.
As an addition to my last post, we have tried it on two other MacBooks with the same result.
I have installed Flash Switcher on Mac OSX 10.5 with FF 3.0 and every option (except the help) just completely ignores me. I can see the following options... Shockwave Flash 9.0 r124 (Which expands to "Save As" and "Remove") Settings Help Nothing responds at all, no error messages, no dialogs, nothing. The help just opens a new window and takes me to the "Install" page. Any help will be appreciated please.
I get Component returned failure code 0x80520008 NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS [nsILocalFile.copyTo] also after installing Flash 10 debug and trying to switch to Flash 9 on Leopard. Only FF3 is open. Any ideas? I've reinstalled/uninstalled/etc. and no workie.
It works fine here on my OSX 10.5.4 and Firefox 3.0.1
Steve Sedlmayr | September 4, 2008 11:41 PM
It appears your plugin no longer works with the latest release of Firefox 3 on MacOSX. Trying to install it with Firefox 3.0.1, the button is greyed out on the Firefox add-ons page. Clicking on 'older versions', Flash Switcher 2.0.2 is now listed as 'Experimental' on the older versions page. Attempting to install it results in an error to the effect that it is not supported on the current version of Firefox. I love your plugin... I hope you can get this working again soon!
Matthew & Wilson, I had the same error you both did. Make sure you close Safari and any other application that may have the Flash Player running. I had Safari running in the background, and the error is probably caused by the fact that the extension can not remove the running player. Once I closed the other apps the extension worked great!
Wilson Cunningham | June 21, 2008 12:40 AM
I just installed for firefox 3 and get the error "Component returned failure code 0x80520008 NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS [nsILocalFile.copyTo] Ideas on how to solve this?
I installed it just fine on OS X but I get this error..... Component returned failure code: 0x80520008 (NS_ERROR_FILE_ALREADY_EXISTS) [nsILocalFile.copyTo] any thoughts on how to fix? -Matthew
Please check the updated flash switcher extension at this url:
flash switcher for windows, linux and osx
Hello everyone! It seems that everybody have the same problem of want to have on the list of options other versions of Flash. I've been looking to find a solution and I dont have yet. I would like to have the option to vary the player version to test the swfobject and expressinstall. Please, help sephiroth. The link of Boris Forconi is only for windows. ;(
thanks, it's very nice and works on my mackbook...
hi, works fine on my intel macbook pro with OS X 10.5.1 (leopard) and firefox 2.0.0.11. i hope there will be an update with flash 6+7 coming soon? this would be great! thanx a lot
Works like a charme on OS X 10.4.10 with Firefox 2.0.0.4. The only issue was downloading it, since target="_blank" did not work well (maybe because of my tab settings?).
Foliomedia Author Profile Page | June 8, 2007 1:14 AM
Nice work. It works well on both my Intel Macs. I have a shell script that works well with 7. Get in touch if you think it might help you (it's pretty basic).
Nice work! I'd love to see a Flash 7 option also. This would be handy for testing Express Install configurations etc :)
Thanks. Like the others, i'd like to know how to had anothers flash player versions. I'd like to had the FLASH PLAYER 7. But where i can find any information about that ?
Even better, can you give us some info on how to install any versions of flash player into this list (is it just a case of putting the plugin in a certain place?) Thanks!
I would love a flash 7 version as well. Can we just add it to the repository?
Is there a way to add a Flash 7 version?
works fine for me, thanks! Firefox 2.0 Mac-PPC OSX 10.4.8
Hi Alessandro, I've install your extension on my mac PPC OSX 10.4.8 and Firefox 2.0 but that don't run. I see the icon extension on the bottom of my page, but only 2 lines inside : flash 8 an Flash 9 Also, when i clic on Flash8 or Flash9, i see a nice white freezed page. that's my feedback :) Thanks JP
jason vancleave | November 3, 2006 9:20 PM
Intel Macbook here: I got the plugin to install by downloading it and dragging it into a Firefox window. I see the flash icon in the lower right but when I try to switch from 9 to 8 the screen goes white and I get the spinning beachball until I force quit Firefox. Since only the Flash Player 9 is the only universal version it is kinda a moot point for me to switch versions anyway. Mozilla/5.0 (Macintosh; U; Intel Mac OS X; en-US; rv:1.8.0.4) Gecko/20060508 Firefox/1.5.0.4 f8 8.0 r27 f9 r20
jason vancleave | November 3, 2006 9:06 PM
i got the extenstion to apparently install on a macbook. I had to download it and drag it into the Firefox window. How do I use the extension? i don't see anything new under Tools or Sidebar where most extensions show up.


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