ChromEdit Plus

One of my favorite extensions from back in the Firefox 1.0.* build days was ChromEdit. Unfortunately, when Firefox 1.5 came out that extension was broken and the developer never made a newer version. I am not sure but I think I had tried to force it to work with Nightly Tester Tools without luck. Someone had come out with a newer version for Firefox 1.5 builds (and this may be the newer version). Today I came across ChromEdit Plus which has the same features as the original ChromEdit and some others:

• Edit userChrome.css, userContent.css & user.js files
• Open Profile Folder, Open Chrome Folder, Open Install Folder options
• Toolbar buttons for above options and ChromEdit
• Restart Button
• Open In A Tab (Firefox only) option

A couple points to note, if you have an older/modified version of ChromEdit installed, you will want to uninstall those, unless you don’t mind having duplicate extensions installed. Also this can replace the Open Profile Folder extension.

These extensions work with Firefox 1.5, 2.0, 3.0 and 3.1 builds as well as Thunderbird 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 builds. Check out the developers site for installation instructions, more information and other extension: ChromEdit Plus Firefox or ChromEdit Plus Thunderbird.

Updated: 02/13/2009 — Added Fx 3.1 and TBird 3.0 to compatible builds list.

Nightly Tester Tools in Thunderbird 2

In my Nightly Tester Tools entry I talked about using this extension with Firefox. The newest version 1.2 works with Firefox 2.0b1-3.0a1 plus Thunderbird 2.0pb1 (pre-beta)-3.0a1 and SeaMonkey (former Mozilla Suite browser) 1.5a.

The installation for Thunderbird is a little more complicated since it doesn’t do the automatic XPI install like Firefox:

1. Go to the Nightly Tester Tools site
2. On the bottom right of the page RIGHT-CLICK on the Install Latest Version button
3. Select from the context menu ‘Save Link As…’
4. Keep the default file name (nightly-1.2.xpi), but save it to the desktop
5. Minimize Firefox
6. Toggle to Thunderbird
7. From the Tools Menu select ‘Add-Ons’
8. Minimize Thunderbird (note the Add-Ons window should still be on the desktop)
9. Drag the nightly-1.2.xpi file from the desktop and drop in the Thunderbird Add-Ons window
10. Follow the instructions and then once the install is done, restart Thunderbird
11. Drag the nightly-1.2.xpi file into the recycle bin

Now you have the ability to get your favorite extensions working again in Thunderbird 2. As with Firefox though, forcing some extensions to work with Thunderbird 2 can result in odd behavior and broken main window. Use at your own risk.

Mozilla Lightning

One thing many people have complained about in regards to Mozilla Thunderbird is unlike Outlook, it does not have a calendar. Today on CyberNet News I came across this entry: Mozilla Sunbird And Lightning 0.3 RC1 Available. Mozilla Sunbird is a standalone calendar application where as Lightning is a Thunderbird Extension.

While I have not yet had a chance to a look at Sunbird, I have installed and started briefly using Lightning. Here are some of the features:

• Adds a ‘Calendar’ Menu option which allows you to view your calendar in your message and preview panes.
• Adds Lightning pane in the Preferences or Options dialog (go here to setup your time zone)
• Calendar can be displayed as daily, weekly or monthly
• Adds a small monthly calendar under your folders list along with a ‘task manager’
• Create multiple calendars (home, work, kids, etc.)
• Export and Import Calendars

There a lot of features and options I have not yet had a chance to play with. There are currently three different versions of Lightning available for download:

• Thunderbird 1.5 or 1.5.0.* builds
• Mozilla 1.8 branch Nightly Builds for Thunderbird 1.5.0.* and 2.0
• Thunderbird 3.0 Trunk Build

A word of warning from the developer’s site about the versions in red: the use of nightly developer builds has some risks associated with it. Don’t use them with production data.

Thunderbird 2.0pb1 & Buttons! Update

Earlier today a comment left on my Thunderbird 2.0 Pre-Beta 1 entry asking if the developer’s site had an update for the Buttons! Extension. I stared at that comment for a moment and though how stupid of me not to check the developers site! I have some good news and bad news about this. The good news is the developer has put out an update back in August. The bad news trying to locate this information was a major pain in the rear. Here is the process I took to locate this update

1. Searched for ‘Buttons!’ on Thunderbird Update.
   First mistake was using ‘!’ in the search criteria as Thunderbird Update ignores the search and lists all extensions.
   Second was not doing an advanced search first so I could change the order from ‘newest’ to ‘name’.
2. Located the extension and noticed the page says it is compatible with up to Thunderbird 3.0 ALL. Okay, technically it is compatible but doesn’t work as desired.
3. At the very bottom of ever extension page there is a link to the developers/authors site.
4. Followed that link and didn’t see anything on their page indicating anything new, but there was a link to the ‘Thunderbird Extensions: Buttons! 0.5.2 forum on mozillaZine.
5. The thread dates back to 2004 and is 30 pages long! I just skipped over to page 30 and worked my way up from the bottom.
6. From a post on Aug Thu 24th 2006 9:09pm, I found a link to a newer version.
7. Installed the extension and restarted Thunderbird…success!

This is the link to the latest version, click and drag the link into Thunderbird’s Add-Ons Manager to install.  Once you restart Thunderbird, right click on the toolbar and select ‘Customize…’ This version also includes some redesigned buttons with new names. The buttons are now called ‘Next!’ and ‘Previous!’.