Add-Ons issue with Ubuntu PPA

[NginUS]

I'm on Ubuntu 16.04.3 using what is AFAIK the official PPA [1]. The Thunderbird version I have installed is 56.0b2.

The problem I face is that I'm unable to locate any Add-Ons providing the desired functionality (System Tray) [2] that work with this version.

I don't remember having this issue in KDE Neon, so it seems there must be something different that I'm not aware of.

Help is appreciated. Thanks.

[1]:
https://launchpad.net/~mozillateam/+arc ... rbird-next

[2]:
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunde ... ppver=56.0

[DanRaisch]

As the current release version of Thunderbird for any OS is only 52.3.0 you would seem to be working with a beta (pre-release) version which might explain why there are no extensions available for that version.

[NginUS]

As the current release version of Thunderbird for any OS is only 52.3.0 you would seem to be working with a beta (pre-release) version which might explain why there are no extensions available for that version.

OK, so I've uninstalled the 56.0b2 version, disabled the PPA it came from, & installed the 52.2.1 version from the OS' default repo 'xenial-updates'. Even so, there aren't any compatible search results for the query 'system tray'.

Now I am able to do a 'force version' to install version 38.6.0 from the 'xenial' repo, in which case I do get installable add-ons upon searching 'system tray'. However in this case I get an update notice reminding me of there being 1 package to update of which 1 is a 'security update'.

Subsequently, the Discover Updater tray applet updates it back to 52.2.1.

I'm in a Catch-22 it would seem. Can choose between security & functionality.

[James]

In case you did not notice on page of first link "This PPA contains releases of Thunderbird from the beta channel".

The b on the 56.0 means it is Beta and 2 means it is the second Beta of 56.0 as there can be say normally one to four Beta builds of a version. The next Major Release will not be until 59.0 as it is every seven so versions in between are for well testing.

sudo apt-get install thunderbird ..will get you latest Thunderbird Release available in repository or you can get the Tb 52.3.0 binary from https://www.mozilla.org/thunderbird/all/


There is no system tray extension for any version of Thunderbird being hosted at a.m.o
https://addons.mozilla.org/thunderbird/ ... &platform=

[NginUS]

I was finally able to sort this out such that I can have the older version of Thunderbird installed which allows for the system tray add-on to be installed to it.

In Synaptic, I selected the Thunderbird package, then did Package > Force Version to the older one.
After it was installed I selected it in Synaptic then checked Package > Lock Version.

At this point Discover kept trying to update it from its system tray icon. This was remedied by doing:

Code: Select all

sudo aptitude hold thunderbird

Now I have the older version installed & it won't be updated automatically.

[NginUS]

So now I've added both the thunderbird-next beta release PPA, plus the xul extensions PPA, where the desired FireTray addon is available [1].

Code: Select all

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/thunderbird-next/ubuntu xenial main
deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/mozillateam/xul-ext/ubuntu xenial main

But when I install it it still doesn't appear in Thunderbird's Add Ons settings.

I went looking in the dirs specified in the 'Installed Files' section but there were no .xpi's to install from file.

[1]
https://imgur.com/a/m2LJv

[Grumpus]

Using Gksudo or sudo and open Nautilus, go to the /files directory and perform a search for .xpi files.
Most of these files are located in the /usr/lib/Thunderbird or Thunderbird add-ons folders.
You could also check in your /home/name/Mozilla folder to see what shows there.
You need to go into the Thunderbird preferences and find the add-ons controls and make sure they are set to allow the add-ons.
Sometimes, this has happened in the past, you have to click off and then click on some check blocks in Linux but lately it's been stable.
you can also try using Synaptic to see which repository you are using, sometimes it might be a "proposed update" from the same repo.

[NginUS]

Looked in those paths, doing a full search for 'xpi' in / now.

Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/U2LrK

That one xpi with no name didn't install anything.

[Grumpus]

One or more .xpi files could just be an installer or a theme.
You could go into /Preferences/advanced/config editor (same as about:config in Firefox) and type "extension" in the search area.
It may help to see which extensions are/were deployed if none are showing in the /tools/add-ons page.
Normally the extensions would be loaded from the Mozilla/Thunderbird servers and not from the repos.
Also, if you opened Dolphin with Gksudo or sudo there should be nothing hidden from you so what you found may be it.
You might try and open the /tools/Addons/Get Add-ons and do a search.
If it's available from the Mozilla/Thunderbird servers it should install in the current stable Thunderbird release 52.5.0.
You might also try changing your search wording for the add-on to "Notification Area" as most of the Linux distros usually use the notification area of a panel instead of a system tray.

[NginUS]

At this point I'm fairly sure there's no hidden .xpi for FireTray. Right now I'm using the repo that provides the beta, since when I tried adding the PPA using the "-stable" suffix rather than the "-next" suffix it gave an error about it not being available for my release (16.04.3 LTS).

I might just switch back to pinning the way older version where the FireTray version from the mozilla addons website just works.

[Grumpus]

If you open Synaptic and hit /Settings/Repositories there should be a list to check or uncheck.
Make sure you have the main Universe and Multi verse checked and Hit reload.
The current Thunderbird should be in the Main. Adding the PPAs may be more problematic than you really need to deal with.

[NginUS]

Yea, now it's working without even pinning an older version. Re-installed 52 & FireTray was already installed & configured.

Screenshot: https://imgur.com/a/z1QjX

Will see if it survives a reboot.