aragorn

You should be able to simply symlink them, like so...

ln -s /usr/lib64/mozilla/plugins /opt/firefox/plugins

Do however make sure that if you do this, the directory
*/opt/firefox/plugins* does _not_ exist, or it won't work.

You should then also be able to have Firefox scan your system for plugins
again - I know Konqueror offers this option. In addition, it /may/ be
possible that you need to log out of X first and then log in again.

Hope this helps... ;-)

--
*Aragorn*
(registered GNU/Linux user #223157)

bit twister

Me too, I have a separate partition for third party apps like ff and
thunderbird. I create a link in /usr/local/bin.
My PATH is modifed to search /usr/local/bin before /usr/bin

$ type firefox
firefox is /usr/local/bin/firefox

$ ls -al /usr/local/bin/firefox
lrwxrwxrwx 1 root root 32 2008-04-10 08:45
/usr/local/bin/firefox -> /local/opt/firefox-3.0b5/firefox

I suggest setting MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH for the search order for plugins.

Example string.
MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins:/home/bittwister/.mozilla/plugins

Create a .sh script, set permissions 755 and add your global settings there.

I have a script called xx_local.sh
I create a link to it in /etc/profile.d/

xx_local.sh was chosen so it would after files in /etc/profile.d/

Snippet from xx_local.sh

#********************************************
# xman fix
#********************************************

export MANPAGER="less -isr"
export MANPATH=$(man --path)

#********************************************
# set global firefox/mozilla plugin directory
#********************************************

export MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH=/usr/lib/mozilla/plugins
if [ "$HOME" ]; then
export MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH=$MOZ_PLUGIN_PATH:$HOME/.mozilla/plugins
fi

#************* end xx_local.sh *****************************

stef

OK, I will rename the existing /opt/firefox/plugins dir and use the
symlink command you mentioned.

I have no idea how to get FF to itself scan the system for plugins but I
could always pose that question in the Mozilla FF newsgroup and see what
feedback I get....

I'll post results here.

Thanks.

stef

This looks excellent but let me digest it--still a newb over here...

I'll be back soon. Between your post and Aragorn's (and perhaps others')
I should be able to figure it out (hopefully...)

aragorn

I'm also just thinking of something here... Are you by any chance running a
64-bit distribution, and did you by any chance install the 64-bit version
of Firefox? If so, then you'll need to use a 32-bit Firefox to get the
plugins to work, because Flash and siblings are still only 32-bit and rely
on 32-bit libraries.

Just a thought, though... ;-)

--
*Aragorn*
(registered GNU/Linux user #223157)

bit twister

Just a caution, I have seen some plugins needing a link and others
fail when using a link.

Above solution will not solve needing to run a 32 bit plugin in a 64
bit install.

stef

BitTwister:

[If you don't mind, let me take your post piecemeal (point by point):]

The above $ ls -al quote I don't get....

You have the /usr/local/bin/firefox symlinked to /local/opt/firefox-3.0b5/
firefox ?

Let me resolve that point before going into the others as it will be
easier for me. Hope you don't mind.

aragorn

Yeah, I just realized that before reading your post, and have posted
something similar in reply to the OP already. ;-)

--
*Aragorn*
(registered GNU/Linux user #223157)

stef

Aragorn,

It's a good thought as I am indeed running Mandi 64 bit thus FF 64 bit
from the mirrors AND FF 32 bit from Mozilla.com.

There are no 64 bit FF packages from Moz--only 32 bits--as far as I can
tell....

aragorn

Well, you *need* a 32-bit FireFox anyway to get your 32-bit plugins to work,
unless you use /nspluginwrapper./ Normally, the FireFox from the Mandriva
mirrors would be 32-bit if it's set up as the distribution's primary
browser.

I don't know what Adobe's stance is on the matter, but when Macromedia was
still independent, they pertinently refused to make Flash and siblings
64-bit "because it was too hard to do".

Strangely enough, the reversely engineered and thus only partially
functional GNU Gnash player was 64-bit... Just goes to show that
proprietary software vendors are just not to be trusted... <grin>

--
*Aragorn*
(registered GNU/Linux user #223157)