Cannot launch URL from Thunderbird 3.04b to Firefox

**queequeg** · 16-Nov-2009, 21:46

Originally Posted by couik

Hi all,

To complete post :

1. Launch Thunderbird
2. Navigate to Edit --> Preferences --> Advanced and click on the Config Editor button
3. Search for the following 1 entrie:

Code:

network.protocol-handler.app.http

Double-clik and type thee link from your browser

For 64 bits

Code:

/usr/lib64/firefox/firefox

For 32 bits

Code:

/usr/lib/firefox/firefox

Couik

This worked like a charm! Thank you much!

**Romanator** · 17-Nov-2009, 08:24

Hi All,

It appears that this problem has been fixed in KDE 4.3.1 Stable Version

Following the link below:

KDE/Repositories - openSUSE

KDE 4.3.1 (STABLE)

KDE 4 Core Packages

These are the KDE packages for the latest official openSUSE release plus patches (released and unreleased). Also available for older openSUSE versions.

Add the following URL to your Yast Package Manager and update:

Code:

http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/KDE:/KDE4:/STABLE:/Desktop/openSUSE_11.2/

Once you have updated, log out and restart your system. You will notice that the hidden folder .gconf has all of the necessary entries to make Thunderbird interact with Firefox.

Good Luck!

Kevin Miller · 17-Nov-2009, 20:45

On 11/17/2009 06:26 AM, Romanator wrote:
>
> Hi All,
>
> It appears that this problem has been fixed in KDE 4.3.1 Stable Version
>
> Following the link below:
>
> 'KDE/Repositories - openSUSE'
> (http://en.opensuse.org/KDE/Repositories#KDE_4.3.x)
>
> KDE 4.3.1 (STABLE)
>
> KDE 4 Core Packages
>
> These are the KDE packages for the latest official openSUSE release
> *plus patches* (released and unreleased). Also available for older
> openSUSE versions.
>
>
> Add the following URL to your Yast Package Manager and update:
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> http://download.opensuse.org/reposit...openSUSE_11.2/
> --------------------
>
> Once you have updated, log out and restart your system. You will notice
> that the hidden folder .gconf has all of the necessary entries to
> make Thunderbird interact with Firefox.

So will these fixes make it into the normal patch updates down the line
or must one add yet another repository to even get them?

This proliferation of repositories is disconcerting...

--
Kevin Miller - http://www.alaska.net/~atftb
Juneau, Alaska
In a recent survey, 7 out of 10 hard drives preferred Linux
Registered Linux User No: 307357, http://counter.li.org

**Romanator** · 18-Nov-2009, 07:47

Unfortunately, I'm not privy to this information. I would expect an update would be coming down the pipeline. openSUSE 11.2 was just released.

The only reason I have provided this help information was for anyone that wanted immediate help, and could not wait for an update.

We actually have two options for immediate help below:

Modify Thunderbird by using its Config Editor as shown in my earlier comments
Update KDE-4.3.1 Stable by adding the URL

Personally, I prefer using the Config Editor in Thunderbird 3.04b.

I'm just trying to stay a little ahead of the curve for people that want immediate help by searching bugs in Novell's Bugzilla.

**Romanator** · 18-Nov-2009, 10:14

Hi all,

After reviewing Novell Bugzilla, I have found the easiest fix until an update will be available.

The following steps are as follows:

Open konsole or xterm and type in the following first line:

Code:

gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/http/command '/usr/bin/firefox %s' --type String

Next, type in the second line:

Code:

gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/https/command '/usr/bin/firefox %s' --type String

Close konsole or xterm and restart Thunderbird.

Navigate to Tools --> Add-ons and click on "Browse All Add-ons"
You will now see Firefox launch every time including Help Contents, Release Notes and What's new

It works!!

**Dexter1979** · 25-Nov-2009, 01:47

Originally Posted by couik

Hi all,

To complete post :

1. Launch Thunderbird
2. Navigate to Edit --> Preferences --> Advanced and click on the Config Editor button
3. Search for the following 1 entrie:

Code:

network.protocol-handler.app.http

Double-clik and type thee link from your browser

For 64 bits

Code:

/usr/lib64/firefox/firefox

For 32 bits

Code:

/usr/lib/firefox/firefox

Couik

This worked for me but the actual entry wasn't there. I fixed this by right clicking on the config editor, selecting new - string. It then asked me for the value and I copied and pasted my relevant link to the browser.

Thanks to everyone for their input. It's a real strange problem to have a new one for me!

**noelamac** · 25-Nov-2009, 02:23

On Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:16:04 +0000, Romanator wrote:

> After reviewing Novell Bugzilla, I have found the _*easiest_fix*_ until
> an update will be available.
>
> The following steps are as follows:
>
>
> Open konsole or xterm and type in the following first line:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/http/command
> '/usr/bin/firefox %s' --type String
> --------------------
> Next, type in the second line:
>
>
> Code:
> --------------------
> gconftool-2 -s /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/https/command
> '/usr/bin/firefox %s' --type String
> --------------------
> Close konsole or xterm and restart Thunderbird.
>
>
>
> - Navigate to Tools --> Add-ons and click on "Browse All Add-ons" -
> You will now see Firefox launch every time including Help
> Contents, Release Notes and What's new
>
>
>
> It works!!

Yes, it's one of those "Most Annoying Bugs":

http://en.opensuse.org/Bugs:Most_Annoying_Bugs_11.2

***
KDE

* Bug #551333 : Thunderbird doesn't open a browser on KDE desktop. Fix:
execute this https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=551333#c1
***

Greetings,

--
Camaleón

**Romanator** · 04-Dec-2009, 09:52

IMPORTANT

Please USE the following steps to fix the URL problem below:

----------------------------------------------------------------------
A less time consuming way is to use gconftool-2

1. Open konsole and resize it to a full screen and copy and paste the following line:

Code:

gconftool-2 -s --type=string /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/http/command "/usr/bin/firefox \"%s\""

2. Copy and paste the next line:

Code:

gconftool-2 -s --type=string /desktop/gnome/url-handlers/https/command "/usr/bin/firefox \"%s\""

3. Exit konsole and start Dolphin.
4. Navigate to View --> Show Hidden Files and look for the .gconf folder.
5. Press the F5 key to refresh the folders
6. Click on .gconf. The next folder will be desktop, then gnome, then url-handlers and finally http and https

Inside each http and https folder appears a %gconf.xml file. Open %gconf.xml with KWrite and you will see /usr/bin/firefox %s

Going back to the code, you can see how the commands relate to what is created in the .gconf folder.

Close down and restart Thunderbird. The URL problem has been fixed and you should be able to launch Firefox from Thunderbird..

Now you can see how and why the Bugzilla fix was recommended.

The gconftool-2 and the commands are quite helpful in fixing the Thunderbird/Firefox problem.

Good Luck!

**wiilow** · 05-Dec-2009, 08:40

I followed your solution precisely and sure enough, the .gconf - xml files show the firefox 'handler' However,in my case thunderbird still does not launch firefox!!
I also tried the suggestion to change the KDE repository which also did not solve the problem.

I have become so frustrated with this problem (having tried the other earlier suggestions without success) I have abandoned Thunderbird and I am now using Mozilla SeaMonkey - mail and browser which work fine.
Like some of the earlier posters,I have used Thunderbird from version 10.3 thru' 11.1 without seeing this problem and I am not knowledgeable enough to to tackle other 'in depth' searches for a solution.

For your information, my setup is:
Toshiba AMD amd x86-64 (although I have installed the 32bit - 11.2 with kde 4.3.4)
Maybe soon a fix will arrive?
w.

**queequeg** · 10-Feb-2010, 22:18

Here's a weird one: The fix above worked fine for me, but I've recently added a new user to the computer, and the fix does not work for the new user. Any idea why this would be?