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Plugins:PluginDirectory/HowPluginDetectionWorks: Difference between revisions
Plugins:PluginDirectory/HowPluginDetectionWorks (view source)
Revision as of 14:18, 19 February 2010
, 19 February 2010→Version is not directly exposed
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description. But, this version does not always exactly match the | description. But, this version does not always exactly match the | ||
'''fully qualified version number''' of the plugin. Thus, there can be some | '''fully qualified version number''' of the plugin. Thus, there can be some | ||
discrepancy or | discrepancy or imprecision in version detection. | ||
For example, use the '''Tools > Add-ons''' menu in Firefox to open the Add-ons dialog | For example, use the '''Tools > Add-ons''' menu in Firefox to open the Add-ons dialog | ||
and view the Plugins tab. If you have "Shockwave | and view the Plugins tab. If you have "Shockwave Director" installed, you may see | ||
it reported as version | it reported as version 11.5.6.606. However, this version is not usually available via | ||
<code>navigator.plugins</code>. Instead, client-side detection code has to | <code>navigator.plugins</code>. Instead, client-side detection code has to | ||
inspect the name or description - which lists the version as " | inspect the name or description - which lists the version as "11.5". | ||
So, suppose that there were two releases of Flash - say, versions | So, suppose that there were two releases of Flash - say, versions 11.5.6.606 and | ||
11.5.7.235. Now suppose that they both listed "11.5" as the version in the | |||
description. Since client-side code can't see the real '''fully qualified version number''' | description. Since client-side code can't see the real '''fully qualified version number''' | ||
for either plugin, it can't tell a difference between the two. And, if it can't | for either plugin, it can't tell a difference between the two. And, if it can't | ||
tell a difference, then there's no way to decide whether an upgrade is advisable. | tell a difference, then there's no way to decide whether an upgrade is advisable. | ||
And, what's worse: Some plugins don't include a version number at all, neither in the the name nor description. (eg. Adobe Acrobat Reader has often presented this difficulty.) In this case, there's not much we can do besides shrug | And, what's worse: Some plugins don't include a version number at all, neither in the the name nor description. (eg. Adobe Acrobat Reader has often presented this difficulty.) In this case, there's not much we can do besides shrug | ||