Technical: Mac OSX / Java Applet Support in Mozilla Firefox
Here I am trying to upload files to one of our vendors, but the upload icon is not appearing in Mozilla Firefox.
I looked all over, but no plugin.
I am thinking you ‘re killing me. And, yes where did I look?
Well in Add-On Manager; specifically the Plugins Tab.
How to get there:
- Menu Bar – Tools \ Add-ons..
- Tab – Plugins
Goggled for help and confirmed that I am doing what I should be doing:
How do I disable Java in my web browser?
http://java.com/en/download/help/disable_browser.xml
Firefox
- Click on the Firefox tab and then select Add-ons
- In the Add-ons Manager window, select Plugins
- Click Java (TM) Platform plugin to select it
- Click Disable (if the button displays Enable then Java is already disabled)
But, I am thinking no Java Plugin.
Finally got some help:
Use the Java plugin to view interactive content on websites
http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/use-java-plugin-to-view-interactive-content#os=mac&browser=fx21
Installing or updating Java
- On Mac OS X 10.6, Java is installed with the operating system.
- On Mac OS X 10.7 and above, Java is not installed by default. Java for OS X Lion is available from Apple Support Downloads (http://support.apple.com/downloads/#java)
- To update Java, use the Mac OS X Software Update feature.
And, here are the steps I took:
- Used Browser to access http://support.apple.com/downloads/#java
- Downloaded Apple’s version of Java (javaForOSX2013-002.dmg).
- On Mac, Accessed System Preferences \ Java \ Java Control panel
- In “Java Control Panel” \ “Security” Tab – Ensured that “Enabled Java Control content in Browser” is checked
- Restarted Browser, but alas still no Java.
BTW, that website (http://support.apple.com/downloads/#java) is not always accessible.
So what to do, but tightened up my Google Search.
I am thinking I need some music. There is an old school rap track that says something about “… Just your luck, Greyhound is on strike”. Tried it, but it is a bit of a downer. DJ Quik -Tonite is also shown on same YouTube page. And, I knew that will help.
DJ Quik – Tonite
http://www.youtube.com/watch?NR=1&v=hykZtBaPKps&feature=endscreen
Went back and Googled some more. And, found:
MozillaLine – Java
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java#On_Mac_OS_X
Found out a couple of things:
- Mozilla is actively adding plugins to its BlockList
So it appears that Mozilla is heeding to all this stuff coming from the “State Department” and actively blocking even recent Java Plugins.
The MozillaLine article led me to:
Information and system requirements for installing and using Mac Java 7
http://www.java.com/en/download/faq/java_mac.xml
So I am thinking I need the very latest java and that is available from:
- http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp ( for Mac 10.7.3 version and above)
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jre7-downloads-1880261.html (Java SE Runtime Environment 7 Downloads)
Upon downloading Oracle’s java version and installing it, I am now able to use Java Applet’s (inside of Firefox).
Confirmation Steps
Apple – OSX – System Preferences – Other\Java – Java Control Panel
One can have a few different versions of Java JRE installed – You can have Oracle\Sun’s, Apples, etc.
Please make sure that the one enabled is Oracle\Sun’s 1.7._0_17
- On OSX, access “System Preferences”
- Access the Other sub-group, Java applet
- Access “Java Control Panel”
- Access the Java Tab
- Click the “View…” button
- Ensure that Oracle’s JRE is the only enabled option
Mozilla – Add-ons Manager
Ensure that “”Java Applet Plug-in Java 7 Update 17” is enabled.
- Launch Mozilla
- Menu Bar – Tools \ Add-ons..
- Tab – Plugins
In the list of Plugins, you will see “Java Applet Plug-in Java 7 Update 17”
Conclusion
With BlockList and the like, it appears that Browsers are joining OS and Virus Security vendors in actively armoring their users.
For you, the user, and corporate help-desk, keep that in mind when you get support calls.
In terms of security and how it is effected, things appear to be changing all the time.
In an earlier post (https://danieladeniji.wordpress.com/2013/02/02/mac-osx-sunoracle-java-applet-typical-workspace-interaction/) on this subject, I concluded that I could not really get Java Applets to work inside Apple’s Safari Browser. That is no longer the case, it works with the new Oracle\Sun JRE.
It might be that Apple has relaxed its security constraints on the above configuration.
References
- Java Downloads for all Operating Systems
http://www.java.com/en/download/manual.jsp - Mozillazine.org / Java
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Java
