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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs Web Browsers
Have you ever wanted an easy way to use Firefox on both a Mac and PC, while keeping everything easily portable between variousmachines? Well, I've just finished putting together my cross-platform (Mac and PC) version of John Haller's excellent Portable Firefox.

With this version, you can store all of your bookmarks, cookies, extensions, plug-ins, and just about all your other browser-related files on a USB drive, and access your files and settings easily on every computer you have to use -- be it a Mac or a PC.

[robg adds: I've downloaded the application, but I haven't yet tested it. You definitely need to read the Read Me on the above-linked site -- there's some file editing to be done first, and may have to use Get Info to tell OS X to open the Start OS X Firefox program with the Terminal.]
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Thanks
Authored by: bedouin on Sep 15, '05 12:13:04PM

I saw the PC version recently and wondered why no one had attempted a Mac version.



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: eirich on Sep 16, '05 02:43:07AM

I was unable to get the sync script to work properly. I opened it in Text Edit and changed all instances of "DRIVE" to the name of my USB Key, but when I double-clicked on it, it just opened in Text Edit again. As instructed, I opened Get Info and tried to make Terminal the default app with which to open it, but could not as Terminal was greyed out. Trying to open it with "./" prefix didn't open it either. After some time, I tried "sh" command and that got it to go, but the feedback in the Shell wasn't pretty, showing the items of my home folder along with Starting Firefox!, Done!, Finishing Firefox! and Done Syncing!.

Overall I think this is a great start! Its better than I could have done for sure.



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: Swanvestas on Sep 16, '05 06:35:01PM

Should this have copied over my Bookmarks as part of the Profile information? The bookmark.html files in both the Mac-Specific and the PC-specific profiles are generic. I went ahead and copied the bookmark file out my Mac FireFox profile and stuck it in both profiles. That works, but it's not as automated as I'd like. Not knowing any Scripting language, can anyone tell me what I'd have to write into the script to get it to grab my bookmark.html file every time I "sync" my USB frash drive?

thanks in advance.



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: eirich on Sep 17, '05 04:43:27AM

I'm not sure why your bookmarks didn't go from one to the other. I set mine up in Windows first, then when I ran the sync script on the Mac side, my bookmarks were there just as in Windows. I can't honestly say I've added any bookmarks while in Mac to see if they carried over to Windows.



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: eirich on Sep 17, '05 06:23:47AM

I made some modifications to this for ease of use.

First, since I only have this installed on my USB key at the moment, I moved all of the files/directories within the "Portable Firefox" directory to the root level of the USB key, then deleted the now empty Portable Firefox directory.

Next I opened a new shell in Terminal. From the Window Settings menu, for the Window option, I set the title to Firefox and unchecked all check boxes. Then I chose Save As from the File menu and set its title to Firefox. Before saving I set the "Execute this command..." to "sh .sync", and saved to the root level of the USB key. In Finder I removed the file extension so it shows "Firefox" instead of "Firefox.term" Finally, I copied the icon from "Firefox.app" and pasted it over the icon of my "Firefox.term" file.

Next I opened the "START OS X Firefox" file with TextEdit and removed all instances of "Portable Firefox".

Finally, from a Terminal shell I renamed the "START OS X Firefox" file to ".sync" to hide it and make it work with my shell script, and "Firefox.app" to ".Firefox.app" to hide it.

Some of these steps may seem unnecessary, but the result is what looks like a clickable application and a more tidy root USB directory.



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: carfield on Sep 17, '05 06:36:28AM

I just use sftp to sync data between Mac and PC then run customizated script to change the path, just change the path of /chrome/chrome.rdf is ok



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Use a portable version of Firefox on both Macs and PCs
Authored by: robg on Dec 15, '05 06:09:36AM
Just a quick note -- the author submitted a new hint indicating that verison 1.5 is now available:
I just released Cross-platform Portable Firefox 1.5! Cross-platform Portable Firefox is the Mozilla Firefox web browser packaged as a cross-platform portable app, so you can take your bookmarks, extensions, history, cookies, and saved passwords with you. It works on both Macs and PCs. New in this version: greatly enhanced speed and Firefox 1.5 included.
-rob.

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