Howto set browser.startup.homepage for all firefox users in Edubuntu?

[john]

Hi Peter

On 10/23/07, peter <peter at beetlebolt.com> wrote:
> I wonder if you can't set anything in about:config in the firefox.js
> file. Why not?

I don't know why not either Peter ;-) I just haven't found out where
we can force firefox to load our school website when it starts up. It
seems so obvious and simple but apparently it isn't.


>
> To lock down firefox profiles I've tried filling in the user.js file and
> more recently, using the public fox add-on. Public fox password protects
> it's settings. Maybe you can customize the public fox add-on to your
> needs and then do a global install:
> firefox.exe -install-global-extension C:\path\to\extension.xpi
> (well, you know, use the linux equivalent)
> -peter
>
Thanks for the idea Peter. I downloaded publicfox but it doesn't seem
to have the ability to set a startup url in the address bar which is
what I really need.

I used to use Pessulus to do this but the last time I tried installing
pessulus on edubuntu I ended up locking the kids out until I figured
out that pessulus was the problem.  Is it possible that no other
school or institution using firefox/edubuntu has encountered and
solved this problem? Doesn't seem likely.

I appreciate your help!

John


> john wrote:
> > In partial reply to myself I found this page:
> >
> > http://szone.berlinwall.org/node/112
> >
> > Which worked fairly well, however users are still able to over-ride
> > these settings. I am really hoping for a way to make the homepage of
> > my choice immutable.
> >
> > Is there any documentation that anyone is aware of anywhere about what
> > kinds of things one can do with the file /etc/firefox/pref/firefox.js
> >
> > Your ideas are appreciated.
> >
> > John
> >
> > On 10/23/07, john <lists.john at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all
> >>
> >> I am running Edubuntu 7.04 and firefox 2.0.0.6+1-0ubuntu1
> >>
> >>
> >> I would like to know if there is a way to set browser.startup.homepage
> >> for all firefox users in Edubuntu?
> >>
> >> I have tried setting this option in /etc/firefox//pref/firefox.js
> >> by adding this line:
> >>
> >> defaultPref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.google.com");
> >>
> >> I've also tried to find something in /usr/lib/firefox
> >> I've also looked at the directions listed here:
> >> http://mit.edu/%7Efirefox/www/maintainers/autoconfig.html but it
> >> doesn't appear that firefox under edubuntu ships with
> >> "enable-extensions=pref" enabled.
> >>
> >> Does anybody have a working solution for globally controlling firefox
> >> under Edubuntu 7.04.
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>


On 10/23/07, peter <peter at beetlebolt.com> wrote:
> I wonder if you can't set anything in about:config in the firefox.js
> file. Why not?

I don't know why not either Peter ;-) I just haven't found out where
we can force firefox to load our school website when it starts up. It
seems so obvious and simple but apparently it isn't.


>
> To lock down firefox profiles I've tried filling in the user.js file and
> more recently, using the public fox add-on. Public fox password protects
> it's settings. Maybe you can customize the public fox add-on to your
> needs and then do a global install:
> firefox.exe -install-global-extension C:\path\to\extension.xpi
> (well, you know, use the linux equivalent)
> -peter
>
Thanks for the idea Peter. I downloaded publicfox but it doesn't seem
to have the ability to set a startup url in the address bar which is
what I really need.

I used to use Pessulus to do this but the last time I tried installing
pessulus on edubuntu I ended up locking the kids out until I figured
out that pessulus was the problem.

I appreciate your help! Is it possible that no other school or
institution using firefox wishes to

John


> john wrote:
> > In partial reply to myself I found this page:
> >
> > http://szone.berlinwall.org/node/112
> >
> > Which worked fairly well, however users are still able to over-ride
> > these settings. I am really hoping for a way to make the homepage of
> > my choice immutable.
> >
> > Is there any documentation that anyone is aware of anywhere about what
> > kinds of things one can do with the file /etc/firefox/pref/firefox.js
> >
> > Your ideas are appreciated.
> >
> > John
> >
> > On 10/23/07, john <lists.john at gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >> Hi all
> >>
> >> I am running Edubuntu 7.04 and firefox 2.0.0.6+1-0ubuntu1
> >>
> >>
> >> I would like to know if there is a way to set browser.startup.homepage
> >> for all firefox users in Edubuntu?
> >>
> >> I have tried setting this option in /etc/firefox//pref/firefox.js
> >> by adding this line:
> >>
> >> defaultPref("browser.startup.homepage", "http://www.google.com");
> >>
> >> I've also tried to find something in /usr/lib/firefox
> >> I've also looked at the directions listed here:
> >> http://mit.edu/%7Efirefox/www/maintainers/autoconfig.html but it
> >> doesn't appear that firefox under edubuntu ships with
> >> "enable-extensions=pref" enabled.
> >>
> >> Does anybody have a working solution for globally controlling firefox
> >> under Edubuntu 7.04.
> >>
> >> Thanks!
> >>
> >> John
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
>
>