General Information
This guide will help you install Firefox and Thunderbird. This guide will also explain how to configure Thunderbird to open http, https, and ftp links in Firefox and how to configure Firefox to open mailto links in Thunderbird.
Requirements
- Working X Desktop
- Possible root access
Installation
Firefox Installation
Installation is straight forward.
# cd /usr/ports/www/firefox # make install clean
Thunderbird Installation
Installation is straight forward.
# cd /usr/ports/mail/thunderbird # make install clean
Configuration for all users.
How to set up Thunderbird to open Firefox when you click on an http, https, or ftp link
Make sure any instances of Thunderbird are closed and then change to the global preferences directory as root. Then add the preference lines to the all-thunderbird.js file.
# cd /usr/local/lib/thunderbird/lib/thunderbird/defaults/pref
# echo 'pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> all-thunderbird.js
# echo 'pref("network.protocol-handler.app.https", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> all-thunderbird.js
# echo 'pref("network.protocol-handler.app.ftp", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> all-thunderbird.js
Thunderbird is now configured to open Firefox when you click on an http or https link.
How to set up Firefox to open thunderbird when you click on a mailto link
Make sure any instances of Firefox are closed and then change to the global preferences directory as root. Then Add the preference line to the firefox.js file.
# cd /usr/local/lib/firefox/defaults/pref/
# echo 'pref("network.protocol-handler.app.mailto", "/usr/local/bin/thunderbird");' >> firefox.js
Firefox is now configured to open Thunderbird when you click on a mailto link.
Configuration for only the logged in user.
How to set up Thunderbird to open Firefox when you click on an http, https, or ftp link
Make sure any instances of Thunderbird are closed and change to the user preferences directory.
$ cd ~/.thunderbird
List the files in the directory. There should be a directory created of random characters ending in .default.
$ ls -lF total 6 -rw-r--r-- 1 jared jared 335 Feb 17 12:20 appreg drwx------ 6 jared jared 512 Feb 20 22:57 h5gprd9d.default/ -rw-r--r-- 1 jared jared 104 Feb 20 22:56 profiles.ini
Change to the
$ cd *.default
$ echo 'user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.http", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> prefs.js
$ echo 'user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.https", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> prefs.js
$ echo 'user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.ftp", "/usr/local/bin/firefox");' >> prefs.js
Thunderbird is now configured to open Firefox when you click on an http or https link.
How to set up Firefox to open thunderbird when you click on a mailto link
Make sure any instances of Firefox are closed and then change to the user preferences directory.
$ cd ~/.mozilla/firefox
List the files in the directory. There should be a directory created of random characters ending in .default.
$ ls -lF total 6 drwx------ 5 jared jared 1024 Feb 20 22:57 l4x9yzxw.default/ -rw------- 1 jared jared 313 Feb 16 12:51 pluginreg.dat -rw-r--r-- 1 jared jared 94 Feb 16 12:51 profiles.ini
Change to the
$ cd *.default
$ echo 'user_pref("network.protocol-handler.app.mailto", "/usr/local/bin/thunderbird");' >> prefs.js
Firefox is now configured to open Thunderbird when you click on a http or https link.