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Creating new window in webExtension failes in Firefox ESR

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by bmossavari

bmossavari
bmossavari
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I'm trying to create a new window in WebExtension (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/windows/create) by using code below:

var creating = browser.windows.create();

As documentation said "createData" object is optional, above code works on Firefox quantum(57.0.0), but it fails in Firefox ESR (52.5.0) with below error:

createData is null

I'm trying to create a new window in WebExtension (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/windows/create) by using code below: var creating = browser.windows.create(); As documentation said "createData" object is optional, above code works on Firefox quantum(57.0.0), but it fails in Firefox ESR (52.5.0) with below error: createData is null

Modified by bmossavari

Chosen solution

More generally, there is extension developer support over here:

https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/add-ons/development

This forum focuses on end-user issues.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (6)

Mkll
Mkll
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Hello, this is because Firefox 57 is more optimized for WebExtensions. Firefox 52 ESR was back when Firefox had more support for old XUL based 'legacy' add-ons.

bmossavari
bmossavari Question owner
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Thank you Mkll, I know firefox ESR supports legacy addons, but I think it should supports WebExtension too and it did (other parts of my addons works as expected only create window return 'createData is null' ) Maybe it's a bug in browser.window.create API, maybe i should report it as a bug on bugzilla

the-edmeister
the-edmeister
  • Moderator
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When Firefox 52 ESR was released not all all the new API's needed for WebExtensions were completed. Version by version the new API's were added, and the older API's were deprecated.

bmossavari said

Maybe it's a bug in browser.window.create API, maybe i should report it as a bug on bugzilla

Have you tested it in Firefox 57? Don't report it as a bug if it works in 57.

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
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What happens if you pass an empty object: 

var creating = browser.windows.create({});

Not that you should have to, just wondering whether Firefox is looking for something in particular and that might provide a more helpful error message.

For reference: https://developer.mozilla.org/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/windows/create

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
jscher2000 - Support Volunteer
  • Top 25 Contributor
more options

Chosen Solution

More generally, there is extension developer support over here:

https://discourse.mozilla.org/c/add-ons/development

This forum focuses on end-user issues.

bmossavari
bmossavari Question owner
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Thank you jscher2000 for clarification

jscher2000 said

What happens if you pass an empty object: var creating = browser.windows.create({}); Not that you should have to, just wondering whether Firefox is looking for something in particular and that might provide a more helpful error message. For reference: https://developer.mozilla.org/Add-ons/WebExtensions/API/windows/create

passing empty object did the trick