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Need the correct Firefox profile settings for Java to make web app automatically download a file

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I am writing selenium webdriver/java code to automate testing a website. I want to test file downloads from the site so that when the download button is clicked, firefox automatically saves the file to the specified location without prompting via a pop up window.

Furthermore, I would like the ability to download the following file types:

pdf pages doc odt docx

I am using these settings but it is not working:

firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.folderList", 2); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting", false); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.dir", "C:\\Users\\Amillikin\\Downloads"); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk", "application/pdf");

driver = new FirefoxDriver(firefoxProfile);

However, the system pop up asking me to save the file still appears.

I am writing selenium webdriver/java code to automate testing a website. I want to test file downloads from the site so that when the download button is clicked, firefox automatically saves the file to the specified location without prompting via a pop up window. Furthermore, I would like the ability to download the following file types: pdf pages doc odt docx I am using these settings but it is not working: firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.folderList", 2); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting", false); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.dir", "C:\\Users\\Amillikin\\Downloads"); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk", "application/pdf"); driver = new FirefoxDriver(firefoxProfile); However, the system pop up asking me to save the file still appears.

All Replies (4)

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Automatic Save Folder {web link} This add-on will open the File Browser at the right location, using simple filters on the downloaded file. The filters are based on filenames and hosted domain's name. WARNING ! May not work with other downloader programs.

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Thank you for your response however I think you might have misunderstood my question.

I am not interested in using a Firefox add-on. Instead, I am interested in programmatically creating a Firefox profile using Java. Then when Selenium starts the Firefox browser, it uses this profile. I want to know how to create this Firefox profile so that when my web app downloads a file, the pop up window automatically defaults to the SAVE option rather than the OPEN option.

Does this make sense?

I have seen a few responses on Stackoverflow on how to set the preferences to achieve this. However, I cannot seem to get it to work.

Could you please tell me where I can find Firefox documentation on the preferences to make this work? I included what I am using in my original posting.

Thank you.

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More comments:

Firefox ignores my preference: firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.dir", "C:/Users/Amillikin/Downloads");

Instead it downloads to: C:\Users\Amillikin\AppData\Local

This is with Windows 7 and FF Version 41.0.2.

Also, I cannot get the firefox profile to trigger the save option when the script downloads a Word Doc (.doc), but I can with with a PDF. This is the case with these options (added the plugin.disable preference). firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.manager.showWhenStarting", false); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.download.dir", "C:/Users/Amillikin/Downloads"); firefoxProfile.setPreference("browser.helperApps.neverAsk.saveToDisk", "application/pdf,application/msword"); firefoxProfile.setPreference("plugin.disable_full_page_plugin_for_types", "application/pdf,application/msword");

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This forum is for end user Firefox support. Perhaps a selenium developer related support website would be able to help you or a developer site or mailing list. https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/where-go-developer-support