dhis2-devs team mailing list archive

["Saptarshi Purkayastha" <sunbiz@xxxxxxxxx>]

I believe making it cross-browser is better than packaging a browser. Didn't EU tell MS that browser bundling by a majority player is wrong. ;)

Sent from my BlackBerry®

-----Original Message-----
From: Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 11:37:53 
To: Bob Jolliffe<bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx>
Cc: DHIS 2 developers<dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Dhis2-devs] "Site Specific Browser" included with DHIS2 Live?

Yeah, the problem is, how do you  know where Chrome/FireFox/etc is?
Sounds like we need to read the registry, which sounds even more
complicated.

My preference would be as follows.

1) Test for the existence of a DHIS2_BROWSER variable. . This will
allow packagers to determine which browser the user should use and or
advanced users to set the variable on their own if they are so
inclined to do so. If it exists, try and use this
2) Test for the existence of the /ssb/firefox.exe file. If it exists, use this.
3) If none of that works, just open the default browser.



On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 11:31 AM, Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I've got an even simpler suggestion.  Why not get the tray app to
> simply try and exec "firefox" first (in the hope that it is installed
> and in the path).  If that fails it can try chrome and if that fails
> open with default browser.
>
> From the packaging perspective (and I think packaging is a slightly
> different concern) , if a packager wants to build a
> portable-firefox-included version then just be sure that the installer
> sets the path correctly.  I think personally my preference would be to
> simply include a standard (up to date) firefox install package on the
> same medium as the dhis2-live.  But I do understand the concern about
> users inadvertently having their default browser switched because they
> get intimidated by the dialog.
>
> Cheers
> Bob
>
>
> On 23 April 2010 09:55, Ola Hodne Titlestad <olatitle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>> I was more thing of the unzip and run package.
>>
>> If there is a folder DHIS2Live/firefox-portable/ I thought we could simply
>> run DHIS in this specific browser with a command on the form:
>> "portable-firefox/firefox.exe http://localhost:8080/dhis";
>>
>> Ola
>> ------
>>
>>
>> On 23 April 2010 10:48, Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>>
>>> Including the browser as part of the install is trivial. Making it
>>> launch, without making it the default browser, is the issue really we
>>> are discussing and that will require modification to the DHIS2 tray
>>> app.
>>>
>>> I have currently three different installers in trunk. 1) Windows
>>> bare-bones installer that just installs H2 and DHIS2. 2) Windows
>>> installer with the H2 Sierra Leone DB 3) A console based installer for
>>> Linux. It would be simple enough to produce a fourth, and include a
>>> browser of choice. Still working on the postgres installer, but for
>>> Zambia, I was planning on distributing FireFox/Opera/Chrome or
>>> whatever the devs say is best along with the installer. I did not
>>> really want to make this browser the default, unless the user did this
>>> theirselves, which most browsers will try and do anyway, which is a
>>> bit of  a problem. If this feature of "Me first, Me first!" could be
>>> disabled for the SSB, then it sounds like a very good plan to me.
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> JP
>>>
>>>
>>> On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 10:42 AM, Ola Hodne Titlestad
>>> <olatitle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> > I would still like us to pursue the idea of distributing a portable
>>> > browser
>>> > with DHIS2 live to make it easier to get started with DHIS.
>>> > At least check whether this is doable or not.
>>> >
>>> > This would cater for DHIS training and the "I want to see what this is"
>>> > scenarios when the users are offline or on poor connections making
>>> > online
>>> > demos difficult to use.
>>> >
>>> > The installer/production scenario is a bit different I think, but also
>>> > very
>>> > important.
>>> >
>>> > Ola Hodne Titlestad |Technical Officer|
>>> > Health Metrics Network (HMN) | World Health Organization
>>> > Avenue Appia 20 |1211 Geneva 27, Switzerland | Email:
>>> > titlestado@xxxxxxx|Tel: +41 788216897
>>> > Website: www.healthmetricsnetwork.org
>>> >
>>> > Better Information. Better Decisions. Better Health.
>>> >
>>> >
>>> > On 23 April 2010 10:31, Jason Pickering <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> > wrote:
>>> >>
>>> >> My suggestion would be to keep it very simple.
>>> >>
>>> >> If the environment variable exists, and is of the form "C:\program
>>> >> files\dhis2\ssb\firefox.exe" then launch it. This would mean that this
>>> >> would only cater to the situation where someone has installed the
>>> >> program with the installer (which will likely be the case for many
>>> >> production installations) but not always.
>>> >>
>>> >> Otherwise, just fall back and do what is already in the code.
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 10:18 AM, Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> >> wrote:
>>> >> > On 23 April 2010 09:04, Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> >> >> On 23 April 2010 08:54, Jason Pickering
>>> >> >> <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> >> >> wrote:
>>> >> >>> I somewhat agree with Bob, but I also see good reasons why
>>> >> >>> packaging a
>>> >> >>> browser is a good idea. There seems to be pretty wide variation
>>> >> >>> between different browsers, and while it is a good idea to support
>>> >> >>> many different ones, it is also a lot of work. If we could focus on
>>> >> >>> being sure that all the browser-related bugs are not present, for
>>> >> >>> instance in Chrome or Firefox,  for a particular release, this
>>> >> >>> would
>>> >> >>> ensure that the app is going to work properly in a production
>>> >> >>> environment.  I have seen a lot of problems in the field with
>>> >> >>> people
>>> >> >>> installing toolbars, browser hijacking, etc that really is going to
>>> >> >>> complicate deployments unnecessarily.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> After looking at the code, it seems that setting an environment
>>> >> >>> variable might be the best solution, perhaps.
>>> >> >>> This could be set as part of the installation process. If the
>>> >> >>> environment variable exists (DHIS2_BROWSER) for example, then it
>>> >> >>> would
>>> >> >>> attempt to open up DHIS2 with this. Otherwise, it would default to
>>> >> >>> the
>>> >> >>> current Desktop.getDesktop().browse( URI.create (getUrl() ) ) );
>>> >> >>> which
>>> >> >>> will simply launch the default browser.
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >> I guess this could work with an exec.  I'll take a look.
>>> >> >
>>> >> > Though I am reluctant to depend on the environment variable for the
>>> >> > out-of-the-box experience.  The nice thing about dhis-live is that
>>> >> > you
>>> >> > can drop it in and run it.  It is this zero-install-fiddling which
>>> >> > people like.  Setting environment variables is the next level of
>>> >> > customisation and sophistication for users.  Other possibilities:
>>> >> >
>>> >> > (i)   check for the existence of a "portable-firefox" folder.  If
>>> >> > available use that.
>>> >> > (ii)  open a dialog on first invocation requesting users to pick a
>>> >> > browser (I have no idea at this stage how to list them).  But that
>>> >> > choice would have to be persisted somehow.
>>> >> > (iii) .... ?
>>> >> >
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>  Of course, this could be made as an option of the installer,
>>> >> >>> whether
>>> >> >>> to install one of these site-specific browsers or not, but I think
>>> >> >>> the
>>> >> >>> advantages outweigh the disadvantages. It is certainly worth
>>> >> >>> testing I
>>> >> >>> think.
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> Regards,
>>> >> >>> Jason
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> On Fri, Apr 23, 2010 at 9:46 AM, Ola Hodne Titlestad
>>> >> >>> <olatitle@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>> >> >>>> On 22 April 2010 23:28, Bob Jolliffe <bobjolliffe@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> >> >>>> wrote:
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>> On 22 April 2010 19:35, Jason Pickering
>>> >> >>>>> <jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> >> >>>>> wrote:
>>> >> >>>>> > I think it should probably be a blueprint and  I think it is a
>>> >> >>>>> > good
>>> >> >>>>> > idea.
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> > It is certainly  a problem on many machines I have encounterd
>>> >> >>>>> > in
>>> >> >>>>> > the
>>> >> >>>>> > field. We need to install FireFox, Chrome, Opera or something,
>>> >> >>>>> > and
>>> >> >>>>> > ideally make it the default browser. This seems to be a good
>>> >> >>>>> > idea
>>> >> >>>>> > to
>>> >> >>>>> > me, but can seem a bit drastic to some users.  Ideally, the
>>> >> >>>>> > installer
>>> >> >>>>> > would come prepackaged with this browser. When DHI2 Live is
>>> >> >>>>> > launched,
>>> >> >>>>> > instead of making a call to the default browser (which in most
>>> >> >>>>> > cases
>>> >> >>>>> > in IE), assuming that this was installed as part of a special
>>> >> >>>>> > live
>>> >> >>>>> > package, then this browser would get opened instead, thereby
>>> >> >>>>> > launching
>>> >> >>>>> > DHIS2. I am not so sure about the DHIS2 live part, as it simply
>>> >> >>>>> > launches the default browser. Bob?
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> I don't think its very easy to coax dhis2-live to open anything
>>> >> >>>>> besides the default browser.  Not that its impossible, but
>>> >> >>>>> probably
>>> >> >>>>> very messy.  I'm also not sure we want to get into the browser
>>> >> >>>>> packaging business.
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>> Could the portable firefox package be of any help here? We could
>>> >> >>>> put
>>> >> >>>> it in a
>>> >> >>>> standard location DHIS2Live/firefox/ and start it from there? I
>>> >> >>>> have
>>> >> >>>> used it
>>> >> >>>> for the PHIT and DHIS seems to run fine there. It is set up with
>>> >> >>>> all
>>> >> >>>> relative paths which should make it easier to distribute as no
>>> >> >>>> installation
>>> >> >>>> is needed.
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>> Ola
>>> >> >>>> --------
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> > On Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 6:32 PM, Knut Staring
>>> >> >>>>> > <knutst@xxxxxxxxx>
>>> >> >>>>> > wrote:
>>> >> >>>>> >> Given that DHIS2 runs best in Chrome (especially the Mapping
>>> >> >>>>> >> module),
>>> >> >>>>> >> and also ok in Firefox, it might be a good idea to make sure
>>> >> >>>>> >> people
>>> >> >>>>> >> have access to one of these browsers.
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >> One way to do that is to package things with Prism (Firefox)
>>> >> >>>>> >> or
>>> >> >>>>> >> Chrome
>>> >> >>>>> >> (or Fluid for Mac http://fluidapp.com/)
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1842277/chrome-application-shortcuts-mozilla-prism-installer
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >> What do you guys think?
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >> Knut
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >>_______________________________________________
>>> >> >>>>> >> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> >> Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> >> >>>>> >> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> >> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>>> >> >>>>> >>
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> > --
>>> >> >>>>> > --
>>> >> >>>>> > Jason P. Pickering
>>> >> >>>>> > email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>>> >> >>>>> > tel:+260968395190
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>> >_______________________________________________
>>> >> >>>>> > Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> > Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> >> >>>>> > Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> > More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>>> >> >>>>> >
>>> >> >>>>>
>>> >> >>>>>_______________________________________________
>>> >> >>>>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> Post to     : dhis2-devs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> >> >>>>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~dhis2-devs
>>> >> >>>>> More help   : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>> --
>>> >> >>> --
>>> >> >>> Jason P. Pickering
>>> >> >>> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>>> >> >>> tel:+260968395190
>>> >> >>>
>>> >> >>
>>> >> >
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >>
>>> >> --
>>> >> --
>>> >> Jason P. Pickering
>>> >> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>>> >> tel:+260968395190
>>> >
>>> >
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> --
>>> Jason P. Pickering
>>> email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
>>> tel:+260968395190
>>
>>
>



-- 
--
Jason P. Pickering
email: jason.p.pickering@xxxxxxxxx
tel:+260968395190

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