Is Anyone Currently Using Cynwoody's FR Posting Form Enhancer and Tree Viewer with Firefox? (Vanity)

Self | 03/19/25 | Self

[KevinB]

For years I've been using Cynwoody's Posting Form Enhancer and Tree Viewer extensions in Firefox to view and post comments on FreeRepublic. They have made the use of FreeRepublic so much more enjoyable.

Unfortunately, a few days ago those extensions stopped working and Firefox now displays the following message for each of the extensions: "This extension could not be verified for use in Firefox and has been disabled."

I'm curious whether anyone is currently successfully using those extensions and, if so, what version of Firefox is being used.

[KevinB]

Anyone?

[roving]

I got something that I got from grease monkey. I rarely use it. I have brave browser with it.

[steve86]

Get an older version of Firefox or possibly a forked version (Pale Moon, etc.) from an official archive and use that with the add-on for Free Republic. The older version can be installed concurrently with the current version which would be better for general use.

[KevinB]

"The older version can be installed concurrently with the current version which would be better for general use."

I didn't realize two versions of FF could be installed and used independently. Will give it a try. Thanks.

[KevinB]

"I got something that I got from grease monkey."

These two Cynwoody extensions originally worked only with grease monkey. He later modified them to work independently of GM. Incidentally, his install site for the extensions is no longer accessible. He hasn't posted in several years.

[steve86]

It depends on the operating system and how old the old version is. You may have to go way back to get one that will install in a directory selected by you and completely self-contained. You might run into a problem with https not being supported now that I think of it.

[SaveFerris]

Boy there’s a name I haven’t heard in a long time

12/17/18

I just looked

[Widget Jr]

If anyone can find it, or close enough, what are some of the last versions of Firefox that worked with Cynwoody’s enhancer? A few years back Firefox made a bunch of changes that really made it hard to use on older computers. On my computer, FF became crippleware for several months.

[linMcHlp]

Anyone here have the skills to produce a posting form enhancer like thee one Freeper cynwoody posted here years ago.
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4270733/posts

[linMcHlp]

See:

https://freerepublic.com/focus/chat/4270733/posts?page=106#106

[linMcHlp]

- - - - -

What is Manifest V3?
https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/manifest-v3-migration-guide/

Manifest V3 (MV3) is the umbrella term for several foundational changes to the WebExtensions API in Firefox. The name refers to the declared manifest_version key in each extension’s manifest.json file.

The Manifest V3 changes apply to extensions for Safari, Firefox, and Chromium-based browsers – such as Chrome, Edge, and Opera. While the goal is to maintain a high degree of compatibility between the Firefox, Safari, and Chromium extension platforms, our implementation diverges where we think it matters and where our values point to a different direction.

This article discusses the changes introduced with Manifest V3 in Firefox and highlights where they diverge from the Chrome and Safari implementation.

Submitting an Addon for Firefox - Steps:

https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/publish/submitting-an-add-on/

[ransomnote]

I won't be able to find the link tonight, but we recently tracked down the last version of Cynwoody's tree view and enhanced form view. I will look for the link - it's back in my sent email a few weeks or months.

For now, the download folder was FRTV and below, the contents of that folder.

I didn't install it because I was going to have to look up how to do it. But it sounds like Firefox updated and I'll have to find the prior version. I will check for the link back in email tomorrow if no one has posted it here.

 

[ransomnote]

I think I have in my email the final version but it will take some real hunting. For tonight, below I will link leads to FReepers tracking it down. On the thread linked below, see someone said it works in the BRAVE Browser etc. For those who want to look at leads -see below.

Form enhancer?

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4050544/posts\

 

Generic XPI file installation

https://www.lifewire.com/xpi-file-2622582

~~~~~~~

Anyone here have the skills to produce a posting form enhancer like thee one Freeper cynwoody posted here years ago.
The old link ^ | 10/13/24 | Vanity

Posted on 10/13/2024, 12:24:05 PM by TangoLimaSierra

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ransomnote: I didn't go all the way through the thread, but here's a few posts from it.

In the General/Chat forum, on a thread titled Anyone here have the skills to produce a posting form enhancer like thee one Freeper cynwoody posted here years ago., Pollard wrote:

I found the XPI file if you can figure out how to install it. It's located in the firefox profile folder. Your mozilla/firefox profile is a good thing to back up for occasions like this. It has everything. Addons, themes, favorites, browsing history, open tabs. Restore that and it's nothing ever happened.

Another VERY DETAILED POST FOR TECHNICAL PEOPLE:

64 posted on 10/15/2024, 9:54:29 PM by linMcHlp

https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/4270733/posts?page=64#64

[BlackbirdSST]

This was a firefox action that spans versions. I had the same thing happen yesterday when I moved to close the constant update notification and my mouse jumped and I clicked to allow the update. I attempted to downgrade to the older version and sync with another older version on another desktop and it flat removed the extension. The second pc, where the extension was working with the older version, uninstalled the form tool as soon as it launched.

I switched to Brave and installed the script tools, then the form enhancer. The process says it was installed but doesn't show in the installed extension list and doesn't show when opening the comment field. I don't know what to make of that.

If anyone comes across a solution to get this working again, I'd appreciate a ping!

[daniel1212]

I have not updated, but I just search https://duckduckgo.com/?q=This+extension+could+not+be+verified+for+use+in+Firefox+and+has+been+disabled.&t=newext&atb=v447-1&ia=web and: https://www.thewindowsclub.com/allow-unsigned-extensions-installed-firefox Type about:config into the URL bar in Firefox

In the Search box type xpinstall.signatures.required

Double-click the preference, or right-click and selected “Toggle”, to set it to False.

Lets us know if this works for you.

[daniel1212]

https://www.thewindowsclub.com/allow-unsigned-extensions-installed-firefox

[nikos1121]

Would be nice if free republic had its own app

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I have been using it (or similar) for years. It has been disabled...along with every other Extension and Theme in Firefox...since Firefox demanded I upgrade to latest version. I AM at the latest version...111.0.1 64 bit...and see no way to upgrade. In fact, the settings will not allow automatic updates...saying they've been disabled by administrator. Well...I AM the administrator. (Linux Mint 21)

Kind of a kick in the goolies. and a pain. Oh well. I know the HTML code so it's not a deal breaker.

[backpacker_c]

according to mozilla, one of the security certificates expired, and it affects firefox on all platforms except apple

Update Firefox to prevent add-ons issues from root certificate expiration

an easier to understand version is

Mozilla warns users to update Firefox before certificate expires

I checked my version of firefox by going to

help->about firefox, and it was an old version, and when I checked my addons, they were disabled.

It appears that if you update firefox, it should enable use of the addons again

you may have to go to the addon page and re-enable them, as when I updated my firefox, they were still disabled, but I could turn them on afterwards.

if/when I have time, I'll try to see what the old cynwoody's app is like

[backpacker_c]

I'm on linux mint... I primarily run brave, but I just did the upgrade firefox on it

I did

run synaptic package manager

search for firefox

clicked on firefox, then in the menu bar, did package->force version, then let it install 136.0.1+linuxmint1+virginia

on my system, then went back into addons and re-enabled ublock, which was the only thing I was running

if you're paranoid, you can backup bookmarks and stuff before you do the upgrade