Problem solved. When I did update-alternatives --config xulrunner-1.9-javaplugin.so
it complained that there was no such alternative. Googling that file name led me to ubuntu forums and hence to the package name sun-java6-plugin, which I did not have installed. So I installed it, restarted firefox, and now it works! I'm sure it is worth putting this information into the FAQ list, even if it only applies to ubuntu machines: for jmol to work you need to have the package sun-java6-plugin installed. thanks for your help, now I can demo Sage's animated 3D graphics to people! John 2009/3/7 Rob Beezer <[email protected]>: > > John, > > java will point to something to run java programs locally on your > machine. > > I think xulrunner is some Firefox/Mozilla thing. > > You want a java *plugin* for Firefox. > > Try the combo deal: > > update-alternatives --config xulrunner-1.9-javaplugin.so > > and pick the one that looks like it comes from Sun. > > Rob > > On Mar 7, 2:22 pm, John Cremona <[email protected]> wrote: >> Thanks for the detailed instructions. I have never heard of >> xulrunner. Something of that name was installed but I installed a >> newer (?) version using synaptic. I also used update-alternatives to >> get java to point to the sun version. Now I have this: >> >> j...@ubuntu%sudo update-alternatives --display java >> java - status is manual. >> link currently points to /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/bin/java >> /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java - priority 1061 >> slave java.1.gz: /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/man/man1/java.1.gz >> /usr/bin/gij-4.2 - priority 42 >> slave java.1.gz: /usr/share/man/man1/gij-4.2.1.gz >> /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/bin/java - priority 63 >> slave java.1.gz: /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun/jre/man/man1/java.1.gz >> Current `best' version is /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/bin/java. >> >> j...@ubuntu%sudo update-alternatives --display xulrunner >> xulrunner - status is auto. >> link currently points to /usr/bin/xulrunner-1.9 >> /usr/bin/xulrunner-1.9 - priority 50 >> /usr/lib/xulrunner/xulrunner - priority 50 >> Current `best' version is /usr/bin/xulrunner-1.9. >> >> I don't know what 'best' means, it still seems to like the look of the >> open jdk for java. >> >> After all this and restarting firefox there is still no mention of >> java in about:plugins. I find it hard to believe that it is not there >> since the Preferences setting for jave is enabled" and surely there >> are many other web things which would not work without java (gmail for >> a start). >> >> The jmol demo page shows exactly the same message as before. >> >> Never mind, >> >> John >> >> 2009/3/7 Rob Beezer <[email protected]>: >> >> >> >> > I'd forgotten that about:plugins is so useful. >> >> > Do you know the Debian/Ubuntu alternatives scheme? Its a way to >> > specify a system-wide default editor, etc. See "man update- >> > alternatives" >> >> > On Ubuntu Hardy 8.04 I had to use (as root) >> >> > update-alternatives --config xulrunner-1.9-javaplugin.so >> >> > You can see the possible "alternatives" via >> > ls -al /etc/alternatives. The update-alternatives command manages >> > asll these symbolic links. >> >> > You want to have the xul-runner thing point to a Sun plug in, not an >> > Open JDK or IcedTea or some such thing. You'll probably get some >> > choices. (Presuming you have the right packages installed.) >> >> > THEN check about:plugins after a restart of Firefox. Good luck. ;-) >> >> > On Mar 7, 12:43 pm, John Cremona <[email protected]> wrote: >> >> That's interesting -- there is no java at all listed in the list of >> >> plugins. This is with 32-bit ubuntu. >> >> >> John >> >> >> 2009/3/7 gerhard <[email protected]>: >> >> >> >> with all sorts of JRE's >> >> > one possible reason for this problem is >> >> > the plugin firefox may be using. >> >> >> > check by typing >> >> > about:plugins >> >> > in the title bar, >> >> > and make sure it is the plugin you expect >> >> > (sun's jre) > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/sage-support URLs: http://www.sagemath.org -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
