Updates to hosting docs inline with policy changes

chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html

Index: chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html
diff --git a/chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html b/chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html
index 270ad027a7036c20ce91990c5aa2ba7be311a352..e556e7706c420f5cf17d1b02376a285245fd925b 100644
--- a/chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html
+++ b/chrome/common/extensions/docs/templates/articles/external_extensions.html
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 <h1>Other Deployment Options</h1>
 
-
 <p>
 Usually, users install their own extensions.
 But sometimes you might want an extension
@@ -30,33 +29,63 @@ installing external extensions:
 </p>
 
 <ul>
-  <li> Using a preferences JSON file </li>
+  <li> Using a preferences JSON file (Mac OS X and Linux only)</li>
   <li> Using the Windows registry (Windows only) </li>
 </ul>
 
 <p>
-Both ways support installing an extension from a <code>.crx</code> extension
-file on the user's computer.  The preferences JSON file also supports installing
-an extension hosted at an
-<a href="autoupdate.html#update_url">update URL</a>.
-See <a href="hosting.html">hosting</a> for details on hosting an extension.
+Both ways support installing an extension hosted at an
+<code>update_URL</code>.
+In the Windows registry,
+the <code>update_URL</code> must point to the Chrome Web Store
+where the extension is hosted.
+</p>
+
+<p>
+In the preferences file,
+it can point to your own server where you are hosting the extension
+(see <a href="autoupdate.html#update_url">autoupdating</a>).
+The preferences JSON file also supports installing
+an extension from a <code>.crx</code> extension
+file on the user's computer
+(see <a href="hosting.html">hosting</a>).
+</p>
+
+
+<p class="note">
+<b>Install extensions from your website:</b>
+The safest option for your users is to publish your extension
+in the Chrome Web Store.
+Instead of hosting your own extension,
+publish it in the store, and link to the store install using
+<a href="https://developers.google.com/chrome/web-store/docs/inline_installation">inline installation</a>.
 </p>
 
 <h2 id="prereqs">Before you begin</h2>
 
 <p>
-First, package a
-<a href="packaging.html"><code>.crx</code> file</a>
+First, <a href="/webstore/publish.html">publish</a>
+the extension in the Chrome Web Store,
+or package a <a href="packaging.html"><code>.crx</code> file</a>
 and make sure that it installs successfully.
 </p>
+
+
+<p class="warning">
+<b>Windows installs must come from Chrome Web Store:</b><br>
+As of Chrome 33,
+no external installs are allowed from a path to a local <code>.crx</code>
+(see <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2013/11/protecting-windows-users-from-malicious.html">Protecting Windows users from malicious extensions</a>).
+</p>
+
 <p>
-If you wish to install from an
+If installing from an
  <a href="autoupdate.html#update_url">update URL</a>, ensure that the extension
 is properly <a href="hosting.html">hosted</a>.
 </p>
 
 <p>
-Then, before you edit the preferences file or the registry,
+Before you edit the preferences file or the registry,
 make a note of the following:
 </p>
 
@@ -77,19 +106,11 @@ and the ID is <code>aaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbcccccccccc</code>.
 
 <h2 id="preferences">Using a preferences file</h2>
 
-<p class="note">
-<b>Windows note:</b>
-Until <a href="http://crbug.com/41902">bug 41902</a> is fixed,
-you might want to use the <a href="#registry">Windows registry</a>
-instead of the preferences file.
-</p>
+<br>
 
 <p class="note">
-<b>Note:</b>
-Previous versions of Google Chrome used an
-<code>external_extensions.json</code> file to specify which extensions to
-install. This file has been deprecated in favor of individual <code>.json</code>
-files, one per extension.
+<b>Mac OS X and Linux only:</b>
+Do not use the preferences file for Windows.

[saroop, 2014/01/16 22:16:17]

Should we link to the registry approach for Windows?

[mkearney1, 2014/01/21 21:17:17]

Done.

 </p>
 
 <ol>
@@ -105,11 +126,6 @@ or <code>/home/share/extension.crx</code>.)
   corresponds to your extension's ID.
   The location depends on the operating system.
   <dl>
-  <dt> Windows: </dt>
-    <dd> <code><em>chrome_root</em>\Application\<em>chrome_version</em>\Extensions\</code>
-    <br />
-    Example: <code>c:\Users\Me\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\6.0.422.0\Extensions\</code>
-    </dd>
   <dt> Mac OS X:</dt>
     <dd>For a specific user: <code>~USERNAME/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/External Extensions/</code><br>
         For all users: <code>/Library/Application Support/Google/Chrome/External Extensions/</code>
@@ -174,11 +190,19 @@ Example:
   "supported_locales": [ "en", "fr", "de" ]
 }</pre>
 </li>
-<li>Save the JSON file. </li>
+<li>Save the JSON file.</li>
 <li>Launch Google Chrome and go to <b>chrome://extensions</b>;
 you should see the extension listed. </li>
 </ol>
 
+<p class="note">
+<b>Note:</b>
+Previous versions of Google Chrome used an
+<code>external_extensions.json</code> file to specify which extensions to
+install. This file has been deprecated in favor of individual <code>.json</code>
+files, one per extension.
+</p>
+
 <h3 id="troubleshooting">Troubleshooting Mac OS permissions problems</h3>
 
 <p>On Mac OS, the external extensions files for all users are only read if file system permissions prevent unprivileged users from changing it.  If you do not see external extensions installed when Chrome is launched, there may be a permissions problem with the external extensions preferences files.  To see if this is the problem, follow these steps:</p>
@@ -195,11 +219,6 @@ you should see the extension listed. </li>
 <h2 id="registry">Using the Windows registry</h2>
 
 <ol>
-<li>Make the <code>.crx</code> extension file available
-to the machine you want to install the extension on.
-(Copy it to a local directory or to a network share &mdash;
-for example, <code>\\server\share\extension.crx</code>.)
-</li>
 <li>Find or create the following key in the
 registry:
 <ul>
@@ -213,13 +232,13 @@ under the <b>Extensions</b> key with the
 same name as the ID of your extension
 (for example, <code>aaaaaaaaaabbbbbbbbbbcccccccccc</code>).
 </li>
-<li>Create two string values (<code>REG_SZ</code>) named "path" and "version",
-  and set them to the extension's location and version.
-  For example:
-<ul>
-  <li>path: <code>\\server\share\extension.crx</code> </li>
-  <li>version: <code>1.0</code> </li>
-</ul>
+<li>In your extension key,
+create a property, "update_url", and set it to the value:
+"https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
+(this points to your extension's crx in the Chrome Web Store):
+<pre>{
+  "update_url": "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
+}</pre>
 </li>
 <li>Launch the browser and go to
 <b>chrome://extensions</b>; you should
@@ -249,16 +268,23 @@ or the metadata from the registry. </p>
 This section answers common questions about external extensions.
 </p>
 
-<br>
+<p><b>Will the methodology for allowing a “pre-install” still be supported
+by Google Chrome from M33 onwards?</b></p>
+<p>Yes, but only as an install from a Chrome Web Store
+<code>update_URL</code>,
+not from a local file path.</p> 
 
 <p><b>Can I specify a URL as a path to the external extension?</b> </p>
-<p>Yes, if you use a <a href="#preferences">preferences JSON</a> file. The
-extension must be hosted as explained in <a href="hosting.html">hosting</a>.
-Use the "external_update_url" property to point to an
+<p>Yes, use the <a href="#preferences">preferences JSON</a> file
+for Mac OS X and Linux; the <a href=#"registry">registry</a> for Windows.
+The extension must be hosted as explained in
+<a href="hosting.html">hosting</a>.
+In the preferences file,
+use the "external_update_url" property to point to an
 <a href="autoupdate.html#update_manifest">update manifest</a> that has the URL for your
-extension.</p>
-
-<br>
+extension.
+In the Windows registry,
+use the "update_url" property.</p>
 
 <p><b>What are some common mistakes when installing with the preferences
 file?</b></p>
@@ -284,27 +310,31 @@ file?</b></p>
     Permissions problems on a network share </li>
 </ul>
 
-<br>
-
 <p><b>What are some common mistakes when installing with the registry?</b> </p>
 <ul>
   <li>Not specifying the same id/version
-    as the one listed in the <code>.crx</code> </li>
+    as the one listed in the Chrome Web Store </li>
   <li>Key created in the wrong location in the registry </li>
-  <li>Registry entry points to the wrong path to the <code>.crx</code> file
-    (or path specified but no filename) </li>
+  <li>Registry entry points to the wrong path
+to the <code>.crx</code> file in the Chrome Web Store</li>
   <li>Permissions problems on a network share </li>
 </ul>
 
-<br>
+<p><b>How do I update my native binaries and extension in-step?</b></p>
+<p>Previously when off-store extensions were supported,
+it was possible to have the native binaries and the extension be updated in lock step.
+However, extensions hosted on the Chrome Web Store are updated
+via the Chrome update mechanism which developers do not control.
+Extension developers should be careful about updating extensions
+that have a dependency on the native binary
+(for example, legacy extensions using <a href="npapi.html">NPAPI</a>).
+</p>
 
 <p><b>What if the user uninstalls the extension?</b> </p>
 <p>If the user uninstalls the extension through the UI, it will no
 longer be installed or updated on each startup. In other words, the
 external extension is blacklisted. </p>
 
-<br>
-
 <p><b>How do I get off the blacklist?</b> </p>
 <p>If the user uninstalls your extension, you should respect that
 decision. However, if you (the developer) accidentally uninstalled
@@ -312,3 +342,4 @@ your extension through the UI,
 you can remove the blacklist tag
 by installing the extension normally
 through the UI, and then uninstalling it. </p>
+