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| 1 <h1>Extensions Quality Guidelines FAQ</h1> | 1 <h1>Extensions Quality Guidelines FAQ</h1> |
| 2 | 2 |
| 3 <h2 id="one">1.) What is the new policy?</h2> | 3 <h2 id="one">1.) What is the new policy?</h2> |
| 4 | 4 |
| 5 <p> | 5 <p> |
| 6 To maintain the quality of the Chrome user experience, | 6 To maintain the quality of the Chrome user experience, |
| 7 we recently launched a new policy requiring Chrome extensions | 7 we recently launched a new policy requiring Chrome extensions |
| 8 to have a single purpose. | 8 to have a single purpose. |
| 9 We are also introducing the new | 9 We are also introducing the new |
| 10 <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2014/03/protecting-user-settings-on-windows.ht
ml">Settings Override API</a> | 10 <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2014/03/protecting-user-settings-on-windows.ht
ml">Settings Override API</a> |
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| 196 From these notifications, | 196 From these notifications, |
| 197 users will have the option to reverse the settings changes | 197 users will have the option to reverse the settings changes |
| 198 by disabling the extension. | 198 by disabling the extension. |
| 199 </p> | 199 </p> |
| 200 | 200 |
| 201 <h2 id="10">10.) What happens to settings when an extension is disabled?</h2> | 201 <h2 id="10">10.) What happens to settings when an extension is disabled?</h2> |
| 202 | 202 |
| 203 <p> | 203 <p> |
| 204 All Chrome settings changed by an extension will be reverted | 204 All Chrome settings changed by an extension will be reverted |
| 205 when that extension is disabled. | 205 when that extension is disabled. |
| 206 All other settings will remain unchanged. | 206 All other settings |
| 207 (for example, those changed directly by a Windows binary) |
| 208 will remain unchanged. |
| 207 </p> | 209 </p> |
| 208 | 210 |
| 209 <h2 id="eleven">11.) Is this new policy Windows-only?</h2> | 211 <h2 id="eleven">11.) Will users’ existing homepage, search provider or |
| 212 startup pages be affected by the introduction of the Settings Override API?</h2> |
| 213 |
| 214 <p> |
| 215 No. |
| 216 A user’s existing homepage, search provider or startup settings will |
| 217 remain unchanged by the introduction of Settings Override API. |
| 218 Following the launch of the Settings Override API, |
| 219 only extensions can programmatically change these settings and |
| 220 only through the Settings Override API. |
| 221 But all changes to a user’s homepage, search provider or |
| 222 startup pages made prior to the launch of the Settings Override API, |
| 223 including any that may have been made by Windows binaries, |
| 224 will remain unchanged until the user manually updates those settings or |
| 225 installs an extension that uses the Settings Override API to change them. |
| 226 </p> |
| 227 |
| 228 <h2 id="twelve">12.) Is this new policy Windows-only?</h2> |
| 210 | 229 |
| 211 <p> | 230 <p> |
| 212 The <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/hosting_changes">requiremen
t</a> | 231 The <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/hosting_changes">requiremen
t</a> |
| 213 that Chrome extensions be hosted in the Chrome Web Store | 232 that Chrome extensions be hosted in the Chrome Web Store |
| 214 initially applies only to Windows extensions. | 233 initially applies only to Windows extensions. |
| 215 Likewise, the new Settings Override API will initially be made available | 234 Likewise, the new Settings Override API will initially be made available |
| 216 only on Chrome for Windows. | 235 only on Chrome for Windows. |
| 217 However, the single-purpose policy will apply to all Chrome extensions. | 236 However, the single-purpose policy will apply to all Chrome extensions. |
| 218 </p> | 237 </p> |
| 219 | 238 |
| 220 <h2 id="twelve">12.) Does this policy apply to Chrome apps too?</h2> | 239 <h2 id="thirteen">13.) Does this policy apply to Chrome apps too?</h2> |
| 221 | 240 |
| 222 <p> | 241 <p> |
| 223 At this time, Chrome apps (as distinguished from extensions) | 242 At this time, Chrome apps (as distinguished from extensions) |
| 224 are not required to be distributed through the Chrome Web Store, | 243 are not required to be distributed through the Chrome Web Store, |
| 225 or to have a single purpose. | 244 or to have a single purpose. |
| 226 Chrome apps are currently not capable of changing Chrome settings. | 245 Chrome apps are currently not capable of changing Chrome settings. |
| 227 </p> | 246 </p> |
| 228 | 247 |
| 229 <h2 id="thirteen">13.) Can I bundle ad injection with some other type of functio
nality?</h2> | 248 <h2 id="fourteen">14.) Can I bundle ad injection with some other type of functio
nality?</h2> |
| 230 | 249 |
| 231 <p> | 250 <p> |
| 232 No. | 251 No. |
| 233 This violates the single purpose policy. | 252 This violates the single purpose policy. |
| 234 However, if injecting ads is the single purpose of the extension and | 253 However, if injecting ads is the single purpose of the extension and |
| 235 the extension is otherwise compliant with Chrome policies, | 254 the extension is otherwise compliant with Chrome policies, |
| 236 then it would be acceptable. | 255 then it would be acceptable. |
| 237 For example, a “related articles” extension that adds sponsored links | 256 For example, a “related articles” extension that adds sponsored links |
| 238 to articles related to a page the user is visiting would be compliant | 257 to articles related to a page the user is visiting would be compliant |
| 239 with the single purpose policy because it has a single purpose limited | 258 with the single purpose policy because it has a single purpose limited |
| 240 to a narrow function of the browser. | 259 to a narrow function of the browser. |
| 241 You also might want to explore the other monetization options described | 260 You also might want to explore the other monetization options described |
| 242 <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/money">here</a>. | 261 <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/webstore/money">here</a>. |
| 243 </p> | 262 </p> |
| 244 | 263 |
| 245 <h2 id="fourteen">14.) Are toolbars permitted under this policy?</h2> | 264 <h2 id="fifteen">15.) Are toolbars permitted under this policy?</h2> |
| 246 | 265 |
| 247 <p> | 266 <p> |
| 248 It depends on what the toolbar does. | 267 It depends on what the toolbar does. |
| 249 As described in | 268 As described in |
| 250 <a href="#four">answer #4</a>, | 269 <a href="#four">answer #4</a>, |
| 251 it must adhere to the narrow single purpose of the extension. | 270 it must adhere to the narrow single purpose of the extension. |
| 252 Broad, multi-purpose toolbars are not allowed and | 271 Broad, multi-purpose toolbars are not allowed and |
| 253 toolbars that are implemented using content scripts | 272 toolbars that are implemented using content scripts |
| 254 to inject UI into every page are not recommended because | 273 to inject UI into every page are not recommended because |
| 255 they slow down every page load, clutter the UI, | 274 they slow down every page load, clutter the UI, |
| 256 and can lead to security problems for users. | 275 and can lead to security problems for users. |
| 257 Instead, consider using a | 276 Instead, consider using a |
| 258 <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/browserAction">browser action p
opup</a>, | 277 <a href="https://developer.chrome.com/extensions/browserAction">browser action p
opup</a>, |
| 259 which was designed to solve this very problem. | 278 which was designed to solve this very problem. |
| 260 It's a better user experience, with no performance or security downsides. | 279 It's a better user experience, with no performance or security downsides. |
| 261 </p> | 280 </p> |
| 262 | 281 |
| 263 <h2 id="fifteen">15.) What will happen to non-compliant extensions | 282 <h2 id="sixteen">16.) What will happen to non-compliant extensions |
| 264 that were already installed by users?</h2> | 283 that were already installed by users?</h2> |
| 265 | 284 |
| 266 <p> | 285 <p> |
| 267 All extensions will need to comply with the Extension Quality Guidelines. | 286 All extensions will need to comply with the Extension Quality Guidelines. |
| 268 If a user installed a non-compliant extension, | 287 If a user installed a non-compliant extension, |
| 269 then you will need to update them to a compliant extension | 288 then you will need to update them to a compliant extension |
| 270 that is hosted in the Chrome Web Store. | 289 that is hosted in the Chrome Web Store. |
| 271 If the user is not updated to a compliant extension | 290 If the user is not updated to a compliant extension |
| 272 that is hosted in the Chrome Web Store, | 291 that is hosted in the Chrome Web Store, |
| 273 then the extension will be automatically disabled. | 292 then the extension will be automatically disabled. |
| 274 When Chrome disables a non-compliant extension, | 293 As noted above, |
| 275 it will not revert browser settings made at the same time as installing | 294 any settings or behaviours controlled by the extension, |
| 276 that extension prior to the launch of the Settings Override API. | 295 including any settings controlled by the Settings Override API, |
| 277 Only settings changed by an extension using the Settings Override API | |
| 278 will be reverted when the extension is disabled. | 296 will be reverted when the extension is disabled. |
| 279 You can find more information | 297 You can find more information |
| 280 <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2014/02/make-sure-to-get-your-extension-in.htm
l">here</a>. | 298 <a href="http://blog.chromium.org/2014/02/make-sure-to-get-your-extension-in.htm
l">here</a>. |
| 281 </p> | 299 </p> |
| 282 | 300 |
| 283 <h2 id="sixteen">16.) If my extension is rejected from the Chrome Web Store | 301 <h2 id="seventeen">17.) If my extension is rejected from the Chrome Web Store |
| 284 because it doesn’t comply with the single purpose policy, | 302 because it doesn’t comply with the single purpose policy, |
| 285 what will happen after the requirement to host extensions | 303 what will happen after the requirement to host extensions |
| 286 in the Chrome Web Store comes into effect?</h2> | 304 in the Chrome Web Store comes into effect?</h2> |
| 287 | 305 |
| 288 <p> | 306 <p> |
| 289 If your extension is rejected from the Chrome Web Store, | 307 If your extension is rejected from the Chrome Web Store, |
| 290 you will need to make changes or appeal the decision. | 308 you will need to make changes or appeal the decision. |
| 291 After the requirement to host extensions | 309 After the requirement to host extensions |
| 292 in the Chrome Web Store comes into effect in late May 2014, | 310 in the Chrome Web Store comes into effect in late May 2014, |
| 293 your extension must be hosted in the Chrome Web Store or | 311 your extension must be hosted in the Chrome Web Store or |
| 294 it will be automatically disabled from the users’ browsers. | 312 it will be automatically disabled from the users’ browsers. |
| 295 </p> | 313 </p> |
| 296 | 314 |
| 297 <h2 id="seventeen">17.) If my extension gets flagged for review under the single
purpose policy, | 315 <h2 id="eighteen">18.) If my extension gets flagged for review under the single
purpose policy, |
| 298 what will happen?</h2> | 316 what will happen?</h2> |
| 299 | 317 |
| 300 <p> | 318 <p> |
| 301 Our team will review it, | 319 Our team will review it, |
| 302 and it may be removed from the Chrome Web Store. | 320 and it may be removed from the Chrome Web Store. |
| 303 You’ll have a chance to make changes and appeal the decision. | 321 You’ll have a chance to make changes and appeal the decision. |
| 304 As noted above, | 322 As noted above, |
| 305 if you created your extension before we announced the policy on December 19, 201
3, | 323 if you created your extension before we announced the policy on December 19, 201
3, |
| 306 you have until July 22, 2014 to make changes. | 324 you have until July 22, 2014 to make changes. |
| 307 If your extension was created after the policy was announced, | 325 If your extension was created after the policy was announced, |
| 308 it needs to be compliant now. | 326 it needs to be compliant now. |
| 309 You can temporarily unpublish it and contact us at | 327 You can temporarily unpublish it and contact us at |
| 310 <a href="mailto:chromewebstore-policy@google.com">chromewebstore-policy@google.c
om</a> | 328 <a href="mailto:chromewebstore-policy@google.com">chromewebstore-policy@google.c
om</a> |
| 311 with your extension ID if you’d like feedback. | 329 with your extension ID if you’d like feedback. |
| 312 We’ll try to respond within a week. | 330 We’ll try to respond within a week. |
| 313 </p> | 331 </p> |
| 314 | 332 |
| 315 <h2 id="eighteen">18.) I need help. Who should I contact?</h2> | 333 <h2 id="nineteen">19.) I need help. Who should I contact?</h2> |
| 316 | 334 |
| 317 <p> | 335 <p> |
| 318 You can email | 336 You can email |
| 319 <a href="mailto:chromewebstore-policy@google.com">chromewebstore-policy@google.c
om</a> | 337 <a href="mailto:chromewebstore-policy@google.com">chromewebstore-policy@google.c
om</a> |
| 320 with your extension ID, | 338 with your extension ID, |
| 321 and we’ll take a look and try to provide feedback within a week. | 339 and we’ll take a look and try to provide feedback within a week. |
| 322 This is a lightweight review intended to give you an indication | 340 This is a lightweight review intended to give you an indication |
| 323 of whether your extension will comply with the new policy. | 341 of whether your extension will comply with the new policy. |
| 324 </p> | 342 </p> |
| 325 | 343 |
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| 357 A search extension. | 375 A search extension. |
| 358 It has multiple features, including this dropdown, | 376 It has multiple features, including this dropdown, |
| 359 but all of them are related to the narrow subject matter of search. | 377 but all of them are related to the narrow subject matter of search. |
| 360 </p> | 378 </p> |
| 361 | 379 |
| 362 <img src="{{static}}/images/extension2.png" | 380 <img src="{{static}}/images/extension2.png" |
| 363 width="680" | 381 width="680" |
| 364 height="425" | 382 height="425" |
| 365 alt="Image of search extension"> | 383 alt="Image of search extension"> |
| 366 | 384 |
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