Good morning, last year I created a small add-on to modify
the manifests in a simple way.
This add-on has english translation and below I leave the
translated manual.
This is the repository:
https://github.com/hxebolax/cricricri-para-NVDA
And from here you can download the latest version:
https://nvda.es/files/get.php?file=cricricri
As colleagues say changing the manifest is something that does
not ensure its operation if the add-on requires internal
changes in the code but in most cases if it will work to
continue using the add-ons.
If I recommend to be attentive to the updates and to update
the add-on even if it works with the changed manifest because
the updates can bring changes in the code for a better
performance.
Next I leave the manual of the add-on that is very simple and
we will be able to change in a single blow all the manifests
of our installed add-ons that we have chosen and in a simple
way.
Manual of cricricri for NVDA
Small add-on that will help us to change the date of the
manifests.
Now according to the latest NVDA policy and until further
changes, every year in the first version of NVDA programmers
will have to change the version to match their manifest to the
NVDA version.
There will be programmers who will do it immediately, others
who will take some time and others who simply won't do it due
to add-on abandonment or any other reason.
In this last case we will have to make the change of the
lastTestedNVDAVersion property by hand and if we have many
plugins we will have to waste time, besides it is not a task
for all users since there are many levels of users.
Also if we want to test the betas and RCs we will have to
change this parameter in the manifests otherwise we will not
be able to have the add-on installed.
Well cricricri helps us in this task doing the process for us
and quickly.
Using cricricri
Cricricri can be launched from the menu Tools / Date changer
for manifests or add a shortcut in Preferences / Input
gestures and look for the category cricricri.
Once opened the window is simple we will have a list with our
plugins and their version in the manifest.
We will be able to choose the ones we want.
If we tab we have two buttons, select all or deselect all,
little to say this will act on the list of plugins.
If we tab we will fall in three combo boxes:
-
Select major version: This combo box has to match the date of
the version that NVDA is going to have.
-
Select Minor version: Here it is enough to leave it in 1,
however I have put the four annual versions in case there are
changes (anything can happen).
-
Select a revision: In this combo box leaving it at 0 is
enough, however I have put up to 5 also just in case.
If we tab we will fall in the button Apply changes to the
manifests which will begin the process of modifying the
manifests to those complements that we have selected in the
list.
If we tab again we will click on the Close button which will
close the window without doing any action.
Shortcut keys
- Alt+L: It takes us quickly to the add-ins list.
- Alt+S: Selects all the add-ons.
- Alt+D: It deselects all the plug-ins that are marked.
- Alt+A: It will start the modification of the manifests of
those plug-ins that we have selected.
- Alt+C or Escape: It will close the window without making any
action.
Author's comments
Well NVDA is a reader in constant evolution for what many
times there are complements that remain in the way for lack of
development and for lack of adapting them to the changes that
NVDA in its evolution brings.
This means that changing the date in the manifests solves a
momentary problem to be able to continue using those add-ons
that are not updated or that the developer is slow to update
them. But there will be add-ons that not only serves to change
the manifest and need internal changes to adapt to new
versions, in that case the add-on will break and only remains
to contact the author of the add-on.
I advise you to update the plugins that come out with the
changes in the manifests even if we have changed the date with
cricricri because it is possible that these plugins bring
apart from the adaptation of the manifest other modifications
that the developer has made.
I am not responsible if something is broken by changing the
manifests because there are hundreds of plugins and there may
be some exceptions not contemplated by me.
The use of this add-on and its results is solely under the
responsibility of the end user.
Translators and contributors:
- French: Rémy Ruiz
- English: Alberto Buffolino
- Turkish: : umut korkmaz
Change log.
Version 0.2.1.
-
Fixed a security bug in secure screens.
-
Fixed a problem with reloading add-ons in NVDA.
-
Added English language.
Regards
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free
version)
Editing an NVDA
Add-On Manifest file as a Temporary Workaround
Moderator's Note: This
post is about exactly what it says, a temporary
workaround. This is NOT the way to truly fix add-on
compatibility issues in many cases, but it will work as a
temporary workaround for some in a pinch. You use these
instructions completely at your own risk.
Note Well:
This will NOT always work when there is a backward
compatibility breaking release of NVDA because, sometimes,
add-on code must be changed. But it sometimes works if
nothing more than testing and certification is needed for
a given add-on, and that’s a bit behind the actual NVDA
release. Also, the %APPDATA% folder is normally hidden,
so if your machine objects to your trying to navigate
there, you will have to take the steps to show hidden
files and folders on your machine.
Your NVDA Add-Ons are found
in the following folder:
%APPDATA%\nvda\addons
and you can type (or cut
and paste) the exact path shown above into the Address
combo box in File Explorer, and after hitting Enter that’s
where you’ll be. A list of folders corresponding to each
of the add-ons you have installed will be in the file
list. Locate the add-on for which you wish to edit the
manifest file and open its folder.
In the folder you will find
a file with the name manifest.ini. It is a plain text
file, so can be opened for editing with any plain text
editor of your choosing. I use Notepad, but any text
editor will do.
Once you have the file open
for editing, search for the line that starts with:
lastTestedNVDAVersion =
You will be substituting
the current NVDA version number for whatever is currently
shown after the equal sign. It is critical that there be
a space after the ‘n’ in “version” as well as after the
equal sign itself. The NVDA version goes after that space
after the equal sign. If you check out the line character
by character after the ‘n’ in “version” as you found it,
you’ll encounter those spaces. Just make sure that the
equal sign has a space before it, and after it.
This will trick NVDA into
believing that the add-on has been tested up to and
including the current NVDA version number.
If an add-on crashes or
otherwise misbehaves after using this workaround, then
work on its code will be required.
If you use this workaround,
and become aware that a version of your add-on that has
actually been tested with the latest version of NVDA has
become available, definitely take the time to install the
real version. Your doctored manifest.ini file will end up
being overwritten as part of installing “the real thing.”
--
Brian - Windows
10, 64-Bit, Version 21H2, Build 19044
You can't crush
ideas by suppressing them. You can only crush them by
ignoring them.
~ Ursula LeGuin, The
Dispossessed
