Plug-ins in Opera

Installing Plug-ins

Generally, this is how you'd install plug-ins that do not have support for Opera by default, for use with Opera:

1. First of all, if given a choice, make sure that you install the plug-in for use with Netscape, and not Internet Explorer. Most plug-ins come with installation wizards - programs that are used to install the plug-in on your system. These wizards will more often than not allow you to select where the plug-in is to be installed on your system. Follow the on-screen instructions and complete the installation.

2. Next, provided you have been able to install the plug-in correctly, you should look through the plug-in's catalogue structure on your system, or alternatively, if you installed the plug-in for Netscape Navigator (or Internet Explorer), the "plugins" directory of this browser. Most plug-ins will install their own Dynamic Link Library (".dll") files on your computer, or keep them in one of their folders in their own directory. These are the files you will be looking for, for use with Opera.

3. Not all ".dll"-files are plug-in extensions, so not all can be used in Opera, but all plug-in extension ".dll"-files have their own version number, which can be checked looking at their "Properties".

   Tip! In order to quickly view to the "Properties" menu of any file, hold the ALT key while either pressing ENTER or double-clicking on it. Some files will come right out and tell you that they are Netscape type plug-in files, but the majority will only state which application they belong to and this application's directory. If they're not for the plug-in you're trying to associate, you can disregard them.

   Also note that you will have to set up your Windows to show all files in order to view ".dll"-files by default.

4. Now, you'll just have to try and place the ".dll"-files in Opera's plug-ins directory, and see if they work. After placing in the plug-ins directory, either go to Opera's "File/Preferences", "Plug-ins", and press the "Find Plugins" button in the "Plug-ins" part of the menu, or close Opera down and open it again to have it find the ".dll"-file itself. You can check the file, and see whether or not it works with Opera, by going to the "Windows/Special Window/Plugins" menu, which will load a window stating Opera's installed plug-ins. If the file does not appear there with a MIME type declaration, you'll not be able to use the plug-in with this ".dll"-file, and you must continue the search.

5. The last step is to actually test whether the plug-in works or not, by checking it with some plug-in specific content. Most plug-in developers have plug-in content on their web sites; a natural place to look, if not entire test labs.

Below are specific instructions on how to install a number of popular plug-ins for Opera. Opera has been designed to recognize and work with many plug-ins that work with Netscape.

If you don't see a certain program listed here, and you would like to know if it works with Opera, please give it a try! Quite often, it is possible to figure out how to get plug-ins working with Opera by following the above instructions.

We also recommend that you visit our newsgroups. You may find your answer there, as well as posting solutions for how to get a number of plug-ins working.

Showing hidden files in Windows

In order to view ".dll"-files on the 32-bit Windows, you will need to set up the system so that it will show you all files on your system, even hidden ones and "DLL"-files. Do so by going to "My computer/View/[Folder] Options..." and click the "View" tag and elect to "Show all files".

Java in Opera 5

Using Java in Opera 5 is quite easy once you know what it takes. Opera now comes with a built-in Java module, which will work on your system, as long as you have got the Java 2 Runtime Environment installed on your system. The latest version of the Java 2 Runtime Environment is version 1.3, and Sun Microsystems encourage its users to migrate to this version, but users of version 1.2.x of the Java 2 Runtime Environment will also be able to use Java in Opera 5.

Note! If you have been using Opera 3.50, or above, with the Sun Java Plug-in, you cannot simply migrate to Opera 5 and continue to use the plug-in for that version. You'll need to upgrade to the 1.3 version of the plug-in, which comes with the Java 2 Runtime Environment. However, the 1.3 version of the plug-in works great with Opera 3.50 and later versions in the 3.x series too, so you are really better off for it.

Below is a set of instructions that should be followed in order to have Java working for Opera 5.

1. Go to Sun Microsystems' Web site at http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/jre/download-windows.html to start the download of the Java 2 Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in Version 1.3.0 for Microsoft Windows.

2. Select which version you wish to download: US English version or Internationalized version, and whether or not you want the download to be in "one large bundle" or "multiple smaller pieces". These instructions apply mainly to the "one large bundle" download. Press the "continue" button to carry on with the download procedure.

   Version:	Name:	Size:
   US English	j2re1_3_0-win.exe	5,088,560
   Internationalized	j2re1_3_0-win-i.exe	7,700,800

3. Next are the licensing terms for the Java 2 Runtime Environment download package, named "License & Export for Java(TM) 2 Runtime Environment 1.3.0", which you have to agree to in order to be allowed to download the Java 2 Runtime Environment, which is done by pressing the "Accept" button. Pressing "Decline" will terminate the download procedure.

4. Finally, you select either to download over the FTP or HTTP protocols, by clicking on the button with the description of the place that is closest to you. The browser's dialog for saving files should open up and you should be able to select the place you wish to save the downloaded file. Make sure you remember where it is and press the "Save" button to save the file.

5. Once the download is complete, go to the place where you chose to save the file you downloaded and double-click it to start the installation procedure.

6. The first screen is the Software License Agreement. Pressing "Yes" will continue the installation, while pressing "No" will terminate the installation procedure.

7. Next, you get to choose the destination on the local drive you wish to install the Java 2 Runtime Environment on. The default will be something like this:

   C:\Program Files\JavaSoft\JRE\1.3

If you wish to install the Java 2 Runtime Environment in another directory, you can select another one by pressing the "Browse..." button, which will bring up the system's standard browsing dialog.

Pressing "Next..." will continue with the installation of the files to your computer. Once the files are installed, you'll be notified that the installation went OK, and the installation program will exit. Your system is now equipped with the Java 2 Runtime Environment, and your Opera is equipped with Java!.

IBM's Java 2 Runtime Environment

Starting in Opera 5, it is possible to use the IBM Java 2 Runtime Environment as well as the Sun Microsystems Java 2 Runtime Environment. Both of these Runtime Environments can be installed on the same system without interfering with each other, but since Opera will only use the Sun Microsystems version if that is installed on the system, and since Opera comes bundled with the Java 2 Runtime Environment if the user selects the Opera with Java download, there is not really any point in documenting the installation process other than to say that the instructions above should cover basic installation.

Macromedia Shockwave Flash

The Macromedia Shockwave Flash player is a popular free plug-in for enhancing Web sites. It can be downloaded from Macromedia's Web site.

In order to have the Shockwave Flash player working with Opera, please follow these instructions:

1. Download the installer program to your hard drive. The installation file is called "flash32.dll". Double-click it to start the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.

2. The first thing you'll be asked to do is close all open applications. When you have done so, press the "Next" button to continue with the installation.

3. The next screen will ask you to select the destination of the plug-in. If you have got Netscape Navigator installed on your system, this browser will show up as a selected destination for the install. If you do not, the installer program will propose another directory for its installation. In either case, you should do the following:

   • Press the browsing button, which is named "Other Browser" if you have got Netscape installed, and browse your way through your system's directory structure to your Opera directory.

   • In the Opera directory, open the folder named "Plugins" and press the "Select" button to confirm the directory and start the installation.

4. The installer now places the file "NPSWF32.dll" in Opera's plug-ins folder and asks you to press "Continue" to complete the install by going on-line to finish the installation procedure. Do so, and you should be all clear!

Note! The Shockwave Flash player currently does not support Opera during install, which may lead to error messages appearing on your screen stating that the installer application is not able to locate and launch Netscape.exe. Internal testing at Opera Software has found this to not to be a problem, as the installer will not attempt to launch Netscape.exe until after it has placed the required files in Opera's plug-ins directory, if the above instructions are followed.

QuickTime 4.1

The QuickTime player is one of the most recognized media players being used on the Internet today. It can be downloaded from Apple's Web site.

In order to have the QuickTime player working with Opera, please follow these instructions:

1. Download the installer program to your hard drive. The installer program is called "QuickTimeInstaller.exe". Double-click it to start the installation and follow the on-screen instructions.

2. When you get to the step of the installation process that's has the header "QuickTime Plugin Options", you will have the opportunity to select the browsers for which you would like to install QuickTime. You will need to install the Netscape version of the plug-in, but you may also install the Internet Explorer plug-in if you wish.

3. The plug-in should assume Opera is Netscape and carry out the installation without trouble; ensure that the Netscape check box is checked, and continue.

4. The installer program should connect to Apple's site and download the appropriate files for your QuickTime installation, which it then proceeds to install. After the installation process is finished, press the "Close" button to close the installer program.

5. In Opera, pull down the "File/Preferences" menu and choose "Plug-ins". Press the "Find Plugins" button in the "Plug-ins" part of the window. Opera will locate the copied files and associate them with QuickTime files, and you're done!

RealPlayer 8 Basic

The RealPlayer 8 Basic is one of the most popular audio and video plug-ins in use on the Internet today. It can be downloaded from RealNetworks Web site.

In order to use RealPlayer with Opera, please follow these instructions:

1. Download the installer program to your hard drive. The installer program is called "rp8-setup.exe". Double-click it to start the installation, and follow the on-screen instructions. The installer will find Opera during installation (it will report Opera as "Netscape"). Just follow the steps, and RealPlayer will install properly.

2. When in Opera, select "File/Preferences" and choose "Plug-ins". If you don't see RealPlayer listed, press the "Find Plugins" button. Opera will locate the RealPlayer plug-in and associate RealPlayer content with it.