To Google Translate update removes the extension's toolbar button and pop-up panel from Firefox

[Karlston]

To Google Translate update removes the extension's toolbar button and pop-up panel from Firefox

A couple of years ago, I began using a Google Translate extension called S3 Translator. It was removed from the add-ons repository multiple times though it was restored after further reviews.

 

 

I ditched it in favor of an open source extension called To Google Translate, and have been a happy user ever since. You can read my review of the add-on, if you haven't done so already.

 

The main feature of the extension, at least for me, is the toolbar button. It opens a pop-up panel (an iframe) that contains a translator pane. Similarly, the right-click menu displayed the translation in a different pop-up panel. Unlike most extensions, this allowed me to use the translation service without having to switch to a different tab, or reload the page and potentially breaking the appearance of the original web page.

 

 

This was the case until recently, the latest update for "To Google Translate" removed the extension's toolbar button and pop-up panel from Firefox. I noticed this a bit late, after updating my add-ons manually. The version which removed the button is 4.1.0 and the release notes for the update says that the new version Disables modal feature and browser action.

 

 

Does the add-on work? Yes, but not like it used to. Now the only way to use it is by activating the hotkeys or through the right-click context menu item, both of which will open a new tab to provide the translation.

 

A couple of issues have been raised by users on the add-on's GitHub page, to which the developer has replied. He has confirmed that the change that the update introduced was intentional and further went on to explain that the "icon and modal features are broken" in the latest versions of Firefox. Though he didn't label it, most comments from users report the issue occurred in Firefox 82.0.2 and above.

 

This is apparently why the button was removed from the add-on, and it kind of makes sense. Why would you have a non-working element if there are other ways to use the add-on? The developer also reassured users of his intention to re-implement the button and pop-up panel in a future update.

 

One user reported that reverting to version 4.0.6 of "To Google Translate fixes the issue and brings back the toolbar button and the panel. This version is over a year old, and I cannot confirm whether it works. When I installed the older version the button was back on the toolbar, but when I tried clicking on it, it would load the pop-up UI for a second before it turned blank with an endlessly spinning wheel animation. Another user was able to access the modal by clicking on the button multiple times, but that didn't work for me.

 

A report filed by a user on Bugzilla seems to replicate the issue. The problem seems to occur when the extension opens the iframe and tries to load Google Translate's website in it.

 

 

While we wait for a possible fix, you can try the extension called Simple Translate, if you are in need of a functionally similar add-on. The extension, which is also open source, has a familiar interface, i.e., a pop-up panel which contains a text input field and a translation pane.

 

 

To Google Translate update removes the extension's toolbar button and pop-up panel from Firefox

[steven36]

I dont think  anything  is really wrong  with S3 Translator  because the dev  that made it  has like 3 recommended Addons  at AMO   it good to see they stop banning  stuff just because it use Google  i use another  one that's open source now that work the same  made  at  GitHub .