Javascript 1.5 does not work in Firefox

[mkuminov]

Binary package hint: firefox

Apparently javascript version 1.5 is not enabled in firefox. It worked fine in Ubuntu version 7.04, but does not work in 7.10. My school uses an online classroom that requires javascript 1.5. It used to work perfectly until I have upgraded to Gutsy. If I go to http://tychousa9.umuc.edu/sys/browserinfo.html, the page reports that only javascript 1.4 is supported by the browser, effectively blocking my access to this system.

[Mario Young (mayeco)]

I confirm that JavaScript Version 1.4 is show

Thanks!

[Fox (cobalt-fox-bug)]

I'm having the same issues. I did a fresh install of Gutsy, and Tycho is showing up as Javascript 1.4 (Firefox 2.0.0.8) for me as well. I googled several other sites searching for browser compatibility, and the several that I found all showed as Javascript 1.5 on Gutsy.

Looking in the source of the tycho page, the javascript version is found by using the 'is.js' function.

-----code snippet-----
  <TD>JavaScript Version</TD>
  <TD><SCRIPT>document.write(is.js);</SCRIPT></TD>
  <TD><SCRIPT>document.write((is.js > 1.4) ? "Yes" : "No");</SCRIPT></TD>
-----code snippet-----

document.write(is.js) is returning a 1.4 ("No"), which results in failure for compatibility on Tycho. However, if I look at the same page in Firefox on Feisty (I've forstalled upgrading Firefox (2.0.0.6) in Feisty until this get resolved, can't lose my access for school, after all), the javascript shows up as 1.5 and everything is good. I've looked around in the page for anything that might be an issue, and the source html on 2.0.0.6 and 2.0.0.8 is the same, so I'm thinking it might not be a webpage problem (that was my first instinct). So I think it might be a problem with either Firefox itself or the version that Ubuntu released.

This is the first time I've chimed in on a bug report, I usually find my solutions via the forums, but this issue seems a bit too specific for me to just wait it out like I usually do until the problem is fixed. Looking forward to a bit of help.

-Fox

[Fox (cobalt-fox-bug)]

I beg forgiveness from Firefox and Ubuntu. I got a few minutes to poke around with the problem, and the issue is totally the website's fault.

For those who are having the same issue as I am, I've found a workaround until the WebTycho folks at UMUC get their code straight:

In the URL bar, type 'about:config' to get to Firefox's configuration preferences.
In the filter bar, type 'general.useragent.vendor'
Right-click 'general.useragent.vendor' and click modify
Delete 'Ubuntu', leaving the line blank, and click OK

Everything seems to be working for me now.

I had missed a line at the top of the WebTycho's "Check your browser" page that called "/js/browsercheck.js" That page contains all the javascript they use to try to guess what you're running. Attempting to figure out what they're trying to do (I don't know javascript nearly as well as I know other languages), I found they were using various useragent settings to determine the javascript version of the client. After fooling around with most of my own useragent preferences (on my Gutsy box and the Feisty box I hadn't yet upgraded) and checking the browsercheck.js page often, I guessed my way to the above workaround. If you compare the screen before and after the change:

On my Fiesty box (Does work)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.8.1.6) Gecko/20061201 Firefox/2.0.0.6 (Ubuntu-feisty)

Gutsy before (Does not work)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.8.1.8) Gecko/20071022 Ubuntu/7.10 (gutsy) Firefox/2.0.0.8

Gutsy after (Does work)
User Agent: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.8.1.8) Gecko/20071022 Firefox/2.0.0.8

Looking at some of the comments sprinkled about, they haven't updated their detection javascript since 2003. I'll be sending them an email to see if they can get the thing updated, but I'm not holding my breath. From what I've been reading, you shouldn't be using the UserAgent field for browser capabilities anyway.

Hope that helps!

-Fox

[mkuminov (max-kuminov)]

Thank you very much!
Removing "Ubuntu" from general.useragent.vendor fixed the problem for me.

[Micah Gersten (micahg)]

Closing out old issue that user says is resolved. Firefox 3 shows compatibility for that site.