This isn't really a bug (or certainly not something we're going to
change in Ubuntu). Firefox is single instance, so when you try to run
new Firefox instance when there is one already running, the entire
command line is delegated to the already open instance.
If you want to use "-Profilemanager" when you already have Firefox open,
then you need to also use "-no-remote" to ensure that a new Firefox
instance is opened (which is documented). We even state this in the
manpage that we add to Firefox.
"-u" is not documented because it's an internal implementation detail.
It "works" in your case because you are using it incorrectly which
results in the remoting of the command line failing.
** Changed in: firefox (Ubuntu)
Status: New => Opinion
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https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1226952
Title:
Option -ProfileManager does not work without (bogus) -u
Status in The Mozilla Firefox Browser:
New
Status in “firefox” package in Ubuntu:
Opinion
Bug description:
You need a secret extra option if you want to run the Firefox profile
manager.
Steps to repro:
bash$ firefox -ProfileManager &
Expected outcome:
New Firefox instance displaying the Profile Manager dialog box
Actual outcome:
New Firefox browser window in your current default profile, existing
Firefox instance if one was running
Workaround:
bash$ firefox -u bugger -ProfileManager &
The -u option is not visible e.g. in firefox --help output, but
somehow it actually exists, and allows you to work around this problem
(can't remember where I discovered it, Google no doubt?).
The -u option requires an argument (apparently, a profile name) but
you can put anything there, it doesn't seem to matter.
I'm sorry if this is a duplicate, this problem has existed since
basically forever but I was unable to find a report in Launchpad.
Historical proof:
* From 2009: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1323430
* From 2011: http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=2359133
* SuSE 2009:
http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/network-internet/403948-firefox-profilemanager-doesnt-work.html
* Win 2011: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/807487
* Alternative workaround, haven't tried:
http://www.usmessageboard.com/computers/85692-firefox-profile-manager-in-ubuntu.html
(hopelessly meandering thread, don't open)
Possibly relevant upstream bugs:
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=317903
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=297470 (duplicate of less
focused 264181)
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=264181
* https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=297618 (duplicate of unobvious
bug)
If the intention is that -ProfileManager is not available, it should
not be displayed in --help (but that would be a pity). If it is
supported, it should work (duh).
bash$ lsb_release -rd
Description: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS
Release: 12.04
bash$ apt-cache policy firefox
firefox:
Installed: 24.0+build1-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
Candidate: 24.0+build1-0ubuntu0.12.04.1
Version table:
*** 24.0+build1-0ubuntu0.12.04.1 0
500 http://security.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-security/main amd64
Packages
500 http://mirrors.nic.funet.fi/ubuntu/ precise-updates/main amd64
Packages
100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
23.0+build2-0ubuntu0.12.04.1 0
500 http://fi.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise-updates/main amd64
Packages
11.0+build1-0ubuntu4 0
500 http://fi.archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ precise/main amd64 Packages
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