Install Blue Prism browser extensions

The Blue Prism browser extensions should be installed on any machine that will be used to automate Chrome, Edge, and/or Firefox. The following installation methods are available:

  • Install using the Blue Prism installer – The Firefox extension is packaged with the installer and is deployed directly into the Firefox browser for Firefox versions up to 73 and earlier. For the Chrome extension, the installer applies a registry key that installs the extension the next time Chrome is run. Users can run the installer using the graphical user interface or the command line. This method ensures the correct version of the extension is installed for the version of the Blue Prism client on the machine.
  • Install using Group Policy – This method uses Group Policy or Local Security Policy to create a registry key or to add the appropriate value to an existing key that installs the extension the next time Chrome, Edge, or Firefox are run.
  • Install manually – The Chrome extension is installed directly from the Chrome store using a URL and for Firefox version 74 and above the browser extension file from the Blue Prism install location must be included as an add-on.

Prerequisites

Browser access

For all installation methods:

  • For the Chrome extension, access to the Chrome Store is required.
  • For both the Chrome and Firefox extensions, the ability to configure add-ons in the respective browsers is required.

Firefox settings

The Blue Prism Firefox extension requires the following Firefox settings to be applied:

Setting

Value

extensions.autoDisableScopes

0

network.websocket.allowInsecureFromHTTPS

true

For default Firefox installations, the values are automatically applied when the Blue Prism extension is installed. If Firefox is not installed to the default location, the values must be set manually. Enter about:config in the Firefox address bar to access the settings.

Chromium-based Edge versions

The Chrome browser extension is used to automate the Chrome browser and Chromium-based versions of Edge. For Edge, the browser extension must be manually installed.

Prior to installation, you must allow extensions from other stores to be used in Edge:

  1. Enter edge://extensions in the Edge address bar.
  2. Enable the Allow extensions from other stores setting.

Considerations

Extensions for 32-bit and 64-bit browsers

When installed using the Blue Prism installer or via Group Policy the following behavior is expected:

  • Chrome – Both 32 and 64-bit versions of the Chrome extension are installed, providing compatibility with both versions of Chrome and Edge, irrespective of which Blue Prism installer is used.
  • Firefox – Installs the extension appropriate for the installed version of Firefox.

Firefox version 74 and above

The Blue Prism Firefox extension is installed automatically when selected during a custom Blue Prism installation or upgrade for Firefox versions up to and including 73. However, for applications and websites using Firefox version 74 and above, the extension must be manually installed.

Install using the Blue Prism installer

The Blue Prism installer applies a registry key that installs the Blue Prism extension next time the browser is started.

Run the Blue Prism installer

By default, the Blue Prism installer automatically sets the required registry keys that install the browser extensions.

Using the advanced installation option, you can determine which browser extensions (and other optional features) are installed.

  1. Run the appropriate Blue Prism installer for your system – 32-bit or 64-bit.
  2. Select Advanced install from the Install location page of the install wizard.
  3. Click Next and select which features you want to install.

  4. Click Install and complete the installation.

During an upgrade, the settings already applied for the current installation are maintained unless edited in the advanced install options.

Use the command line

The following command line options are available for installing Blue Prism and setting the registry key for the Chrome and Firefox extensions. The example commands are for the 6.8 version of Blue Prism – update the version number as required.

Command

Description

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x64 /qn

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x86 /qn

Installs Blue Prism and sets the Chrome and Firefox extension registry keys.

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x64 ADDLOCAL=BluePrism,BPServer /qn

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x86 ADDLOCAL=BluePrism,BPServer /qn

Installs Blue Prism without setting the Chrome or Firefox extension registry keys.

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x64 ADDLOCAL=ChromePlugin /qn

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x86 ADDLOCAL=ChromePlugin /qn

Adds the Chrome extension registry key to an existing installation of Blue Prism.

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x64 ADDLOCAL=FirefoxPlugin /qn

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x86 ADDLOCAL=FirefoxPlugin /qn

Adds the Firefox extension registry key to an existing installation of Blue Prism.

The ADDLOCAL property can also be used to install multiple Blue Prism components by separating them with a comma. The following command installs 64-bit versions of Blue Prism, and the Chrome and Firefox extensions:

msiexec /i BluePrism6.8_x64 ADDLOCAL=BluePrism,BPServer,ChromePlugin,FirefoxPlugin /qn

The BluePrism and BPServer components must both be specified to install or upgrade Blue Prism when using the ADDLOCAL parameters. They cannot be used in isolation.

Install using Group Policy

To install the extensions using Group Policy, apply the registry key and value specified in Browser extension registry keys.

Install manually

Chrome and Edge

The Blue Prism Chrome extension can be installed via the Chrome web store using the appropriate URL for your version of Blue Prism:

Blue Prism version: 6.5 or later – compatible extension version: 2.1.0 (Chrome and Edge compatible)

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blue-prism-browser-extens/nadpbbdaaifbaebnniobcfpiifbfokij

Edge compatibility is only available from Blue Prism 6.8 and is only appropriate for Chromium-based versions of Edge.

Blue Prism version: 6.3 and 6.4 – compatible extension version: 1.0.6.3 (Chrome only)

https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/blue-prism-browser-extens/oaflhlmnamdgbgdgakpihkkdfapkebfp

To install the Chrome browser extension for Chrome and Edge:

  1. Open Chrome or a Chromium-based version of Edge.
  2. Paste the URL for the required version into the address bar of the browser.

  3. Click Add to Chrome and confirm the installation when prompted.

A notification displays when installation is complete and the Blue Prism extension icon is added to the Browser toolbar.

Firefox

The Firefox browser extension installs automatically for Firefox versions up to and including 73. If you are using version 74, the extension must be installed manually as follows:

  1. Install Blue Prism.
  2. In Firefox, enter about:addons in the address bar.
  3. From the tools menu, select Install Add-on From File.

  4. From the Blue Prism install directory, select the FirefoxPlugin.xpi file.

    The default install location is: C:\Program Files\Blue Prism Limited\Blue Prism Automate

  5. Click Add.

A notification displays when installation is complete and the Blue Prism extension icon is added to the Firefox toolbar.

Browser extension registry keys

The following registry keys are applied when installing the browser extensions with the Blue Prism installer to instruct the browser to add the Blue Prism extension.

For situations where the browser extensions are to be installed independently or, where the registry values applied by the installer are prevented from persisting, such as if network restrictions override them, the settings can be applied using an alternative deployment method, such as Group Policy or Local Security Policy.

Chrome extension

Version 2.1.0 (Blue Prism releases 6.5 and above)

Registry Key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist

Name

1

Type

REG_SZ

Data

nadpbbdaaifbaebnniobcfpiifbfokij;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx

Version 1.0.6.3 (Blue Prism releases 6.3 to 6.4)

Registry Key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome\ExtensionInstallForcelist

Name

1

Type

REG_SZ

Data

oaflhlmnamdgbgdgakpihkkdfapkebfp;https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx

Firefox extension

Registry Key

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Mozilla\Firefox\Extensions

Name

{e385850c-828c-4c0e-96fc-c5dcc5bf947f}

Type

REG_SZ

Data

C:\Program Files\Blue Prism Limited\Blue Prism Automate\FirefoxPlugin.xpi

For custom install locations the path in the data value for the Firefox key is updated accordingly.