The XSite Blog

There are a lot Firefox browser fans out here who don't like using Microsoft Internet Explorer or even Microsoft Windows. Naturally, we want to use Firefox, and perhaps even Macintosh or Linux for our XSites.

In fact, the only reason we at Market Moose internet marketing solutions keep Internet Explorer around is for alamode XSites customization and optimization.

Occasionally, the complaint of an absence of Firefox compatibility with the back end (works fine on the front end) comes up in a forum, and is listed as a reason to go with an inferior real estate site platform.

Where there's a will, however, there's a way. There are all kinds of things that any software company - alamode included - won't support - that's to be expected. But there's a difference between "unsupported" and "doesn't work at all". It's like being a beta-tester. If you're willing to put up with a quirk or two, you can do things that others won't be doing for some time. Case in point: I'm writing this XSite blog entry in Firefox, right now!

So here's a set of options for you managing your XSite in Firefox.

Disclaimer: Keep in mind, no one makes any guarantee that everything works with these methods, that everything does what's expected, or that all results are predictable. We're just saying that we're administering some alamode XSites with Firefox and, for you diehard Firefox lovers out there, we've gathered some nice methods. If you use any of these methods, we point to the more detailed instructions on the sites linked below to help you (not only does alamode not support any of these methods, but neither do we :-). That said, there is discussion on those sites, if you have trouble. Our stuff all worked great on the first try - no hitches at all.

There are several overall methods that we can comment on:

alamode XSite in Firefox Method 1: Install the User Agent Switcher plugin, and set it to IE7 within Firefox. This works for lots of things. I used a user agent toolbar for Firefox in 2004, because my university was IE only. These plugins simply fool any web site you designate into thinking you're logging in with Internet Explorer. If you're willing to live with a quirk or two, it works great for every day editing. This is what I'm using right this moment. This is not, however, a comprehensive solution to all XSite administrative functions, so we've also included some other methods.

The above is the only native Firefox and XSite solution that we're going to discuss that will work in Windows, Macintosh, or Linux (Yes, you can manage your alamode XSite in Linux, brother!). The other native method, involves hand-modifying Firefox, and just isn't simple, practical, or elegant like using an easy-to-install plugin. At the bottom of this article is a table showing what works and doesn't work with method #1.

The other solutions, require Internet Explorer to at least be installed on the computer, so you'll either need to be running Windows, or running IE in a virtual machine (or Wine) if you're a Linux user.

alamode XSite in Firefox Method 2: Install the IE Tab plugin for Firefox. This method simply opens selected pages "in Internet Explorer" but as seamless Firefox tabs. In other words, Firefox will use Internet Explorer's engine to open  your XSite, if you tell it to, and will display it entirely within Firefox itself, without opening IE as a full browser window. It's just another Firefox tab. So, yes you're using IE, but you're also using Firefox. If you're not ditching IE because you're using Linux or another non-Microsoft operating system, but you are using Windows and do have IE installed, this should (note the disclaimer above) mean that the alamode XSite's admin login and tools act exactly as they would if you opened a new IE window. Can't swear to it - I'm using method #1.

alamode XSite in Firefox Method 3: Install the IE View plugin for Firefox. This is quite similar to method 2, but just allows you to right click any page within Firefox and tell it to open in an IE window. Not as elegant, but if you're a purist, and want to use Firefox for everything but XSites, and still never click on that darned blue 'e', well this will take care of you. Furthermore, disclaimer above noted, this should mean that XSites work exactly the same way as you're used to, since it's really opening it in an IE window - just doing so from Firefox.

So, Firefox fans and alamode XSite users, remember you heard it first at Market Moose, you can quite easily manage or administer your alamode XSite in Firefox, including Linux and Macintosh versions.* Don't expect tech support to troubleshoot in Firefox - be good - if you have some kind of issue with your site, always test it in Microsoft Internet Explorer before giving them a call.

Notes:

* Keep Access to Windows and IE: There are surely other ways to use XSites in Linux and Mac, if Firefox is not your preference. See the links below for getting IE to work in other Operating Systems. However, as with Firefox, don't think that alamode will support it. Once you change operating systems, you're probably on your own, unless it's really an issue in IE on Windows, too and not specific to your OS or browser. If in doubt, before calling alamode tech support, have a buddy test for your problem in a supported version of Windows and IE. If it occurs there, too, you're surely good to call. In any case, you'll want to keep some access to Windows and IE.

* About Internet Explorer 8: This is Microsoft's lean version of the browser designed to try to keep up with Firefox. I uninstalled it immediately, once I tried it with the XSite. The admin interface just didn't work. Either use IE 5.5, 6 or 7, which are supported by alamode, or else (for the slightly more adventurous) go with Firefox. Remember Vista? Yeah, some of us have had enough with Microsoft - I was just curious. Our advice? Keep it at IE7 and don't upgrade to a new version of IE. :)

Method 1 (User Agent Switcher) Further Notes:
These are the results of our tests. Keep in mind, we think all of the things that don't work with method 1 will probably work with the other methods. In fact, we're proofing and correcting this article with Method 2, just to say we could. And we uploaded the graphics with method 3. Method 1 is basically for the regular content maintenance and contact functions of editing your blog and other pages, sending e-mail, and checking stats or contact info. For full-time management (and certainly for your applications, xsellerate marketing, and credit card processing), you'll need to rely on one of the other methods. Good news for appraisers is that, if you manager your contacts in Wintotal instead of the XSite, that part's taken care of.