Adding extensions

Chrome extension is specially packaged file (with .crx extension) that contains manifest file (most important), few HTML files, optional JavaScript and other ( like images) files. In this implementation we are use the latest version (4.0.249.89) of Chrome on a Windows machine. To start, create a folder on your machine that would contain all the required files for Chrome extension. Inside this folder create a file name 'manifest.jason'. This file contains information like files and capabilities used by extension. Here are the contents of manefest.jason we created:

{
  "name": "PCQuest Extension",
  "version": "1.0",
  "description": "The is the first extension that we made for PCQuest.",
  "browser_action": {
  "default_icon": "pcquest.png",
  "popup": "tool_pcquest.html"
}

}

We created a browser action extension that uses 'pcquest.png' and 'tool_pcquest.html' files that need to be created in the same folder. On the other hand, initial lines include name, version, and description of the extension. Here is the simple .html file we have created (tool_pcquest.html):

 


This is a TEST extension by PCQuest

Now that we have created the required files let's install these extensions. To do this, open Chrome browser and click on Tools icon and go to 'Extensions.' This will open the extensions page. The other way is to go to 'chrome://extensions/ ' page. On this page, click on the '+' sign in front of 'Developer mode' and then click on 'Load unpacked extension' button. Browse to the folder where you have created the extension and you are done. You can find all the loaded extensions from this page plus installation and un installation of extensions do not need a browser restart. This extension would show a 'PCQuest' logo and clicking on this logo would show a message created in 'tool_pcquest.html' page.

To package and update an extension visit 'chrome://extensions' in your browser and click on 'Pack Extension.'

The distribution of created extensions can be done by going to the extensions management page (chrome://extensions) and clicking on 'Pack Extension' button. In 'Pack Extension' window specify the path to the folder where you have created your extension, and click 'OK.' This will create two files (Chrome.crx and Chrome.pem). Here the file with '.crx' is the extension that can be installed while '.pem' file is private key. To update your extension make changes to the 'manifest.jason' file and again repeat the above steps. Specify the path to the private key and click on 'OK'. On the other hand, if you want to make your extension available on extension gallery then simply visit https://chrome.google.com/extensions and click on 'publish your extension' link. Here one needs to add ZIP file of the created extension along with information about the extension in form of screen shots or YouTube video.