Impact of Netscape Plug-in API (NPAPI) deprecation in Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla based browsers and the effect on Creo View

• The Netscape Plug-in Application Programming Interface (NPAPI) is the mechanism by which the PTC Creo View application user interface can be embedded in the Mozilla Firefox web browser.
• This article documents the impact of the Netscape Plug-in API (NPAPI) deprecation by the Mozilla based browsers on the use of the Creo View client in the Windchill UI
• The Mozilla Organization has been progressively tightening the security for the use of Netscape Plug-in API (NPAPI) based Add-ons in the Mozilla Firefox browser
  • Refer to CS220771 - Impact of the Mozilla Firefox requirement for Mozilla Signing of NPAPI based Plug-ins / Add-ons on Creo View
• Mozilla Firefox will no longer support Netscape Plug-in API (NPAPI) based Add-ons in:
  • The ESR stream from early 2018 (ESR 60.x)
  • The Mainstream release stream from March 2017
• Note: Windchill is only officially supported on the Mozilla Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR) stream
• For details of the Google Chrome NPAPI deprecation, refer to CS197208

Symptoms during the phased deprecation of NPAPI based Addons in Mozilla Firefox:

• Mozilla Firefox ESR 45.x and 52.x (Mainstream release 40 or greater, up until March 2017):
  • Symptoms will be as described in article CS220771
  • Only the 32-bit version of the Mozilla Firefox ESR 52.x browser will continue to support NPAPI Plugins
  • Creo View has only ever provided a 32-bit Plug-in, however, so no 64-bit support is a moot point (see CS203531)
• Mozilla Firefox ESR 60.x or later (and Mainstream 52+ releases after the March 2017 change):
  • The Creo View Thumbnail Viewer will not embed or launch and no error message is displayed
  • Only the 2D Thumbnail Image will be displayed on the Windchill Part and CAD Document Information page Details tab
  • The WTPart and EPMdocument Information page Structure > Visualization sub-tab (PSB) will display no geometry (blank)
  • The Open in Creo View action (anywhere in the Windchill UI) will launch a blank sub-window but the client will not launch
  • The Creo View Version Checker will not notify users when an update is made to the Creo View client on the Windchill server
  • Attempting to Open in Creo View or use the Structure > Visualization tab in Windchill results in a blank page containing either of the following messages:

    Install Creo View Client Stop Checking for new versions

    Or:

    Install New Version Use Current Version

    But none of these options re-enables the Creo View client