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Confluence uses a lot of javascript. Every plugin comes with a its own (sometimes several) javascript libraries. And no browser handles javascript better today than Google chrome.

BUT - there is one problem to the wide spread adoption of Google chrome for us Confluence lovers. The rich text editor.

I turns out there is a simple "user agent" check in the MCE plugin that looks for to check the browser type.

How to fix the Rich text view in Google Chrome

  1. Create a new shortcut to Google chrome on your desktop. (Copy and paste an existing one or right click it in your start bar to create short cut)
  2. Rename it "Chrome (wiki version)"
  3. Right click and edit the properties.
  4. add this to the end of the target: -user-agent="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)"

That's it. Now, you can use chrome as usual but when/if you want the rich text editor, just use the shortcut to open a new window!

You should know see the rich text editor of confluence in Google Chrome

(note that other sites like gmail, and twitter, don't work right in this modified version - use your regular shortcut for those).

Let me know in the comments if this method works for you. Thanks.

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14 Comments

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  1. May 09, 2009

    Anonymous

    Thanks a lot - I just tried this and it works. You guys rock!

  2. Jul 09, 2009

    Anonymous

    Yes, it works perfectly, but....

    How to make google chrome ALWAYS use this user agent? For example, I have .html on my HDD, and if I open it, chrome will not use -user-agent key.

    By the way, Windows 7 and IE8 have same problem with the RTE in confluence.

  3. Aug 05, 2009

    Anonymous

    my user directory has a folder name with a space in it (i.e. c:/users/user name/etc/) so making it like:

    "C:\Users\Rene Antonio Bajo\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe -user-agent="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)""

    or

    'C:\Users\Rene Antonio Bajo\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe -user-agent="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)"'

    or

    C:\Users\Rene Antonio Bajo\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe -user-agent="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)"

    DOESN'T WORK. Please advise.

    1. Aug 06, 2009

      Cody Burleson

      The command shell does not recognize spaces in path names. Any path name with spaces must be enclosed in quotation marks.

  4. Aug 06, 2009

    Anonymous

    Here's what I did ( I had the same problem with spaces in the path name) and it worked :

    "C:\Documents and Settings\username\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" -user-agent="Mozilla/4.0 (compatible; MSIE 6.0; Windows NT 5.1)"

    Basically add the user agent option after the first set of quotes.

  5. Aug 07, 2009

    Anonymous

    works like a charm. anonymous rocks!

  6. Aug 14, 2009

    Anonymous

    this is terrific - thanks.

  7. Dec 14, 2009

    Anonymous

    Tested this trick with chrome on linux, works there as well...

    Interestingly, when the new shortcut is clicked, the new window is opened in the same context as existing chrome windows, and the existing windows' user agents are also set to mozilla***.

    guven

  8. Dec 23, 2009

    Anonymous

    How do you do this for Google Chrome mac os x?

    Thks!

    Martijn

  9. Feb 19, 2010

    Anonymous

    In all seriousness, this is the most groundbreaking thing Ive ever seen. Its SO useful. Thanks!

  10. Feb 25, 2010

    Anonymous

    I use the ietab extension instead:

    https://chrome.google.com/extensions/detail/hehijbfgiekmjfkfjpbkbammjbdenadd

  11. Nov 22, 2010

    Anonymous

    just a minor point that when you are adding this option to linux launcher for google chrome, use --user-agent instead of -user-agent !!

  12. Jan 31, 2011

    Anonymous

    Thank you very very much; it works completely perfect...

  13. Apr 12, 2011

    Anonymous

    great info chrome has many bugs for certain platforms my free cams