How to use "firebug-lite" for UI issues on Internet Explorer

  • 7011123
  • 14-Apr-2011
  • 02-Nov-2012

Environment

NetIQ Access Governance Suite

Situation

When analyzing UI-related issues in Access Governance Suite, the "firebug" add-on proves very useful. However, this add-on works only on the Firefox browser. Many UI scenarios involve other browsers, notably Internet Explorer.

In most UI issues, IE defaults to a popup window with the "500" generic-type error. Obtain more details by disabling the "Friendly HTTP error messages" feature (tools - internet options - advanced). The full error msg and line number then displays. If more details are need for these scenarios, then there exists a (scaled-down) server-side script to assist in the UI inspection.

Resolution

To install the "firebug-lite" script, follow these steps:

1) "Save Link As" the contents from this link to Access Governance Suite's "scripts" dir:
https://getfirebug.com/firebug-lite.js

2) Modify the xhtml page at issue (eg, if viewing identity, then "define/identity/identity.xhtml" file) to call the script after the "link element. In tomcat, no rebooting is needed to run the script:

<link href="#{base.requestContextPath}/scripts/myfacescalendar/theme.css"
  rel="stylesheet" type="text/css"/>

<script type='text/javascript'
  src="#{base.requestContextPath}/scripts/firebug-lite-compressed.js">
</script>

The "firebug-lite" script runs under IE browsers (and Firefox, if needed) with the same "Inspect" features as the full add-on. A few other options, are available (sorry no JavaScript debugging):

http://getfirebug.com/firebuglite