I made an add-on that brings back the original widgets. It doesn’t look pretty, but it does the job. It should be useful until the pending issue is resolved.
It hasn’t been reviewed yet, but I expect that to happen soon.
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Thank you !!!
Now how to get Mozilla to restore this functionality to the site permanently?
For all those interested, go download this Add-on, and show support for it by writing a positive review. Then spread the word!
1 Like
Also, add your voice to the discussion here: mozilla/addons-server#2264
They seem to be paying attention to the feedback on that thread.
I have removed collection from the add-ons page as we see very limited use of that feature. But of course that does not necessarily mean that they are not important to the add-on ecosystem.
In this and other threads I have read comments on their importance for the add-on ecosystem. Argument mentioned to support that are that collections keep users engaged that create them and that they help users find relevant add-ons.
I would like to better understand the full impact collections have on the ecosystem and what they are used for.
Those in here curating & using collections, could you please help me understand what it is that makes them valuable for you:
What is your motivation to create collections?
Self-Organization, Helping others, Fame, remembering great extensions/themes or other
Who uses the collections you create?
Mostly me, mostly others
And what are you creating collections for?
mostly Extensions, more for Themes or both
Why are you using collections?
Looking forward to any feedback. Thanks.
And thanks @jorgev for creating that extension.
What is your motivation to create collections?
–> Remembering great extensions.
I use multiple profiles and sometimes write about add-ons.
Collections allow me to categorize and semi-quickly access my favorite, most used, essential, and other add-ons. Simple bookmarks don’t offer as much info or as many features.
–> Helping others.
I don’t always remember the names of add-ons and so search doesn’t cut it when I’m looking for an extension that I want to suggest to an individual for a particular purpose or to address an issue/annoyance etc. Sorted collections help.
Who uses the collections you create?
Peyton Manning and Shakira.
Okay, mostly me.
My Thunderbird one is the exception.
And what are you creating collections for?
Extensions only.
There aren’t enough full themes 
Why are you using collections?
So I spend less time viewing porn. I have problems. 
Actually, just refer to my first answers.
While I do like having collections, if the call to 86 them is made, I won’t be pissed or lose sleep.
There are greater things to lose in life, like, losing a testicle in a knife fight with a monkey.
With that being said, just please gives us a heads up on the AMO blog if collections will be removed so that we have time to come up with an alternative.
And sincere thanks to Jorge for the add-on! 
3 Likes
Yes, that’s the great!
And about : [quote=“maritz, post:24, topic:8015”]
Those in here curating & using collections, could you please help me understand what it is that makes them valuable for you:
[/quote]
I agree with KenSaunders …
Ps:
The login to this forum is painful.
We need to be motived to use this one!.
Too complex and take a long time to be connected.
And it said that’s a “simplified” login system!
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totally agree - but not backwards (cause not remember that times without) - to nowhere…
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@Fox , @smayer97 , @hiccups1980 , @anzi
Could you please help me understand your arguments for collections and your motivation to use them?
https://discourse.mozilla-community.org/t/no-favorite-button-in-new-amo-design/8015/24?u=maritz
What is your motivation to create collections?
-> Remembering all my addons
-> Fast access to all my favorite addons on other PCs (not at home; for example at friend PCs)
Who uses the collections you create?
-> Me and sometimes my friends (I share the link with them)
And what are you creating collections for?
-> Extensions
Why are you using collections?
-> Easy way to find everything fast and the overview is great.
2 Likes
What is your motivation to create collections?
- AMO search is crap so I need collections to find addons quickly
- When setting up new PC or a friends PC I want a collection of essential add ons
- I use this to recommend to others
- addons installed detail pages do not always link back to their AMO page making them hard to find
- I need to keep a note about the addon (which I do in the collection) to remind me why this occasionally used addon is something I need to keep installed
Who uses the collections you create?
- Me. (I looked at addons and checked what collections they were when evaluating a new add on)
And what are you creating collections for?
- Extensions which are NOW called addons
Why are you using collections?
- Easy way to find everything fast, categorise addon into essential, useful, etc
removing add to button has to be the most stupid thing you could do - this is why we can’t have nice things because some genius comes and breaks it.
3 Likes
I am amazed that something as simple as the “add button” has been removed this is so frustrating to someone who maintains collections. Maybe we should remove the add button from SUMO or put it in some obfuscated location it would certainly discourage bug reporting :-p
It is like you saved a patient and someone 7 months later shoots the patient in the head and says “Oh I did not think that person was valuable”. I would have used the sorting too as well as sorting within a collection when doing “editting” but that’s another feature that does not exist.
1 Like
[quote=“smayer97, post:16, topic:8015, full:true”]
Actually, it takes MANY more steps than that:
…[/quote]
omg you are in for so much pain and torture under this new backward “design”
For me, I sometimes need to create notes attached to an addon. For example, it may be on feature you need very infrequently and that solves a particular problem on a particular site. There have been past times when I look at an installed addon and think no why did I install that? - then go back to see I have it in my must have collection and I made a note why I need it, so where else is logical place to do that? Sometimes I need notes because addon description is just poorly written.
2 Likes
Any chance this would work with Firefox v44.x - I can download and tweak the version number if you think it may work. (Not ready to update to v45.x yet)
I changed the compat metadata to support 44. I haven’t tested it myself, but I think it should work, so give it a try.
Thank you. Should it work as before? I noticed it does not detect if addon is already in an existing collection. Having two or more https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/… pages all looking at different addons then “tick” one page and other pages get “tick” too. Are you seeing that in v45 as well?
It should work the same as before. As far as I know, the only change done was to hide the nodes in the page, and all the add-on does is make them visible again.
2 Likes
This seems to be a cache refresh issue. When you click on Add to Collection, the list appears to pull the info from the previously updated list, that is, if you add/remove an add-on from a collection, then go to look at another add-on and click on Add to Collection, the list presented is from the previous time used.
This appears to be a bug in the Add to Collection routine and existed even before this add-on was created.
The work-around is to click on any check mark to “add” the add-on to a collection, then uncheck it. This will force a refresh of the list.
What is your motivation to create collections?
Let me count the ways! There are so many reasons…some already mentioned above:
(the following is ONLY a sample)
- tracking and organization - keep track of useful add-ons
- categorize add-ons by usage, features
- note taking - add extra notes about features, compatibility, comparison with other similar add-ons
- research - keep track of similar add-ons - when one starts to fail or is no longer being developed, allows tracking of GOOD alternatives I have already found, researched, tested, etc. out of the HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of add-ons.
- AMO search capabilities are TERRIBLE and NOT accurate. Finding something you once saw is VERY difficult. Collections provide a way to track add-ons of interest for present or future use/testing.
NOTE: even if search capabilities are improved, searching is only the first step…keeping track of something you like is a different work-flow. They go hand-in-hand. - create sets for specific tasks
- create sets for easy set up of new computers for myself or other users
- share preferred sets with other users, friends, family, etc.
- discoverability - seeing other people’s collections helps highlight other add-ons of interest and leverage other people’s research work. This has helped me find add-ons I would NOT have otherwise found
- fast access to all work previously done
Who uses the collections you create?
- see above - mostly me (since I manage many computers), but shared with other users, friends, family
And what are you creating collections for?
mostly add-ons/extensions
Why are you using collections?
- see above
Areas where Collections could be improved (I think these are some of the obstacles to them not being used as much, or as efficiently)
- RESTORE the “Add To Collection” links for ALL users. Provides FAST access and FAST and EASY management of collections (I not think 2 links on the AMO page is a big deal, given that there is SO MUCH MORE OTHER INFO anyway – Move them if you must but PLEASE DON’T REMOVE them). .
- do not limit list of collections to 20/page - makes finding a collection easier (I have 120+)
- do not limit the list of add-ons within a collection to 20/page - makes searching in larger collections easier
- add search capability in collections to list/filter collections of interest, e.g. other collections using specific add-on
- add sorts to be consistent in all views, by name, popularity, last added - list of My collections, list of add-ons in collections (just like within a collection)
- add link to original add-on in the list of add-ons in a collection. If add-on removed from AMO, remove LINK but NOT add-on name (as is currently done)
- add a way to promote collections, like add-ons are promoted
So again…I think there is an UNDER-ESTIMATION of the impact of the use of collections. Even if the numbers appear to be low, the number of people that are impacted is significantly higher, because one person may be using collections to assist MANY others. This is one of the reasons that makes FIREFOX and its AMO and collections such a HEAD above the rest.
P.S. I miss the Add-On Collector and Massive Extender add-ons of old that were discontinued by Mozilla that added more functionality to organize, sort, search collections and add-ons, All of this OFFLINE. Provided easy installation features to get new set-ups up and running quickly.
3 Likes