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I recently installed a new version of Mathematica and it includes an optional companion package entitled "Wolfram Extras". Is there any official documentation (release notes?) that details what programs, packages, or functionality are installed by this optional component?

After installation of 10.2, the Mathematica preferences dialog displays the following listing (next to the button "Install Wolfram Extras"):

Wolfram System Browser Plug-in
Not Installed

Notebook Indexer for Windows
Not Installed

Notebook Indexer for Google Desktop Search
Not Applicable

Notebook Indexer for Copernic Desktop Search
Not Applicable

The comments from user @Lou on this related question (78536) mention some of the things past "extras" packages have included:

UPDATE: In Mathematica 11.1 the "Install Wolfram Extras" button as well as the information about installed Wolfram Extras is removed from the "System" tab of the "Preferences" dialog. In version 11.0.1 this information is available.

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  • $\begingroup$ On OSX at least, the Extras package currently only installs the browser plug-in. As far as I know, it installs nothing else (the Spotlight plugin has been removed). $\endgroup$
    – Stefan R
    Commented Jul 14, 2015 at 19:44
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    $\begingroup$ @StefanR Why was the Spotlight plugin removed? I find it quite useful to be able to check notebooks with QuickLook. Are you saying that if I only ever had 10.2 installed, this functionality would not be available? $\endgroup$
    – Szabolcs
    Commented Aug 19, 2015 at 15:09
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    $\begingroup$ @Szabolcs The Spotlight Plugin is now contained inside the Mathematica app bundle itself, and does not need to be installed separately like it used to be. The plugin itself is alive and well :) $\endgroup$
    – Stefan R
    Commented Aug 20, 2015 at 15:59
  • $\begingroup$ In Mathematica 11.1 the "Install Wolfram Extras" button as well as the information about installed Wolfram Extras is removed from the "System" tab of the "Preferences" dialog. In version 11.0.1 this information is available. $\endgroup$
    – Alexey Popkov
    Commented Mar 20, 2017 at 8:39

1 Answer 1

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The Wolfram Extras on Windows as of version 10.2 include the following

  • the browser addons, namely npmathplugin.dll (an NPAPI plugin, compatible with e.g. Firefox, but no longer supported by Chrome) and MathPlugin.dll (ActiveX control for Internet Explorer), which are typically installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Wolfram Research\Browser along with the requisite MathLink libraries.

  • the following search plugins, which are typically installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Wolfram Research\Search: CopernicNotebookIndexer.dll for Copernic Desktop Search, GoogleNotebookIndexer.dll for Google Desktop and WindowsNotebookIndexer.dll for Windows Search.

  • the EndNote citation management integration plugin, MathEndNote.dll typically installed under C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\ResearchSoft\EndNote\Plugins.

On Mac OS X, as already mentioned in the comments, the Extras.pkg installer currently contains only the NPAPI browser plugin installed under /Library/Internet Plug-Ins. The Spotlight search indexing plugin, Wolfram Notebook.mdimporter and Quick Look preview plugin, Wolfram Notebook.qlgenerator are no longer installed separately but are placed inside the Mathematica.app bundle.

On Linux, there are no Wolfram Extras.

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  • $\begingroup$ Could you take a look here? I tagged it as bug but I'm less confident about it now. $\endgroup$
    – Szabolcs
    Commented Aug 21, 2015 at 6:12
  • $\begingroup$ Is there a way to check that the "Notebook Indexer for Windows" plug-in does work? For what is it intended for actually? $\endgroup$
    – Alexey Popkov
    Commented Jul 18, 2016 at 15:46
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    $\begingroup$ To index the contents of notebooks for Windows Search. Both .nb and .nbp should appear as registered file types in the indexing preferences, and performing a search should find any notebook files with matching contents. $\endgroup$
    – ilian
    Commented Jul 18, 2016 at 16:47

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