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= Preferences > Plugins =

Plugins extend the core functionality of JOSM. The [wiki:/Plugins list of JOSM plugins] explains which plugins are available and with what kind of functionality they extend JOSM.   

Most JOSM users don't work with the bare JOSM core only. They usually install at a set of at least 3-5 plugins.

**Please, install only the plugins you need.** Plugins will probably rise the chance of code errors and some combinations might even not been tested.

== Installing plugins ==

1. Launch the [[Image(source:/trunk/images/preference.png,15)]] **Preferences** dialog. {''{{{F12}}}''}
1. Select the tab [[Image(source:trunk/images/preferences/plugin.png,15)]] **Plugins**.
1. Click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/download.png,15)]] **Download list** to download the list of available plugins.
1. Tick the checkbox for every plugin you want to install.
1. Click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/dialogs/refresh.png,15)]] **Update plugins**.

JOSM will download and install the plugins. You have to restart JOSM to **load and activate** the newly downloaded plugins. 

== Manually updating plugins ==
1. Launch the [[Image(source:trunk/images/preference.png,15)]] **Preferences** dialog. {''{{{F12}}}''}
1. Select the tab [[Image(source:trunk/images/preferences/plugin.png,15)]] **Plugins**
1. Click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/download.png,15)]] **Download list** do download the list of available plugins
1. Tick the checkbox for every plugin you want to update
1. Click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/dialogs/refresh.png,15)]] **Update plugins**

JOSM will download and install the most recent version of the selected plugins. You have to restart JOSM to **load and activate** the newly downloaded plugins. 

== Automatically updating plugins == #AutomaticUpdate
JOSM checks at startup whether the currently active plugins should be updated. JOSM attempts to update the plugins
* if JOSM itself has been updated since the last plugin update. This is called the **version based update mode**.
* if a certain periode of time has elapsed since the last plugin update. This is called the **time based updated mode**.

In the preferences you can define the policy for both updating plugins modes.

1. Launch the [[Image(source:trunk/images/preference.png,15)]] **Preferences** dialog {''{{{F12}}}''}
1. Select the tab [[Image(source:trunk/images/preferences/plugin.png,15)]] **Plugins**
1. Click the tab **Plugin update policy**

[[Image(plugin_update_policy_preferences.png,450)]]

* Select the radio button **Ask before updating** if JOSM shall ask before updating plugins in version and/or time based update mode.
* Select the radio button **Always update without asking** if JOSM shall automatically update plugins without asking. 
* Select the radio button **Never update** to disable version or time based automatic update. JOSM will skip automatic update at startup if this policy is selected. 

The interval in days for the **time based updated mode** can be set below the radio buttons (''default=60'').

== See also ==
* [wiki:/Plugins List of JOSM plugins]
* [Help/Plugins Plugin Help]

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