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= Preferences > Plugins =

== Plugins == #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 several 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.

== Automatic installation via Preferences menu ==

Common steps:
1. Launch the [[Image(source:/trunk/images/preference.png,15)]] **Preferences** dialog.
1. Select the tab [[Image(source:trunk/images/preferences/plugin.png,15)]] **Plugins**.

=== Installing plugins ===

1. (optionally) click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/download.png,15)]] **Download list** to download the list of available plugins (if nothing was shown)
1. Tick the checkbox for every plugin you want to install.
1. Click on  **OK**.

JOSM will download and install the plugins. Some plugins don't require a restart of JOSM, you will be prompted only if you need to.

=== Updating plugins === #AutomaticUpdate

On start-up, 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 period of time has elapsed since the last plugin update. This is called the **time based updated mode**.

In both cases, JOSM offers to update the currently active plugins and you are advised to run the updates by clicking on **Update plugins**. You may also skip updating, but be warned, that installed plugins could be incompatible with the new JOSM version and that they might either fail to load or fail to work as expected.

[[Image(wiki:Plugins:automatic-update.png)]]

Select **Do not ask again and remember my decision** if JOSM should always try the selected action without asking for confirmation. If you select this checkbox, JOSM won't display this dialogue anymore.


== Plugin update policy ==#PluginUpdatePolicy

[[Image(plugin_update_policy_preferences_macOS.png)]]

* 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=30'').

=== Manual installation ===

In most cases, users don't need to do this.

==== Manually installing plugins ====
If the automatic way does not work, you can install plugins manually by putting the .jar files in the **plugins** directory under {{{josm}}} directory.

{{{josm}}} location was covered at [[Help/Preferences#JOSMpreferencedatacachedirectories]].

Now restart JOSM and the plugins should show up in the plugin list under **''Edit -> Preferences -> [[Image(source:trunk/images/preferences/plugin.png,15)]] [wiki:Help/Preferences/Plugins Plugins]''**.[[BR]] Activate the Plugins, click on [[Image(source:/trunk/images/ok.png,15)]] **OK** to save the preferences and restart JOSM once more.

==== Manually updating plugins ====
1. Launch the [[Image(source:trunk/images/preference.png,15)]] **Preferences** dialog.
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. Your installed plugins are already selected at the checkboxes
1. Click on [[Image(source:trunk/images/dialogs/refresh.png,15)]] **Update plugins**.

JOSM will update the selected plugins. You have to restart JOSM to complete the update process. 


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

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