Helper application is saved, but not used
I'm downloading many files with the same MIME type. On the first download, I specified the proper helper application, and selected "Do this automatically … from now on." The download was handed off to the helper application properly. Firefox Preferences correctly showed the new MIME type recorded along with the proper helper application. Everything looked good.
However, all subsequent downloads of that same MIME type continue to ask what helper application to use. It is completely ignoring the preference that has been set. I have already attempted deleting the mimetypes.rdf and handlers.json files, restarting Firefox, and re-specifying the application for the file type, but that did not work.
What can I do to make this functionality actually function?
All Replies (5)
Hi JamesMcLean, it's difficult to think of any reasonable explanation for that. If you don't have "Always Ask" set, why would Firefox treat this Content-Type that way?
Can we rule out any peculiarities of private browsing mode?
Do the files all have the same extension? Firefox may treat some "executable" extensions specially, for example, .exe doesn't have an Open option.
Thanks for the reply, jscher. Difficult to explain, indeed!
Attached are two screenshots, taken after "Restart with Add-ons Disabled", and in a Private browsing window. As you can see, they are both for QFX files, but served with different MIME types. Both have been registered to be opened with Quicken 2017, and yet Firefox refuses to respect that setting for either of them.
I've now tried with a DOCX file, with the same results. At this point it appears that my Firefox will not respect any entry in my Applications list. (And I've checked: the behavior is unaffected by whether "Downloads" is set to Always Ask or to a specific folder.)
If it makes any difference, I'm on a Mac system (OS X 10.11.6). So EXE's are not an issue, although QFX files are data files anyhow. I'm also having the same experience on another computer, running macOS 10.14.4. Is there any evidence out there that this functionality EVER works?
Hi JamesMcLean, thank you for the screenshots.
I wasn't recommending using Private Browsing, I thought that might create a problem saving your setting. But anyway, the setting is saved, that's not the problem.
The first one says it is from blob: so that could be a factor, but when I experiment with two pages, one that generates a CSS file locally via a blob and the other a regular download link, neither of them opens automatically (I have to click Open or press Enter). By contrast, setting "Save File" successfully bypasses the Open/Save/Cancel dialog and lets me choose folder/rename file.
Blob -- https://www.userchrome.org/download-userchrome-css.html
Normal -- https://www.userchrome.org/samples/userChrome-oldStyleURLbarDropdown.css
I am puzzled by this, as I recall it working when I tested before (not very recently).
If I understand you, we are having the same experience. (I tested using the links that you included.) Selecting "Save File" as the action is respected. Selecting an application as the action is never respected.
I guess that I should submit this as a bug? I'm not sure where to do that.
This is the bug tracking site where you can search for or file a new bug: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/