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How do I add a new file type to Edit /Preferences / Applications?

  • 2 replies
  • 44 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by ahorn

eclecticos
eclecticos
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I am using Firefox 3.6.12 on Linux. When I try to download an .XLSB attachment from Gmail, Firefox tells me that this is a BIN file and my only option is to Download. It does not give me any ability to choose an application.

I would like to associate the extension or MIME type with OpenOffice, which can in fact open this file successfully once downloaded. How do I do this? Edit / Preferences / Applications does not list XLSB or BIN or anything else that seems useful. And there seems no way to add a new filetype.

Clicking Help in that dialog box takes me to http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options+window+-+Applications+panel?style_mode=inproduct&as=u which does not give any useful advice on how to add a new filetype (nor does it even say that it is impossible or requires hacking a MIME configuration file or something).

I am using Firefox 3.6.12 on Linux. When I try to download an .XLSB attachment from Gmail, Firefox tells me that this is a BIN file and my only option is to Download. It does not give me any ability to choose an application. I would like to associate the extension or MIME type with OpenOffice, which can in fact open this file successfully once downloaded. How do I do this? Edit / Preferences / Applications does not list XLSB or BIN or anything else that seems useful. And there seems no way to add a new filetype. Clicking Help in that dialog box takes me to http://support.mozilla.com/en-US/kb/Options+window+-+Applications+panel?style_mode=inproduct&as=u which does not give any useful advice on how to add a new filetype (nor does it even say that it is impossible or requires hacking a MIME configuration file or something).

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
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With which MIME type does the server send the BIN files?

See "File handling in Firefox 3 and SeaMonkey 2": http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions

ahorn
ahorn
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The general question is how to get firefox to call a homemade script/program, when it "meets" a special mime-type (i.e. another file with a homemade extension). My firefox 5.0 can not "see" the local scripts on my MAC OSX (Snow leopard), although it is indeed executable (the script appears "grey" in the list). How can you force firefox to accept homemade scripts associated to homemade file-extensions/mime types?