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Firefox won't automatically open .pls file

  • 6 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 7 views
  • Last reply by n5mx

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Using High Criteria Total Recorder, a job starts and downloads a file *.pls but Firefox will not permit it be automatically opened every time, the 'Do this automatically every time for files like this' is grayed out. Here is the link:

http://veniceclassicradio.eu/live1/128.pls

Using High Criteria Total Recorder, a job starts and downloads a file *.pls but Firefox will not permit it be automatically opened every time, the 'Do this automatically every time for files like this' is grayed out. Here is the link: http://veniceclassicradio.eu/live1/128.pls

Chosen solution

As a workaround, you can define a new content type using my extension here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/

Here's how:

(1) Turn on listening by clicking its button (Zzzz disappears and a yellow burst appears on the button)

(2) Start the download again, you can cancel out of the Open/Save dialog

(3) Click the toolbar button and click Add/Edit Content Types

(4) A tab will appear with a table showing your download request. Click Add for the .pls file and assign a content-type (the fictitious one usually is fine).

The table will show that row is now obsolete. Ignore that.

You can close this tab.

(5) Try the download again and you should now be able to define a persistent behavior (check the box).

Does that work on yours?

You can disable the extension when you are not downloading .pls files. Click the button and then click Stop Listening/Clear Log.

Read this answer in context 👍 1

All Replies (6)

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This file is send as a generic content type and in such a case it isn't possible to select this choice.

  • Content-Type application/octet-stream
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The reply: "it isn't possible to select this choice" is unhelpful because Google Chrome permits a user to select 'this choice' for this file type. Sorry Firefox, this is lame of you and your agent who provided the answer.

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Firefox needs a valid content-type send by the server for an automatic action. The file extension is only used as a fallback and in that case Firefox will offer to open the file in the default application for this file extension. This has always been the case and is done for security reasons because a website (or a post on a website) can easily spoof the file extension.

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Chosen Solution

As a workaround, you can define a new content type using my extension here:

https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/addon/content-type-fixer/

Here's how:

(1) Turn on listening by clicking its button (Zzzz disappears and a yellow burst appears on the button)

(2) Start the download again, you can cancel out of the Open/Save dialog

(3) Click the toolbar button and click Add/Edit Content Types

(4) A tab will appear with a table showing your download request. Click Add for the .pls file and assign a content-type (the fictitious one usually is fine).

The table will show that row is now obsolete. Ignore that.

You can close this tab.

(5) Try the download again and you should now be able to define a persistent behavior (check the box).

Does that work on yours?

You can disable the extension when you are not downloading .pls files. Click the button and then click Stop Listening/Clear Log.

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ThorntonTarr said

Using High Criteria Total Recorder, a job starts and downloads a file *.pls but Firefox will not permit it be automatically opened every time, the 'Do this automatically every time for files like this' is grayed out. Here is the link: http://veniceclassicradio.eu/live1/128.pls

Brilliant, this works perfectly. I understand the security aspect but it would have been easier to ask a security related exception question instead of this add-on. However, I am good to go. cheers

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this sure is a very neat add-on. helpful in other cases too, of course.

One can associate a file type with a bash 1-liner to further lauch stuff and process params & URL