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Firefox 60.1.0esr on Linux won't open a pdf--has a nonworking reader as default, I can't change it

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  • Last reply by gnreeke

gnreeke
gnreeke
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Just updated to Firefox 60.1.0esr. I go to a web site that provides a pdf. I get the menu "Opening xxx.xxx.pdf" with choices "Open with" or "Save file" . "Open with" offers choice "/usr/bin/xdg-open (default)" which refuses to open the file. This program exists but I have no idea what it is or where it came from. My usual pdf reader is /usr/bin/evince. I would like to make that the Firefox default reader for pdfs. Clicking the down arrow on "Open with" there is an item "Other..." which opens a window "No applications found for application/pdf type files" and under that "View all applications" and there one sees only "evolution" and "firefox" No place to add another application. Going to Firefox preferences and clicking on the pdf entry gives a different, long list to select from, most of which are various files, not programs, from my home directory. So: Question: Where/how to change the default reader for pdf files? [Yeah, I know I can save the file and open it from a command window, but that gets boring quickly] Thanks, gnreeke

Just updated to Firefox 60.1.0esr. I go to a web site that provides a pdf. I get the menu "Opening xxx.xxx.pdf" with choices "Open with" or "Save file" . "Open with" offers choice "/usr/bin/xdg-open (default)" which refuses to open the file. This program exists but I have no idea what it is or where it came from. My usual pdf reader is /usr/bin/evince. I would like to make that the Firefox default reader for pdfs. Clicking the down arrow on "Open with" there is an item "Other..." which opens a window "No applications found for application/pdf type files" and under that "View all applications" and there one sees only "evolution" and "firefox" No place to add another application. Going to Firefox preferences and clicking on the pdf entry gives a different, long list to select from, most of which are various files, not programs, from my home directory. So: Question: Where/how to change the default reader for pdf files? [Yeah, I know I can save the file and open it from a command window, but that gets boring quickly] Thanks, gnreeke

Chosen solution

The solution given did not actually solve the problem--just reinstalled the bad pdf reader as the default--but it led me to the correct solution--while looking in the list of items in the "Other" menu, I noticed what I did not notice before, which was that over on the left there were icons that allowed me to switch to a different directory--by navigating to /usr/bin I could find evince and choose it. Suggest you add this to the instructions as the first thing to try. Given your method, I ended up having to redo all my preferences, reinstall NoScript which was removed by the Restart, etc. etc.

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All Replies (2)

Shadow110
Shadow110
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Hi, please try a Refresh but Note that this does more than uninstalling and re-installing does. Normal uninstalling does not remove some preferences which may have become corrupt. Please Refresh but do this 1st:

then

gnreeke
gnreeke Mwenye swali
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Suluhisho teule

The solution given did not actually solve the problem--just reinstalled the bad pdf reader as the default--but it led me to the correct solution--while looking in the list of items in the "Other" menu, I noticed what I did not notice before, which was that over on the left there were icons that allowed me to switch to a different directory--by navigating to /usr/bin I could find evince and choose it. Suggest you add this to the instructions as the first thing to try. Given your method, I ended up having to redo all my preferences, reinstall NoScript which was removed by the Restart, etc. etc.