Firefox & automatically opening files

[neljan]

Greetings...

I have noticed that with certain file formats, I am unable to choose the option for having FF automatically choose which application to use with the file in the future.

For instance, .aac is a music file which I use Wmplayer to play (although aac is a quicktime file - I have codecs installed) but when I open the file in FF, I am always presented with this:



As you can see, the box where I select 'do this automatically...' is shaded & I can't tick it, therefore I will have to always navigate to wmplayer.exe for this type of file.

Is there a way I can have FF automatically open .aac with WMP?

(without installing quicktime!)

[TheEmperor]

In firefox click on Tools, Options, click the Content Tab, then click the button at the bottom that says "Manage". There you can choose how Firefox handles most files.
If you don't see the AAC file type there you might be able to get it to show up by right clicking on one and choosing Save As and saving it. That seems to randomly add the file type to the manage list.

[neljan]

Thanks Emperor

AAC wasn't in the list (wouldn't you know it!).

you might be able to get it to show up by right clicking on one and choosing Save As and saving it.

I tried saving an AAC to my HD but it made no difference, I restarted FF just to see if the AAC would be added but it wasn't...

?

[WillyW]

Try here:
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_files_using_plugins

[neljan]

Thanks Will

According to what I can gather, it's something to do with the type of MIME being sent from the site.

I downloaded a plug-in (Live HTTP headers) to help me to determine what kind of MIME it is - but in all honesty I don't know what I'm looking for (MIME's a new one on me!)

I also downloaded another plug-in (MIME edit) that enables you to manually add a new type of MIME. Looking down the list of already installed types, I saw (for example) application/pdf. Anyway, I noticed while using 'Live HTTP headers' with the site 'application/octet-stream' came up so I added that using 'MIME edit'.

I tried the AAC again & I still have the same results EXCEPT that before I added application/octet-stream the default application was 'aac_auto_file (default)' now I have wmplayer already there (however scrolling down still shows 'aac_auto_file' as being (default).

I'm going to have to have a proper read up on this MIME stuff...

Time for a coffee...

[Broni]

It's most likely not your fault...
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Opening_files_using_plugins#Misconfigured_web_server

Sometimes a misconfigured web server will send a file with an inappropriate MIME type and, instead of the file automatically opening with the browser plugin, an "Opening" dialog box will appear, asking you to either save the file or open it with a chosen external application. This may happen with .wmv (Windows Media Video) files sent as "text/plain" instead of the correct "video/x-ms-wmv" MIME type (see bug 250914, probably related to the fix for bug 220807, outlined here). A Google Groups search shows that this can also occur when downloading .swf (Shockwave Flash) flies and, most likely, other types of files for which a plugin is installed, when the inappropriate "text/plain" MIME type is sent. A similar issue can occur with the "application/octet-stream" MIME type [2]. (Note that the MIME type of the file being downloaded will appear in the Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey "Opening" dialog box, but not in Firefox.) If the problem occurs with some downloads of a particular type file but not others, it is likely that the web server is misconfigured; unfortunately there is nothing you can do in such cases except to contact the website about the problem.

[Broni]

http://kb.mozillazine.org/File_types_and_download_actions

In Firefox, MIME types that are not handled by plugins do not appear in the Download Actions listing unless you have previously encountered that type of file and checked the option in the "Opening" dialog box to "Do this automatically for files like this from now on", as described above. You cannot add new file types to the Download Actions listing in Firefox, as you can in Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey. The MIME Edit extension provides the Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey "Helper Applications" interface as a Firefox add-on.

[neljan]

It's most likely not your fault...

  must be a first

Thanks Broni, I did read those pages already & I'm going with:

it is likely that the web server is misconfigured; unfortunately there is nothing you can do in such cases except to contact the website about the problem.

Until I come across another aac file on a different site.

[Broni]

I'm starting to regret, I advised you to install Firefox.....LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[neljan]

It's all your blooming fault see!

Why didn't you just let me browse in ignorance?

[neljan]

Thanks Broni, I did read those pages already & I'm going with:

it is likely that the web server is misconfigured; unfortunately there is nothing you can do in such cases except to contact the website about the problem.

Until I come across another aac file on a different site.

And also because it's the easiest solution! LOL!

[Broni]

Seriously, it's Firefox self-defense. If that checkbox was not grayed out, and the file was associated with wrong MIME type (say "text"), and you checkmarked it, all correct text files would automatically open with Firefox.