RE: Firefox helper applications (system-wide)

[Greg Hosler <greg hosler per sg>]

Last month I needed to find out how come a plugin I was using was not being
called. I ran firefox under strace. unbelieveable the things that are checked.
I no longer have any of those strace outputs around, but I do recall something
related to the desktop entries being checked (but forget which directory).

I'd be *real* interested in any resource you find out about!

best rgds,

-Greg

On 30-Aug-2005 Jos Vos wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I'm trying to figure out the algorithm of how Firefox determines
> its helper applications for a certain mime type (that it offers
> you with the "Open with ..." selection), assuming the user did
> not configure/overrule any preferences himself.
> 
> So far, I have found out: 
> 
> -  If something is in /etc/mailcap it is taken as (default)
>    choice and offered as such in the selection box.
>    
> -  If it's not in /etc/mailcap, it seems to find something from
>    another source, probably /usr/share/desktop/applications (?).
>    However, if multiple desktop entries match the same mime type,
>    I could not find out how it chooses one (and why only one is
>    offered).
> 
> -  I never managed to see multiple alternatives offered in the
>    selection window, only a default (or nothing) and "Other",
>    which results in a file selection window.
> 
>    For example I want to be able to have a choice betweeen
>    xpdf and acroread, but I did not find a method to specify this.
> 
> Can someone point me to a resource where is described how Firefox
> finds the offered choice(s) and if/how there can be more than one
> choice for a given mime type?
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -- 
> --    Jos Vos <jos xos nl>
> --    X/OS Experts in Open Systems BV   |   Phone: +31 20 6938364
> --    Amsterdam, The Netherlands        |     Fax: +31 20 6948204
> 
> --
> nahant-list mailing list
> nahant-list redhat com
> http://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/nahant-list

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| Greg Hosler                                   greg hosler per sg    |
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