11
2
The symptoms
- Users open their web mail accounts, click on some attachment, and click "Open with Word".
- Users edit their precious documents for hours. Users save word doc and exit.
- Users can't find file.
- Users grab torches and pitchforks (last step optional).
The cause of the problem
The download dialog for Firefox shows two options: "Save file" and "Open with".
By choosing "open with", Firefox downloads the file to a temp folder and opens the associated application. I want to prevent this behavior.
What I tried
I made my homework and searched the MozillaZine, and the Knowledge Base (like here, here or here) and if I understood correctly, the download dialog box will depend not on the file's extension, but rather on its mime type.
I know I can set the behavior by going to Preferences > Applications, like this:
However:
- Firefox relies on the mime type informed by the server. But it can be itself incorrect, omitted, or redundant (one file type can have multiple mime types, or vice-versa).
- Firefox remembers the "Do this automatically for files like this from now on" check-box on a per-mimetype basis. If I want to enforce a certain behavior, I have to manually set it for each mime type.
- I can not create new entries in the applications list. It is populated only when a new download is made from an unregistered mime type. Only then I can change the behavior in the list.
- I can edit the mimetypes.rdf file, forcing the "save file" behavior, but I couldn't find a way to enforce this to all files.
What I need is a way to (preferably) make it impossible to open with an external application, or at least to force the file to be saved.
I know I can set browser.altClickSave
in about:config
to have it save the file when I click pressing ALT, but I need some solution that does not require user interaction.
Just automate these operations... Try this: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/imacros-for-firefox/?src=search
– climenole – 2014-12-05T03:11:16.363Automate what operations? It's just a click to download. My question was long because I wanted to provide enough info. Besides, if users can't be bothered (or can't understand what happens) to click download instead of open with, then certainly a more complex solution won't work. I need something that does not require user interaction – That Brazilian Guy – 2014-12-05T09:50:11.490
So you need a computer with no computer user... OK. :) – climenole – 2014-12-05T13:14:06.803
I just found out Linux has the
/usr/share/mime-info/gnome-vfs.mime
and/usr/share/mime/globs
folders. I'm not sure it would influence Firefox behaviour; and obviously it is not present in Windows. – That Brazilian Guy – 2014-12-07T22:51:52.5071You can just modify the incoming MIME type with one of several extensions. Set it to a MIME type that is always downloaded. Sorry, not enough time right now for a full answer, but you are smart enough to get the idea. – RockPaperLizard – 2014-12-12T05:53:33.363
I am trying to download all (even unknown mimetype) files without prompt, it seems impossible with Firefox! I need behavior like Alt-Click to be default... – Rast – 2016-01-10T07:01:26.027