Helper Applications

Helper Apps


How can I get files to start the right applications (e.g. Matlab or Maple)?

A! There are several things which determine the way in which Netscape handles files. The first is the extension, the second is the mime-type, and the third is the application which is bound to the first two.

For example, Maple 5 Worksheets have a ".mws" extension. They are also sent over as "application/octet-stream" (that is, binary).

In your home directory there is a file called .mime.types which connects the mime-types to the extension. There should be a line reading

application/octet-stream	mws
text/plain					m
in this file. There is another file called .mailcap, which conencts the mime-types to executables. In this file, you should see the line
application/octet-stream; xmaple %s
text/plain; xterm -geom +0-0 -e matlab.expect %s
Netscape overwrites these files when you Edit->Preferences->Applications. It is possible to get things really messed up if you enter the wrong information into these files...

Ideally, every file has a unique combination of extensions and mime-types. (However, both matlab and maple save plain text script files with .m extension!)

File Mime-Type Extension Application
Maple /application/octet-stream mws xmaple %s
Matlab text/plain m xterm -geom +0-0 -e matlab.expect %s