515189 - Download manager opens files with different extensions using the same program

Status: UNCONFIRMED

(Toolkit :: Downloads API, defect)

Description

[Pierre Gardin]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.9.1.4pre) Gecko/20090907 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Firefox/3.5
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux i686; en-US; rv:1.9.1.4pre) Gecko/20090907 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Firefox/3.5

After downloading a PDF file with Firefox, I double clicked on the file name in the DM window. A window popped up asking for a program to see the PDF file (st'd GNOME "browse..." window). I typed "/usr/bin/evince" in the window and the file opened without problems.

The problem now is that the DM opens every type of file (zip and gzip archives, for instance) with evince. I have to select "open with..." in the download menu as a workaround. The weirdest thing : the download manager opens zip files with file-roller (GNOME default) but the "open with.." option in the download menu (the one you get by left-clicking a link to a file) has a different program selected (file-roller for zip file for instance).

Reproducible: Couldn't Reproduce

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Download a PDF file
2. Double click on the file name in the DM window
3. Select /usr/bin/evince
4. Download a zip file
5. Double click on the file name in the DM window
Actual Results:  
Tar.gz file opens in /usr/bin/file-roller

Expected Results:  
Tar.gz file opens in /usr/bin/evince

Comment 1

[Pierre Gardin]

I found a workaround for this bug :

http://support.mozilla.com/fr/kb/Unable+to+download+or+save+files#Reset_download_actions_for_all_file_types

Comment 2

[:aceman]

Does this problem still exist in a newer Firefox?

Comment 3

[Pierre Gardin]

it still exist. The initial description is wrong though. Actual and expected results are inverted.

Comment 4

[Pierre Gardin]

Re-tested with Nightly 20111125

Comment 5

[skierpage]

This happens for me with 64-bit Firefox nightly and SeaMonkey nightly on Kubuntu 12.04.  (Well, in latest Firefox the Download Manager seems replaced by a dropdown showing recent downloads under a 'Downloads' icon.)

The key seems to be that Firefox/SeaMonkey treats anything you open from the Download Manager as a "file link", regardless of its extension or mime type, and so if you click "Remember my choice for file links" in a "Launch Application" dialog, then *every* download you open will use that application, until you go into Edit > Preferences > Applications and reset the "file" Content Type to "always ask".

This is clearly wrong behavior. Firefox/SeaMonkey should only use the Helper App for the "file" Content Type if it can't determine the mime type of a downloaded file (it remembers the download's original extension and mime type in downloads.sqlite).

BTW, Firefox/SeaMonkey also uses the Helper App for the "file" Content Type for the Open Containing Folder action; but Open Containing Folder should probably be associated with the x-directory/normal or inode/directory mime type.

Comment 6

[skierpage]

Attachment: the Launch Application for "file link" dialog

You get this same dialog for EVERY file you open in Download Manager, regardless of extension or mime type, and also for the Open Containing Folder context menu.

Comment 7

[skierpage]

This and bug 754183 are still happening with SeaMonkey 2.16b4 on Kubuntu 12.10. Can someone please change the status from UNCONFIRMED to NEW?