406068 - SIMILE javascript timeline won't load in FF. Will load in IE. Error occurs reading "caught exception: TypeError: xml has no properties"

Status: RESOLVED INCOMPLETE

(Firefox :: General, defect)

Description

[Adam]

User-Agent:       Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.8.1.10) Gecko/20071115 Firefox/2.0.0.10
Build Identifier: Mozilla/5.0 (Windows; U; Windows NT 6.0; en-US; rv:1.8.1.10) Gecko/20071115 Firefox/2.0.0.10

"caught exception: TypeError: xml has no properties" occurs every time I load my website that has the SIMILE javascript timeline on it.  The other javascript applications work on the page.  Everything works fine when I open the URL in Internet Explorer.

Reproducible: Always

Steps to Reproduce:
1. Go to URL
2. See Error
3. Get frustrated
Actual Results:  
"caught exception: TypeError: xml has no properties" pops up

Expected Results:  
Shown a timeline with numerous plotted points.  Open in Internet Explorer to see what it should look like.

Comment 1

[Mats Palmgren (inactive)]

Just a guess at what the problem might be...

http://abo46n2.googlepages.com/timeline.htm contains the script:

  Timeline.loadXML("anthro.xml", function(xml, url) { eventSource.loadXML(xml, url); });

the server sends http://abo46n2.googlepages.com/anthro.xml with
Content-Type: application/octet-stream


the script at http://simile.mit.edu/timeline/api/bundle.js
makes uses "responseXML" a lot, for example:

var xml=xmlhttp.responseXML;
if(!xml.documentElement&&xmlhttp.responseStream){

I'm guesing 'xml' will be null there since the MIME-type says it's not XML.

Comment 2

[Mats Palmgren (inactive)]

Is bug 405790 the same problem? (same error message)

Comment 3

[Adam]

So does anyone know how to solve this problem?  Everyone coming to my site with Firefox is turning away immediately.  

Comment 4

[Mats Palmgren (inactive)]

Configure your web server to serve files ending in .xml as text/xml might help.

Comment 5

[Adam]

Considering I am using Google page creator and accessibility is limited, is that the only way to solve this problem?  

Comment 6

[Mats Palmgren (inactive)]

I really think you should ask the admins of googlepages.com to configure
the server to send .xml files as text/xml by default.
And also provide some means for the site owner (you) to set the media
type on file by file basis.  By sending .xml as application/octet-stream
they are promoting browsers that are sloppy in their handling of
media types (read IE), which can hardly be their intent.

Meanwhile, you could try using overrideMimeType() on the request object:
http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/XMLHttpRequest

Given that most of the script files are also external (simile.mit.edu)
the only place I see a possibility of doing that is this line:
  Timeline.loadXML("anthro.xml", function(xml, url) { eventSource.loadXML(xml, url); });

try overriding it on Timeline and perhaps also eventSource.

Note that I'm only guessing here - I could be wrong about what the problem
is in the first place...

Comment 7

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

This bug was originally reported on Firefox 2.x or older, which is no longer supported and will not be receiving any more updates. I strongly suggest that you update to Firefox 3.6.6 or later, update your plugins (flash, adobe, etc.), and retest in a new profile. If you still see the issue with the updated Firefox, please post here. Otherwise, please close as RESOLVED > WORKSFORME
http://www.mozilla.com
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles
http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Safe+mode

Comment 8

[Tyler Downer [He/Him]]

No reply, INCOMPLETE. Please retest with Firefox 3.6.8 or later and a new profile (http://support.mozilla.com/kb/Managing+profiles). If you continue to see this issue with the newest firefox and a new profile, then please comment on this bug.