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Idea #11901: When downloading and "open with", the "Other" option should list programs

bug This idea is a duplicate of Idea #4755: Firefox/Mozilla: Synchronize "Open With" with Menu.
Written by kramer65 the 6 Aug 08 at 09:46. Related project: Firefox. Status: New
Rationale
I set the standard program to open .doc's with OpenOffice. However, when I download a .doc file and I want to open it immediately from the download option in firefox, it gives MS Office through wine as the default.
If I then select the "Other" option it just gives me a menu in which I can select folders and files. I guess I'm supposed to find OpenOffice by hand or something..?

What it should do is give me a list of programs which I can choose from with the most appropriate ones on top. After that you might give the option to select manually, but I think this is for more experienced users.

(Thanks to Ubunteando below for the idea of the auto detecting of most appropriate programs)
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Solution #1: Auto-generated solution of idea #11901
Written by kramer65 the 6 Aug 08 at 09:46.
Ubuntu Brainstorm was updated in January 2009. Since the idea #11901 was submitted before this update, its rationale and solution are not separated. Please vote accordingly, and if you have the necessary rights, please separate the rationale from the solution. Thanks!

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Comments
ubunteando wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 13:27
totally agree...

at least there should be a list with most commonly used apps...

or the apps in our startmenu...

ACTUALLY it should AUTODETECT the programs that can potentially open that filetype. If its an MP3, it should know that totem/vlc/banshee... can open the file for example!

slsolaris wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 13:28
i am agree with you, but the thing is that u can know all the file system, so they shouldnt take that option out but adding the options that you said, like in win windows, open with. so i gave u +1

nevermind85 wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 15:52
I agree that it should offer a list of Apps and not rely on the user to locate it's binary. I don't see how it could autodetect the filetype since the file has not been downloaded yet (and you can't rely on the extension since it's useless in linux). What if i'm downloading an mp3 that comes masked as a .txt? Perhaps Gedit can sing it :P

Jokes aside; the main idea is useful. +1

mister wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 17:10
I think that Firefox is already downloading the file while the open/save dialog is shown, so it should be able to do, at least, an educated guess about the filetype. Or it could wait to receive the mimetype before opening the dialog.

migueleonm wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 17:54
Firefox (like others applications) needs more integration with the system.

+1

master5o1 wrote on the 6 Aug 08 at 23:28
The same sort of list for where you choose an file type's default programs.

andruk (Idea reviewer) wrote on the 7 Aug 08 at 07:18
This has been on my nerves for awhile now.

+1

Arnaudus wrote on the 7 Aug 08 at 12:19
+1 as well. You should *never* chose an application from its path under a Unix system. Not only because it's not convenient, but rather because it's just not the way it is supposed to work.

m_gol wrote on the 16 Sep 08 at 08:35
+1
@Arnaudus:
Exactly, I wanted to say the same.


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