Unknown x-msword mime type, missing alias

[Michel Dagenais]

Binary package hint: shared-mime-info

We often receive evolution mail attachments of type x-msword x-mspowerpoint x-msexcel. These types are even explicitly handled by OpenOffice (see files /usr/lib/mime/packages/openoffice.org-calc, openoffice.org-impress, openoffice-org-writer). However, they are not defined as mime types in /usr/share/mime/packages. Because of this, evolution mail only offers "save as" instead of opening the document with an application. The problem is easily fixed by adding aliases to the relevant mime types in /usr/share/mime/packages/freedesktop.org.xml. For instance, for mime type msword, the following line does the trick:

    <alias type="application/x-msword"/>

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Thank you for your bug. Could you attach an example to the bug? What mail client is used to send those?

[Michel Dagenais (michel-dagenais)]

On Wed, 2007-22-08 at 12:12 +0000, Sebastien Bacher wrote:
> Thank you for your bug. Could you attach an example to the bug? What
> mail client is used to send those?

I dont know which client was used to send it. I have only one mail
message left in my mailbox with the problem. I could forward it
privately to you but is was a CV for a job application and thus it
should never be posted publicly like it would be if i attach it in
launchpad.

I could check with the other people who reported me the same problem to
digg a recent, easy to publish, mail message perhaps obfuscating some of
the email addresses involved. The easiest for me would be to simply
prepare a mail message with a very small .doc document and change msword
for x-msword to trigger the problem. A simple google search for x-msword
shows that it is commonly used and often creates problem:

http://listserv.utmem.edu/pipermail/m2005/2002-September/000262.html
http://www.openoffice.org/servlets/ReadMsg?list=users&msgNo=13207
http://www.houseoffusion.com/groups/cf-talk/thread.cfm/threadid:11106
http://swish-e.org/archive/2004-07/7811.html

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

The bug has been opened on https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/shared-mime-info/+bug/133671

"Binary package hint: shared-mime-info

We often receive evolution mail attachments of type x-msword x-mspowerpoint x-msexcel. These types are even explicitly handled by OpenOffice (see files /usr/lib/mime/packages/openoffice.org-calc, openoffice.org-impress, openoffice-org-writer). However, they are not defined as mime types in /usr/share/mime/packages. Because of this, evolution mail only offers "save as" instead of opening the document with an application. The problem is easily fixed by adding aliases to the relevant mime types in /usr/share/mime/packages/freedesktop.org.xml. For instance, for mime type msword, the following line does the trick:

    <alias type="application/x-msword"/>
..."

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

Created an attachment (id=11351)
add aliases application/x-mspowerpoint and application/x-msword types

there is already an alias for application/x-msexcel, the patch lists application/x-mspowerpoint and application/x-msword

[Bastien Nocera (hadess-deactivatedaccount)]

2007-08-31 Bastien Nocera <email address hidden>

        * freedesktop.org.xml.in: Patch from Sebastien Bacher
        <email address hidden> to add more aliases for Powerpoint and Word
        mime-types (Closes: #12231)

[Sebastien Bacher (seb128)]

shared-mime-info (0.22-2ubuntu2) gutsy; urgency=low

  * debian/patches/070_new_microsoft_aliases.patch:
    - add aliases for powerpoint and word types (LP: #133671)

 -- Sebastien Bacher <email address hidden> Fri, 31 Aug 2007 15:08:29 +0200