Some attchments (.pdf, .xlsx) don't have open dialog just save dialog

[spadger]

Binary package hint: thunderbird

With certain (not all) attachments of many types (at least .pdf and .xslx) there is no open dialog just the option to save the attachment. When saved the attachment can be opened without problem using the default application.

I cannot see any common problems with the files (filename errors or strange characters) and have even tried sending some non working files to a friend with same setup i.e. tbird3.04 on ubuntu 10.04 and he can open without problem

Architecture AMD64
thunderbird:
  Installed: 3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4
  Candidate: 3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4
  Version table:
 *** 3.0.4+nobinonly-0ubuntu4 0
        500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ lucid/main Packages
        100 /var/lib/dpkg/status

Ubuntu 10.04 lucid amd64
kernel 2.6.32.22-generic
gnome 2.30.0

[PeterPall (peterpall)]

According to http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1442764 this is a problem of thunderbird itselves, and the following package will provide a workaround: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/12523.

I did not read the source code of this addon, but it seems like the add-on uses gnome's gnome-open program which tells gnome to act as if someone double-clicked on the file in nautilus.

[PeterPall (peterpall)]

According to http://kb.mozillazine.org/Actions_for_attachment_file_types#Unexpected_handling_of_certain_attachments the problem might arise from a corruption of the mimetypes.rdf file in the thunderbird profile. In my case simply deleting this file and hoping that thunderbird will restore it didn't work, though.

[spadger (jridewood)]

Thanks, the addon works great. It's true this is not a real fix but at
least I don't have to mess around saving before viewing documents.

Cheers,

Spadger

On 14 June 2010 22:12, PeterPall <email address hidden> wrote:
> According to http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1442764 this is a
> problem of thunderbird itselves, and the following package will provide
> a workaround: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/thunderbird/addon/12523.
>
> I did not read the source code of this addon, but it seems like the add-
> on uses gnome's gnome-open program which tells gnome to act as if
> someone double-clicked on the file in nautilus.
>
> --
> Some attchments (.pdf, .xlsx) don't have open dialog just save dialog
> https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/593459
> You received this bug notification because you are a direct subscriber
> of the bug.
>

[Graham Perrin (grahamperrin-gmail)]

I find that the problem affects not only Thunderbird, it also affects Firefox. Example: when I aim to open the .pptx file at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/openoffice.org/+bug/384553/comments/2 Firefox can save but not open the file.

Key point: there is no invitation to associate the file type with OpenOffice.org.

Should this be reported as a separate bug, affecting Firefox?

Or should this bug be amended?

[Martin Wildam (mwildam)]

Just for the case it helps: Tested on current icedove under Fluxbox - had not the issue.

[Martin Wildam (mwildam)]

I made further tests with the following result: I took such a PDF I got (offering only the save option) and sent it as new mail with attachment to myself using Thunderbird.

Result: Open option available! - So it does not depend on the PDF itself. I assume that it depends on the mailer how it packs the mime message. Did further investigation and found the following difference:

Attachment header in mime Test-Message that is working:
Content-Type: application/pdf;

 name="#31161-v1-Programmierung_RepCheck.pdf"

Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

Content-Disposition: attachment;

 filename="#31161-v1-Programmierung_RepCheck.pdf"

Attachment header in Original received mail:
Content-Type: application/octet-stream;

 name="#31161-v1-Programmierung_RepCheck.pdf"

Content-Transfer-Encoding: base64

Content-Description: #31161-v1-Programmierung_RepCheck.pdf

Content-Disposition: attachment;

 filename="#31161-v1-Programmierung_RepCheck.pdf"

It looks like a difference in specified Content-Type. The original mail I got, was produced with MS Outlook 2007.

HTH.

[Martin Wildam (mwildam)]

Downloaded gnome-open addon manually (as it is not found when searching for addons from within Thunderbird) and that solves the issue also for me (just note that because in earlier post (comment #4) of spadger it was not clear for me which of the two mentioned addons solved the problem.

[PeterPall (peterpall)]

On natty I don't encounter this problem any more.