"Would you like to save this file?" dialog should indicate why it provides limited options

[positivek]

Binary package hint: firefox-3.0

There is an "Opening" / "Save As" dialog in FF that comes up for ".exe"-type files that should not be able to be opened directly. ** The dialog provides no indication about why a different FF behavior is being carried out, especially to a naive user (me). **

See attached images (PNG).

I was trying to open a file when this (see attached) dialog popped up. I had no idea why I was being denied the option to open or choose a helper app, etc. (actions provided in the normal download dialog, see attached). This special dialog should indicated something like, "This type of file needs to be (should be?) saved before opening. Would you like to save this file?".

The current text is especially confusing given that the title of the dialog is "Opening <filename>" and its text says "You have chosen to open", even though A) I have no option of opening it and, more obscurely, B) the FF default action might not be to open it (e.g. it might be to save).

To correct the problem, while keeping it consistent with the normal, complete Opening dialog, I suggest something like:
 * Retain the current, limited Opening dialog.
 * Below the filename in the dialog, say something like, "[Due to security reasons,] Firefox must save this type of file before you may open it." Consider also adding something like, "You may open this file from the Downloads window."
 * Below the info statement, in *bold*, "Would you like to save this file?"
 * Provide the Cancel and Save File buttons as before.

ProblemType: Bug
Architecture: amd64
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 9.04
Package: firefox-3.0 3.0.10+nobinonly-0ubuntu0.9.04.1
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.UTF-8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: firefox-3.0
Uname: Linux 2.6.28-11-generic x86_64

[positivek (anonyhole)]

Hello,
I filed this bug and bug 383693 separately because they are two different issues, NOT duplicates.

This bug IS about confusing wording for certain file types that go through the limited-options dialog. This bug suggests a wording/phrasing change.

This bug does NOT question the usefulness of that dialog. This bug has NOTHING in particular to do with PDFs or any other file types. This bug does NOT find any issue with the functionality changes. This bug does NOT find issue with whether or not one should be able to open the file.

Please let me know if I can further clarify the differences. Please unmark these as dupes.

[positivek (anonyhole)]

Also in:
Mozilla/5.0 (X11; U; Linux x86_64; en-US; rv:1.9.1.3pre) Gecko/20090811 Ubuntu/9.04 (jaunty) Shiretoko/3.5.3pre

[Toby Bartels (tobybartels)]

I think that this happens when the document is served as application/octet-stream instead of application/pdf. (I haven't managed to verify if this is the case with your example.)

[Toby Bartels (tobybartels)]

Sorry, ignore that comment; it belongs on Bug #383693.