Ubuntu Firefox does not allow using system default email program

[jimav]

According to FF documentation (https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links),
it should be possible to configure Firefox to use the Operating System's default email program rather than specifying (hard coding, so to speak) what program that is in Firefox's configs. That way the user can change their email app in one place and FF will automatically do the right thing.

However this option does not exist in Firefox for Ubuntu. The drop-down in Prefs->Applications->mailto only offers some (apparently hard-coded) options. In my case, I have 'Daily' installed and set as the system default, so I want FF to use that. There is no work-around, because FF does not offer the option of adding new alternatives in the "other" menu (only deleting existing ones).

Here's a quote from the above-referenced doc page:

"* Use <Program> (default) will automatically launch your operating system's e-mail program (e.g. Thunderbird, Evolution, KMail) to its message composition window. For instructions on how to change your operating system's default e-mail program, see the next section of this article. "

There is no "(default)" option listed. Under Windows it works.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 13.10
Package: firefox 28.0+build2-0ubuntu0.13.10.1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.11.0-19.33-generic 3.11.10.5
Uname: Linux 3.11.0-19-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
AddonCompatCheckDisabled: False
ApportVersion: 2.12.5-0ubuntu2.2
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
 USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
 /dev/snd/controlC1: jima 3134 F.... pulseaudio
 /dev/snd/controlC0: jima 3134 F.... pulseaudio
BuildID: 20140317233501
Channel: Unavailable
Date: Thu Apr 10 15:52:00 2014
DefaultProfileIncompatibleExtensions:
 English (GB) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 English (South Africa) Language Pack - <email address hidden>
 Default - {972ce4c6-7e08-4474-a285-3208198ce6fd}
DefaultProfilePrefSources:
 prefs.js
 user.js
ForcedLayersAccel: False
IfupdownConfig:
 # interfaces(5) file used by ifup(8) and ifdown(8)
 auto lo
 iface lo inet loopback
InstallationDate: Installed on 2013-08-06 (247 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 13.04 "Raring Ringtail" - Release amd64 (20130424)
IpRoute:
 default via 192.168.1.254 dev eth0 proto static
 192.168.1.0/24 dev eth0 proto kernel scope link src 192.168.1.100 metric 1
IwConfig:
 vboxnet0 no wireless extensions.

 eth0 no wireless extensions.

 lo no wireless extensions.
MarkForUpload: True
MostRecentCrashID: bp-54d53d83-07c6-47bb-9488-64f0c2130720
Profile1Plugins:
 Adobe Reader 9.5 - /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/npwrapper.nppdf.so
 Shockwave Flash - /usr/lib/adobe-flashplugin/libflashplayer.so
 IcedTea-Web Plugin (using IcedTea-Web 1.1.3 (1.1.3-1ubuntu1.1)) - /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-openjdk/jre/lib/amd64/IcedTeaPlugin.so
 MozPlugger 1.14.3 handles QuickTime and Windows Media Player Plugin - /usr/lib/mozilla/plugins/mozplugger.so
Profile1PrefSources: prefs.js
Profiles:
 Profile0 (Default) - LastVersion=28.0/20140317233501 (In use)
 Profile1 - LastVersion=12.0/20120423122843 (Out of date)
RelatedPackageVersions:
 totem-mozilla 3.8.2-0ubuntu1
 rhythmbox-mozilla 2.99.1-0ubuntu1
RfKill:

RunningIncompatibleAddons: True
SourcePackage: firefox
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to saucy on 2013-10-24 (168 days ago)
dmi.bios.date: 09/21/2010
dmi.bios.vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
dmi.bios.version: 1408
dmi.board.asset.tag: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
dmi.board.name: P6T
dmi.board.vendor: ASUSTeK Computer INC.
dmi.board.version: Rev 1.xx
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: Asset-1234567890
dmi.chassis.type: 3
dmi.chassis.vendor: Chassis Manufacture
dmi.chassis.version: Chassis Version
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnAmericanMegatrendsInc.:bvr1408:bd09/21/2010:svnSystemmanufacturer:pnSystemProductName:pvrSystemVersion:rvnASUSTeKComputerINC.:rnP6T:rvrRev1.xx:cvnChassisManufacture:ct3:cvrChassisVersion:
dmi.product.name: System Product Name
dmi.product.version: System Version
dmi.sys.vendor: System manufacturer

[gf (gf-interlinks-deactivatedaccount)]

Hello Jimav,
Thank you for submitting this bug and reporting a problem with Firefox. You made this bug report in 2014 and there have been several versions of Ubuntu and Firefox since then.

Could you confirm that this is no longer a problem and that we can close the ticket?
If it is still a problem, are you still interested in finding a solution to this bug?
If you are, could you run the following (only once):
apport-collect 1306288
and upload the updated logs and and any other logs that are relevant for this particular issue.

Thank you again for helping make Ubuntu and Firefox better.
G

[jimav (james-avera)]

Problem is gone now (Firefox 61.0).