Re: "File types and programs" vs "Preferred Apps"

[Toralf Lund <toralf procaptura com>]

> On Tue, 2003-08-26 at 09:50, Toralf Lund wrote:
> > > On Mon, 2003-08-25 at 22:43, Toralf Lund wrote:
> > > > I'm a bit confused about "File types and programs" and "Preferred
> Apps"
> > >
> > > > under Preferences, as the functionality of the config tools seems
> to
> > > > overlap a lot. While they don't set exactly the same preferences,
> the
> > > > distinction between e.g. between "Default Web Browser" and "http
> > > > protocol handler" (or should I say the "unknown" one - I think you
> get
> > > > my point in any case) is not clear to me, at least.
> > > >
> > > > What exactly is the idea behind each of these tools? Should there
> > > > perhaps have been *one* preference utility for these settings?
> > >
> > > Basically, one (file types and programs) handles mime type
> preferences,
> > > i.e. what app to open for a file of some specific mimetype, whereas
> the
> > > other (prefered apps) handles things on a higher level: What app to
> > > launch for all http: uris (indepenedent of the type of file the uri
> > > points to), and what terminal, email tool etc to launch when some app
> > > needs one (e.g. when launching an app that has run-in-terminal=true).
> > Yes, but "File types and programs" also has an "Internet Services"
> > section, which specifies how different protocols (not file types) are
> > handled. Isn't a "preferred web browser" the same thing as an "internet
>
> > service handler" for http, or possibly the "Unknown service types" one?
>
> Basically, the "file types and programs" dialog is complete crap, and
> nobody understands how it works.
So it's not just me, then. I'm happy to hear it...

Actually, I think the GNOME-1.4 was somewhat better.

> Its targeted for a complete rewrite
> with the rest of the mime system.
I hope "complete rewrite" does not mean that we lose all existing MIME 
settings & the system won't understand the handler info installed by older 
apps, like it did last time ;-/

Also, I think maybe a shared dialogue for MIME types and "default apps" is 
a good idea, since there are far too many entries in the Preferences 
menu...

> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>  Alexander Larsson                                            Red Hat,
> Inc
>                    alexl redhat com    alla lysator liu se
> He's a maverick gay cat burglar who hangs with the wrong crowd. She's a
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> They
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