RE: [libreoffice-users] LibreOffice and Microsoft Office files - MIME type problem

This is a common problem with web servers.  

Browsers don't set the MIME type, they receive it in the response from the Web Server, along with 
the resource itself.  It is likely that the Web server is not set up to recognize that various 
file-name extensions correspond to specific MIME types and so a default is being used.  
application/octet-stream is the safest default.

There's a secondary problem with regard to being able to *open* LibreOffice documents that are 
downloaded by a browser.  That has to do with associating the MIME type with an application on the 
receiving computer.  But first, you need the correct MIME type from the server.

The only way around, depending on how the file is downloaded, is to store it without opening it and 
then renaming it so it can be opened properly.  Not something your average user will deal with 
(especially if they don't have file exensions being show in Windows Explorer).

Most web servers have a way to be told what MIME type to attribute to particular filename 
extensions.  Someone needs to arrange with an administrator of the web site to set that up.

 - Dennis


-----Original Message-----
From: planas [mailto:jslozier@gmail.com] 
Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2011 15:11
To: users@global.libreoffice.org
Subject: Re: [libreoffice-users] LibreOffice and Microsoft Office files - MIME type problem

Ian,

On Tue, 2011-06-28 at 10:01 -0400, Ian Long wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have looked for a solution to an issue I am seeing, but without any luck - hopefully someone 
> has seen this before and can provide a workaround.
>
> A client  is using LibreOffice on Windows XP PCs, running IE8.  They use LO to save in the 
> Microsoft formats (.doc, .xls, etc) which is working fine.
>
> However, when they try to upload one of those files to web servers, the MIME type of those files 
> is always reported as 'application/octect-stream', rather than
> the real mime type - IE can't figure out the type as it would if Office was installed.
>
> This also affects files that weren't created by LO, such as ones that were sent via email, that 
> were created in Microsoft Office.
>
> Is there a way to register some type of LO handler with Windows so that the file types are 
> properly recognized?
>
> Thanks in advance,
> Ian

If the MSO document is uploaded directly to the server without being
opened in LO does your client have the same problem? I just want to
clarify if it is a problem with LO or possibly somewhere else. 

Do other browsers report the same problem when used or access the page?

Also, what version of LO are they using?

-- 
Jay Lozier
jslozier@gmail.com

-- 
Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+help@global.libreoffice.org
In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmaster@documentfoundation.org
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/
All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted


-- 
Unsubscribe instructions: E-mail to users+help@global.libreoffice.org
In case of problems unsubscribing, write to postmaster@documentfoundation.org
Posting guidelines + more: http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Netiquette
List archive: http://listarchives.libreoffice.org/global/users/
All messages sent to this list will be publicly archived and cannot be deleted