Firefox and WMV files.. a minor annoyance
 

I'll keep this simple..

I'm using Ubuntu and Firefox, I've tried multiple players for my purpose but that doesn't really change the inherent problem. When I try to open a WMV file from a link in Firefox, it gives me the typical dialogue, asking whether I want to save it to disk or open it with a program. Well, I want to open it with my media player, I know xine can play the file, because when I choose xine it opens it just fine. However, this is not the problem.

The problem is, EVERY time I click a WMV link, it asks me this. Every time I check "Do this automatically for files like this from now on", and every time, it asks me again. Even more annoying is the fact that it lists Totem movie player as my default viewer, so its not even as simple as choosing xine from a dropdown box. I have to go find the xine binary every time I want to load a WMV file. I went to the KDE control center and changed the file associations. I removed Totem completely from both .WMV and .wmv files, and made xine the one and only player associated with them. Then I tried putting xine, mplayer, and kaffeine on there. Firefox STILL thinks that totem player is my default player, and I still cannot get the preference to stick.

If it helps, Ubuntu basically uses 1.0.4 firefox, though it is listed as 1.0.2, it has all the changes backported.

I solved inline movies by installing mplayerplug-in. It works well with most embedded movies and makes use of (drum roll, please...) mplayer.


Håkan

sounds like you don't have the right permissions to edit the firefox config files, so it's not actually saving your settings to "Do this automatically for files like this from now on". try chmodding the directory where firefox is installed so that you have write access.

lol... you two registered at around the same time and yet look at the difference in the amount of posts...

Heh, I only really post when I need help with something.. I don't know enough to help anyone else :)

One other thing though.. about the permissions. All other file types save in my preferences, even other movie types. WMV is the only type that gives me these issues.

You could also try mozplugger; see http://mozplugger.mozdev.org/. It comes configured with support for many different kinds of files, including Windows Media via mplayer or xine. You can easily change the program that Firefox starts by editing the global /etc/mozpluggerrc file, or by overriding that file with a local one in $HOME/.netscape/mozpluggerrc. After you install it, try "man mozplugger" for more info.