Changing default browser in RedHat 9

bdika · 10-04-2003, 04:29 AM

I am using KDE and RedHat 9. I recently installed the MozillaFirebird web browser and would like to make it the default brower.

I have read in some posts (here and on Google) about editing the 'htmlview' script or creating an /etc/htmlview.conf file. I have tried to do both without any luck. The posts were not too clear on the details so I may have implemented them incorrectly.

I also tried to change the web browser in the 'Preferred Applications' preference tool in Gnome. Also without any luck.

When I downloaded and installed MozillaFirebird. It expanded into a folder under my download folder. I didn't see any script for it in /usr/bin/ as there is for Mozilla. This Mozilla script is referenced in the "htmlview' script.

Any help on how to change my default browser would be much appreciated.

Regards,
Bill Dika

Baldrick65 · 10-04-2003, 08:31 AM

The easiest way to do this, is to rename the mozilla script in /usr/bin to mozilla-old or something and use this script below to make a "new" mozilla script

Code:

#!/bin/bash

/usr/local/MozillaFirebird061/MozillaFirebird -remote "openURL($@, new-tab)" ||
exec /usr/local/MozillaFirebird061/MozillaFirebird "$@";

Just change the directory locations to suit. This script opens Firebird if it's not open or opens a new tab in the existing window if it is.

If you are using Evolution as your mail client, edit the .gnome/Gnome file in your home directory to get Firebird to open links clicked.

HTH
Baldrick

bdika · 10-05-2003, 06:28 PM

Many thanks Baldrick.

Your advice worked great with getting Firebird to be my default browser. However with regard to Evolution, I am unable to find a file named .gnome/Gnome on my computer.

Should I be looking for something else?

Regards,
Bill Dika

Baldrick65 · 10-06-2003, 05:10 AM

The .gnome directory is hidden. For example: /home/<user>/.gnome/ If you are using Konqueror to view files, click on the View menu and click "Show Hidden Files". You should now be able to see the .gnome directory. The Gnome file is inside this directory.

HTH
Baldrick

bdika · 10-09-2003, 06:05 PM

Thanks again Baldrick.

The file was right where you said it would be after showing hidden files.

This is what it says in the Gnome file:

[URL Handlers]
info-show=nautilus "%s"
man-show=nautilus "%s"
ghelp-show=nautilus "%s"

Should I replace the word nautilus with Mozilla in all cases. I am not sure which of these is for e-mail URLs.

Regards,
Bill Dika

Baldrick65 · 10-12-2003, 06:40 PM

Yeah ... simply replace "nautilus" with "mozilla" in this section. If it doesn't exist, create it

Code:

[URL Handlers]
http-show=/usr/bin/mozilla "%s"
https-show=/usr/bin/mozilla "%s"

This should fix it.

Baldrick

bdika · 10-18-2003, 01:00 AM

Many thanks again Baldrick.

Everything is working like a charm

now.

Regards,
Bill Dika

rprimmer · 11-26-2003, 05:20 PM

Baldrick, if i wished to make opera my default browser, should I run the same script you show above, only substituting "/usr/bin/opera" for "/usr/local/MozillaFirebird061/MozillaFirebird" in your example above?

thanks,
bob

Baldrick65 · 11-26-2003, 06:53 PM

You can try, but I don't know if Opera will recognize the options (-remote "openURL($@, new-tab) etc.

Baldrick