Hi,

I am developing a application in which i have to show the name of default browser and mail client.

i want to run this application on RedHat, SuSE, Mandriva, and Ubuntu.

I have checked similar threads but not found any useful information.

Any help / link / sample code/ guess appreciated.
Thanks in advance!!!

I only know how to get it under the Gnome desktop.

for email:
gconftool-2 --get '/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/mailto/command'

and internet:
gconftool-2 --get '/desktop/gnome/url-handlers/http/command'

The concept of 'default applications' is a part of other applications and desktops. How it is stored and configured within the domain of those applications is at best a documented API supported by each of those applications. You will not find any global or general defaults, and this explains why you haven't been able to find any such information.
--- rod.

Does gconftool will be available on older versions (like RedHat 7 and below or below SuSE 7.3) also??

Hi thanks for reply.

I didn't understand completely but if i create a test.htm and tried to double click on it, how Linux decide to open the (which firefox or opera??) browser.
I think there should be a configuration file for the same.

I found a command 'mailsetting'on fedora 9 gives me a mailclient name.
but its not available on some below versions.

Your misunderstanding is what I tried to say in my earlier post. The concept of 'default applications' is not a Linux-wide concept, but is limited to some other application. When you say 'tried to double click on it', this means nothing at the Linux core level. 'Double-clicking' implies that there are any number of layers which may play a part in launching other applications. There are two major desktop managers, KDE & Gnome, and a long list of less popular ones as well as simpler window managers. Each of these may have, and probably do have, their own mechanism for selecting and launching default applications. In addition to this, individual applications will often have their own concept of default helper applications, and the mechanism for configuring and accessing each of these will differ according to the application.

It would probably be nice if there was some global mechanism that was common to all applications and desktop managers, but I don't think any such thing exists at present.
--- rod.

Even these Window Managers need to store the relationship between the file file type and the application used to open it somewhere.
Any idea where that file would be for KDE and Gnome Window Managers?

Debian

I can only guess, but I doubt that it is a file. Probably something accessed through dcop for KDE. I think Gnome has some similar messaging scheme.
--- rod.

Hi Very nice explanation. Thanks
now i got the details, i was thinking like the Windows OS but the complete difference is there.
Now i did conclusion that there is not any possible solution to my problem.

Thanks.