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How to set file type .swf to open in shockwave plugin

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  • Last reply by amos083

amos083
amos083
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Firefox 61 on Ubuntu. When I try to open .swf files, it tries to use the system's video display application, which cannot handle it (because it's not a video).

In Preferences->Applications there are 3 entries for SWF file type: application/x-shockwave-flash and application/futuresplash which are assigned to Shockwave Flash plugin, and application/vnd.adobe.flash.movie, which is assigned to Videos (and does not has an option for the plugin in its drop-down menu).

Somehow, all SWF files are assumed to be of the last type, which does not work. How can I assign all SWF files to the plugin?

Firefox 61 on Ubuntu. When I try to open .swf files, it tries to use the system's video display application, which cannot handle it (because it's not a video). In Preferences->Applications there are 3 entries for SWF file type: application/x-shockwave-flash and application/futuresplash which are assigned to Shockwave Flash plugin, and application/vnd.adobe.flash.movie, which is assigned to Videos (and does not has an option for the plugin in its drop-down menu). Somehow, all SWF files are assumed to be of the last type, which does not work. How can I assign all SWF files to the plugin?

Chosen solution

Found the answer here Basically, it requires changing the mime type in /usr/share/mime/packages/freedesktop.org.xml

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All Replies (5)

FredMcD
FredMcD
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This may be your problem,

Firefox v52+ Releases disables all plugins except for Flash Why do Java, Silverlight, Adobe Acrobat and other plugins no longer work? {web link}

James
James
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FredMcD said

This may be your problem,

Shockwave Flash is old name for Flash Player so no it s not related.

cor-el
cor-el
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  • Top 10 Contributor
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You can check the handlers.json file in the profile folder.

You can also check all involved MIME types in the OS.

  • xdg-mime query default <MIME type>
amos083
amos083 Question owner
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Thanks everyone. I should have said that I'm aware that newer versions of Firefox block the Shockwave plugin by default; I have already taken care of that. This plugin did work before, it's just that the mime type which is assigned to SWF file type does not use it.

xdg-mime query shows that indeed all .swf files are assigned to mime type application/vnd.adobe.flash.movie. It seems the trouble had started with installation of a new video application, which might have messed up file type.

So the question is really how to restore the association of .swf file extension with mime type application/x-shockwave-flash, and / or how to convince Firefox to use the plugin for all mime types which are associated with SWF files?

Thanks much.

amos083
amos083 Question owner
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Seçilmiş Həll

Found the answer here Basically, it requires changing the mime type in /usr/share/mime/packages/freedesktop.org.xml