NCSA Mosaic for the X Window System
Multimedia Configuration
When a hyperlink (or anchor) points to a data file that is not HTML or plain text, such as an image or sound file,
Mosaic attempts to use an external program to display the image or play the
sound. If Mosaic cannot find an approprite external viewer, it prompts the
user for a filename under which to save the data file, in case the data is
needed outside of Mosaic.
Mosaic uses a two-step process to determine what external viewer to use:
- The MIME type of the incoming file is determined, either according to its
file extension or as specified by the document's server. If Mosaic must rely
on the file extension, it either uses a built-in default list, or a
user-configurable extension map file.
- Mosaic matches the incoming file's MIME type to an external viewer,
according to either the built-in default list, or a user-configurable mailcap
file.
Extension Maps
Mailcaps
Executing Shell Scripts
Extension maps and mailcaps allow Mosaic to perform this much-requested
feature.
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National Center for Supercomputing Applications
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