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hudson1 · Jan 20, 2003, 04:45 PM

When clicking on an FTP link, OmniWeb launches so it must be the default application for that action despite it not being the default for Web browsing. How do I change the default application for browsing FTP directories?

Thanks.

macmike42 · Jan 20, 2003, 05:28 PM

Do a search on versiontracker for "More Internet"

voodoo · Jan 20, 2003, 05:30 PM

Originally posted by macmike42:
Do a search on versiontracker for "More Internet"

What a cryptic answer. <hmm>

So. Anyone know how?

macmike42 · Jan 20, 2003, 08:09 PM

Originally posted by voodoo:
What a cryptic answer. <hmm>

So. Anyone know how?

WTF? "More Internet" is a prefpane that allows you to change protocol helpers via System Preferences instead of launching Internet Explorer just to get at the preferences dialog. When I type "More Internet" as a versiontracker search, "More Internet" is the first application listed. For those of you are just as totally lazy as voodoo (or more so), here is a link.

voodoo · Jan 20, 2003, 08:13 PM

Originally posted by macmike42:
WTF? "More Internet" is a prefpane that allows you to change protocol helpers via System Preferences instead of launching Internet Explorer just to get at the preferences dialog. When I type "More Internet" as a versiontracker search, "More Internet" is the first application listed. For those of you are just as totally lazy as voodoo (or more so), here is a link.

Ya, I am a lazy bugger. So what else is new?

But seriously, I checked versiontracker and all. Nice. The thing is that it helps if you post more precise replies so people see whether your solution is relevant or not. Just common courtesy.

Now, be cool, and we'll never mention this again ok?

hudson1 · Jan 21, 2003, 07:57 AM

Thanks for the replies. After reading the cryptic advice, I decided to follow the trail to see where it would lead. It led to that preference pane, which I installed and tried, and then I quickly realized that it's just another window to the preferences that can be set via IE (which I had forgotten otherwise I wouldn't have needed to ask the question).

But wait, there's more!

Apple has a fundamental problem on its hands with this from what I can tell. As the Read Me for 'More Internet' states, you can only select helper apps that have a standard type and creator code. I can set OmniWeb and the OS 9 version of IE as the default app for FTP and they will stick. I can't set Safari, Chimera, or the OS X version of IE as the default FTP app and have them stick. Strange, needless to say. I'd be interested in hearing if others have further insight into this.

macmike42 · Jan 21, 2003, 04:23 PM

Originally posted by hudson1:
I can set OmniWeb and the OS 9 version of IE as the default app for FTP and they will stick. I can't set Safari, Chimera, or the OS X version of IE as the default FTP app and have them stick.

This is probably because...(/me rummages around in his ~/Applications to corroborate his theory)...ah-hah! I'm correct! Here's the deal...

OmniWeb is specifically set up to be able to handle http: https: gopher: file: and ftp: URLs. You can determine this by examining OmniWeb's Info.plist (right/control-click on OmniWeb, show package contents, open the file Info.plist in a text editor, or Property List Editor if you have the dev tools). Under the key "CFBundleURLTypes", there is an array of the different URL types that OmniWeb is allowed to handle. The OS (more specifically, the Finder, Internet Config, LaunchServices) will only allow these applications to be chosen if they claim support the specified URL type. The fact that Internet Explorer allows you to choose those applications in the first place should be considered a bug.

Anyway, the "fix" for this "bug", should you choose to accept it (read entirely before deciding whether or not to try, please):

Make a copy of the application you want to use as the default FTP client. Then copy the relvent portion of OmniWeb's Info.plist into the browser copy. Make sure the Finder "sees" the application at least once after you change its Info.plist, then log out and back in. If you spliced the plists together properly, you should be able to make this application "stick" as your default FTP client. If you spliced them improperly, the Finder could crash the moment it "sees" the application with the malformed Info.plist, and you may have to delete it with the Terminal. Also, you may have to delete some LaunchServices cache files from ~/Library/Caches and/or /Library/Caches, but I've found the need to do that has been reduced since 10.2.3.

If you have any additional questions about this, feel free to ask away.

Originally posted by voodoo:
Now, be cool, and we'll never mention this again ok?