[Solved] Error trying to upload document via Firefox

[oldgreygary]

Hello,

I'll put the question here as I am not sure what category it falls into.

I have been trying to load a document to a website. This was created in Libre Office and saved as microsoft word .doc file. I have manged to load them before but now I am getting this message: 'You are uploading a application/x-download type file'. I have a dual boot system (windows xp) so I thought I would try to do the same thing on there. Anyway, using the same file it worked ok. I used Firefox as the browser on both systems.

Anyway, I would be interested to know if anyone has come upon the error before and what it actually means. As it worked ok on my other system it suggests that it might be firefox/linux related?

Any thoughts would be most welcome

Gary

[agmg]

What is this website you are trying to upload your document?
Could it be that this site is blocking the file by not correctly identifying the mime-type of the file?
Have you tried a different browser? Have you tried putting your document inside a .zip file?

[oldgreygary]

The site only accepts .doc and .docx files.

I don't think the site is blocking the files as I said in the post I have managed to upload the same .doc file using Windows/Firefox. I have loaded files before using Pclinuxos/firefox and the problem wasn't there at that time. I will try another browser in Linux and see if that makes a difference.

***Addition****

I installed a browser from the package manager called 'Flock'. When I ran this the document loaded ok. So, it looks as though it is the version of Firefox I have got that is causing the problem. It doesn't look as though I can rely on 'Flock' as this keeps bombing out. Perhaps I need to re-install Firefox?

The website is a UK government website Directgov which deals with Jobseekers. You need to create so called Gateway accounts to access it.

Cheers for now

Gary

[agmg]

I have a suggestion but I don't know if it will help.

Locate the file mimeTypes.rdf which should be under /home/your_user_name/.mozilla/firefox/some_number.default (.mozilla is a hidden folder)
Rename it to mimeTypes.rdf.bak and restart Firefox.
A new mimeTypes.rdf file will be created.
Try again to upload your file.
If this doesn't work, delete the new .rdf file and rename again the old one.

[oldgreygary]

Excellent! It's now uploading ok. Whatever was in that folder was stopping the .doc being loaded. I will have to do a comparison of the two folders. Thanks for your help.

Gary

[agmg]

Glad my suggestion was helpful

Some more info:

http://kb.mozillazine.org/MimeTypes.rdf

Open the old file with a text editor and search for entries related to .doc or .docx.
You may have some duplicates there.

[YouCanToo]

The site only accepts .doc and .docx files.

I don't think the site is blocking the files as I said in the post I have managed to upload the same .doc file using Windows/Firefox. I have loaded files before using Pclinuxos/firefox and the problem wasn't there at that time. I will try another browser in Linux and see if that makes a difference.

***Addition****

I installed a browser from the package manager called 'Flock'. When I ran this the document loaded ok. So, it looks as though it is the version of Firefox I have got that is causing the problem. It doesn't look as though I can rely on 'Flock' as this keeps bombing out. Perhaps I need to re-install Firefox?

The website is a UK government website Directgov which deals with Jobseekers. You need to create so called Gateway accounts to access it.

shame on them for only accepting MS proprietary formats!

Cheers for now

Gary

It sounds like a mime type problem of the browser.