Avatar for Username

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

This thread was archived. Please ask a new question if you need help.

Where does Firefox obtain its default mailto handler on Fedora 17? It ain't from KDE or Gnome!

  • 2 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by compata

compata
compata
more options

I'm running Fedora 17 with the KDE desktop. KDE's system settings ("control panel") claims the default mailto application is Kmail. And, since Gnome is still present, I see that it thinks the default mailto application is Evolution. I don't see anything in /etc/alternatives that seems relevant to a mailto handler.

Firefox says, "Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message." <http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links>) But Firefox says the default handler is Thunderbird. Where the hell is Firefox finding that value? And Firefox doesn't offer either of the other two "defaults", Kmail or Evolution, as options (except through the "other program" mechanism).

Can anyone explain what's going on?

I'd like to change the mailto handler. But I need to pass some arguments to my program and Firefox doesn't offer that ability itself. To get that ability, I need to be able to change the system default so that Firefox recognizes the change. But where is Firefox finding the "default"?

I'm running Fedora 17 with the KDE desktop. KDE's system settings ("control panel") claims the default mailto application is Kmail. And, since Gnome is still present, I see that it thinks the default mailto application is Evolution. I don't see anything in /etc/alternatives that seems relevant to a mailto handler. Firefox says, "Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message." <http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links>) But Firefox says the default handler is Thunderbird. Where the hell is Firefox finding that value? And Firefox doesn't offer either of the other two "defaults", Kmail or Evolution, as options (except through the "other program" mechanism). Can anyone explain what's going on? I'd like to change the mailto handler. But I need to pass some arguments to my program and Firefox doesn't offer that ability itself. To get that ability, I need to be able to change the system default so that Firefox recognizes the change. But where is Firefox finding the "default"?

All Replies (2)

cor-el
cor-el
  • Moderator
  • Top 10 Contributor
more options

I think that you need to check the GNOME settings in System > Personal > Preferred Applications > Internet: Mail Reader

compata
compata Question owner
more options

I'm not running Gnome so it's tricky to get to that location. And Fedora 17 offers Gnome3, which doesn't have that location anyway. And I'm looking for a mailto handler -- for composing mail -- not a mail reader. In any case, gconf says Gnome's default is Evolution.