How to Configure File Helpers in Internet Explorer for Macintosh

ID: Q170210

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.01a, 4.0, 4.01, 4.5 for Macintosh

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure third-party programs for use as file helpers with Internet Explorer 3.01a, 4.0, 4.01, and 4.5 for Macintosh.


MORE INFORMATION

File helpers are programs that are used by Internet Explorer to open file types that Internet Explorer does not know how to handle.

Adding File Helpers

To add a file helper, follow these steps:

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences, and then click File Helpers in the Receiving Files list.


  2. Click Add to open the Edit File Helper dialog box, and then type a description, extension, and Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) type in the Representation section. NOTE: You can find a list of common MIME types in the "File Helpers Directory" topic in Internet Explorer Help.


  3. In the File Type section, type the file Type and Creator for the type of file the file helper will open. A file's Creator and Type attributes identify the parent program of a file and its specific kind. The Type attribute is used by other programs in order to determine whether a file is a valid document that can be opened. To determine a file's Creator and Type attributes, use a utility designed for this purpose, for example, ResEdit.


  4. In the Handling section, click Browse to locate the program to be used to open the file type, and then click Open.


  5. Click OK, and then click OK again.


Changing File Helper Properties

To change the properties of a file helper, follow these steps:

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences, and then click File Helpers in the Receiving Files list.


  2. Click the file helper whose properties you want to change, and then click Change.


  3. In the Edit File Helper dialog box, make the necessary changes to the file helper, click OK, and then click OK again.


Deleting File Helpers

To delete a file helper, follow these steps:

  1. On the Edit menu, click Preferences, and then click File Helpers in the Receiving Files list.


  2. Click the file helper you want to delete, and then click Delete.


  3. Click OK.


NOTE: File helper settings are stored in Internet Config, and may be used by other Internet-based programs. Do not delete or change file helpers unless you are sure you have written down all of the file settings.

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv msiemac
Version : MACINTOSH:3.01a,4.0,4.01,4.5
Platform : MACINTOSH
Issue type : kbhowto


Last Reviewed: July 21, 1999
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