[SOLVED] Failed to execute default Web Browser.

[Grabo]

I uninstalled Seamonkey-2.40 and installed Seamonkey-2.46 as an update, but I get this error when I click on a link in say Google Earth to Google Maps or while reading a .pdf file to some related outside site.

[img]/home/carpy/Notes/Bugs/SM2.46/Failed.png[/img]

Suspected it was an environmental variable that wasn't updated. Tried several Command line textbooks, but they're all the same. I simply fail to connect that content to solving this problem. Tried creating an alias in bash shell, but ran into trouble there since it seems you need to be in a specific directory for it to work. But then that does not make sense in terms of how Linux works. Tried creating a symbolic link like this;

[img]/home/carpy/Notes/Bugs/SM2.46/Symlink.png[/img]

But last night got the error "File already exists", Which one? Source? Can't be? Target? I thought that was the intention?

This morning I get the image above, Everything apparently hunky-dory? Click Google Maps ex Google Earth. Same error.

Tried env, printenv, set and so on, but no go. Several apps getting this error says there's some common factor to it, but where?

#/$ ls -la gives ./ and ../ files, but everything tried throws up more puzzles.

What am I missing here?

[gohlip]

Will this help?
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Browser.link.open_external

[doktor5000]

[img]/home/carpy/Notes/Bugs/SM2.46/Failed.png[/img]
[...]
[img]/home/carpy/Notes/Bugs/SM2.46/Symlink.png[/img]

For the screenshots: below the forum editor (only available in Full editor, not via quick reply), switch to the tab "Upload attachment". Upload your picture, then when finished, click in the editor window where you want your picture to display,
and click the button "Place inline".

[Grabo]

gohlip,

Did consider that somewhere in the back of the mind, but did not try it, vaguely remembered this;

DefaultBrowser.png (10.07 KiB) Viewed 13530 times

From the word go it seemed to be an issue outside of SM, but I did do what you suggested and tried all three options. Again disappointed.

EditPrefs.png (67.33 KiB) Viewed 13530 times

I expected that because of the reasoning in the first attachment.

doktor5000,

Thank you for the tip on attachments.

Failed.png (16.88 KiB) Viewed 13530 times

OK, there's a limit on attached files, but the sym link went like this at first;

# ln -s Seamonkey-2.40 /usr/local/seamonkey2/seamonkey/seamonkey

which is the current file as used in the Launcher I created on the GUI. Did some research in LinuxFormat forum and found that ln works like cp or mv, edited the link to;
# ln -s Seamonkey-2.40 /usr/local/seamonkey2/seamonkey, --->>> File exists
The sequence also must be Source Target, no problem there.

Chopped it even further;

Code: Select all

[root@localhost usr]# ln --symbolic Seamonkey-2.40 local/seamonkey2   -->>>> No reaction, prompt only.
[root@localhost usr]# ln -s Seamonkey-2.40 /usr/local/seamonkey2/
ln: failed to create symbolic link ‘/usr/local/seamonkey2/Seamonkey-2.40’: File exists
[root@localhost usr]#


The tip about the Default Browser gave me a hard nudge, went there and set SM as Default, same thing. Then I remembered that IE8 taught me the very irritating lesson. I did not miss on that when installing 2.46

[gohlip]

Sorry, Grabo, I'm lost here at this point.
I've moved to Firefox long ago (and the Preference --> Applications is simple enough).
But last resort (I think you already know this), download the link and open with the appropriate app.
And good luck.

If someone can help, please jump in.

[doktor5000]

Well, this is pretty simple I'd say. When you installed seamonkey, into a versioned folder in /usr/local/seamonkey2/Seamonkey-2.40 and told it to make itself the default browser, it will register itself as say, /usr/local/seamonkey2/Seamonkey-2.40/seamonkey for e.g. http and https and maybe ftp URLs. When you upgraded seamonkey to /usr/local/seamonkey2/Seamonkey-2.46 that protocol association has not been updated, and it still tries to call /usr/local/seamonkey2/Seamonkey-2.40/seamonkey

I see several different issues with this:
- there's no need to have this in a versioned folder, I don't see any benefit but after some update several obsolete folders of older seamonkey versions (but I can't really tell as you didn't gave any context information on how you "installed" seamonkey exactly
- there's no need to have this below /usr/local if you only use it yourself (if no other user on that box uses seamonkey)
Hence I'd suggest to simply "install" seamonkey instead into your /home/username/seamonkey or where you like to have your programs

For your issue with the default browser, please show the output of the following commands, run as regular user:

Code: Select all

xdg-settings get default-web-browser
xdg-settings get default-url-scheme-handler http
xdg-settings get default-url-scheme-handler https
xdg-mime query default x-scheme-handler/http
xdg-mime query default x-scheme-handler/https
for i in application/x-extension-html application/x-extension-shtml application/x-extension-xhtml application/xhtml+xml text/html; do xdg-mime query default $i; done

Related, maybe you want to read some of my notes at https://wiki.mageia.org/en/User:Doktor5000#Default_applications_.28e.g._default_browser.29_systemwide_.2F_per-desktop

[Grabo]

Doktor,

Thank you, just a few things. You've given me quite some work and I would like to answer diligently.

Nutshell. I installed SM as per instructions on the Seamonkey-project page, to wit that you at first create the seamonkey2 directory, then untar in there. The "/usr/local" comes from several Linux textbooks. I know about /opt but /usr seemed more appropriate.

Otherwise, your post already touched on the kind of information I wanted to gather.

Now I got to get to work,

Thanks.

[doktor5000]

Well, /usr/local is the traditional place where additional software will be installed systemwide for all users, to not mix it with software installed regularly via package management. See the FHS for reference: http://refspecs.linuxfoundation.org/FHS ... #purpose24
For such programs like a browser which is only used by one user, there's no need to put it there as that requires root permissions and I'd say its much more practical to put it simply into your home folder, which also allows for easier updates, which you can then install regularly via the normal self-update mechanism (although I'm not aware wrt the current situation of seamonkey regarding this).

[Grabo]

doktor5000,

I suspected something like what you say in your first paragraph, but did not know the reasons or the detail as given; but reason for the query.

The versioned folder simply came from carrying out instructions from the Seamokey project. Google'd it to understand the references. You are correct.

The Linux version of SM-2.46 on their download page at http://www.seamonkey-project.org/releases/ would not install as per instructions at that time. I had to go to the Contributed builds lower down on that page, where you will find the instructions. You have to create the seamonkey2 directory, cp the tar file there, then untar. This will create seamonkey2/seamonkey and complete. I took it the "2" to be required a lá Windows, still know too little Linux. I'd be happy to "install" under /home since it would make sense for backups and repairs as goes individual /home partitions.

The requested results;

Code: Select all

[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-settings get default-web-browser
custom-WebBrowser.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-settings get default-url-scheme-handler http
[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-settings get default-url-scheme-handler https
[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-mime query default x-scheme-handler/http
firefox.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-mime query default x-scheme-handler/https
firefox.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$ for i in application/x-extension-html application/x-extension-shtml application/x-extension-xhtml application/xhtml+xml text/html; do xdg-mime query default $i; done
bluefish.desktop
bluefish.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$


Both the 2nd and 3rd command above caused the same error;

httpsUrlError.png (23.87 KiB) Viewed 13463 times

[EDIT.
Intermittently, after four days, IN ALL CASES trying all the recommended tips in the given links THE ABOVE ERROR is the RESULT.
END EDIT]

I think this is where the error lies. From both answers above I get the same advice as concerns FF/TB Prefs > Applications. Doesn't work. In this scenario, SM is not the parent process. You will find the equivalent in SM here;

HelperApps.png (52.43 KiB) Viewed 13463 times

Did as gohlip said = No go.

Google Earth nowhere to be seen there. Special case solutions do not work. SM is the parent process in the scenario where it updates, refer dok's second post on this, rightly so. The problem does not lie in SM being unable to use a default app to print PDF's. It lies in the link inside the PDF being unable to activate Seamonkey. /home for installs makes all the more sense as I go. This is a single user laptop with a /home partition for backups and fails.

Tried to set the default browser like this;

Code: Select all

browser="Seamonkey-2.46.desktop"
 xdg-settings set default-web-browser $browser
 xdg-settings set default-url-scheme-handler http $browser
 xdg-settings set default-url-scheme-handler https $browser
 xdg-mime default $browser x-scheme-handler/http
 xdg-mime default $browser x-scheme-handler/https
 xdg-mime default $browser x-scheme-handler/about
 for i in application/x-extension-html application/x-extension-shtml application/x-extension-xhtml application/xhtml+xml text/html; do
   xdg-mime default $browser $i
 Done

(Last command omitted since I'd like to use bluefish).

Result the same as default-url-scheme-handler for xfce absent.

From;
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/De ... plications

I see this;
Non-default application
If the desktop entry is associated with the MIME type, it may simply not be set as the default. Edit mimeapps.list to set the default association.

Following code on that site gives;

User

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[canzir@localhost ~]$ cat ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
application/pdf=FoxitReader.desktop
application/ppdf=FoxitReader.desktop
application/octet-stream=FoxitReader.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$

[canzir@localhost ~]$ cat .config/mimeapps.list
[Added Associations]
x-scheme-handler/http=exo-web-browser.desktop;
x-scheme-handler/https=exo-web-browser.desktop;
x-scheme-handler/mailto=exo-mail-reader.desktop
application/pdf=atril.desktop;FoxitReader.desktop;
application/x-font-ttf=bluefish.desktop;
application/x-executable=rpmdrake.desktop;
application/octet-stream=eio.desktop;
application/winhlp=mousepad.desktop;bluefish.desktop;userapp-EIOffice.bin-FF0DVY.desktop;
[Default Applications]
application/pdf=FoxitReader.desktop
application/x-font-ttf=bluefish.desktop
text/html=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-htm=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-html=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
message/rfc822=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-eml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/http=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/mailto=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-executable=rpmdrake.desktop
application/octet-stream=eio.desktop
application/winhlp=userapp-EIOffice.bin-FF0DVY.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$

And
Root

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[canzir@localhost ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# cat ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
x-scheme-handler/http=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
x-scheme-handler/about=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-html=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-shtml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
text/html=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
[root@localhost ~]#

[root@localhost ~]# cat ~/.config/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
text/html=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-htm=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-html=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
message/rfc822=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-eml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/rss+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-rss=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/http=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/mailto=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/news=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/snews=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/feed=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
[Added Associations]
[root@localhost ~]#

Tried to install xfce Metapackage from MCC but always get this result, even other packages like this;

Metapackages.png (41.35 KiB) Viewed 13463 times

This is an interim answer,but I keep looking. Have to go deeper into the url-scheme-handler.

[Grabo]

Found this site page and it seems very similar to my problem.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions ... 650-print/

Seamonkey, being a fork off Firefox and using the same engines, could very well display the same behaviour. The defaults would then need to be set outside Seamonkey.

From there I get this.

Code: Select all

[canzir@localhost ~]$ cd ~/.local/share/applications/; ls -la
total 28
drwx------  2 canzir carpy 4096 Feb  6 08:33 ./
drwx------ 17 canzir carpy 4096 Feb 25 11:48 ../
-rw-r--r--  1 canzir carpy  584 Dec 27 00:43 FoxitReader.desktop
-rw-r--r--  1 canzir carpy  142 Dec 27 00:43 mimeapps.list
-rw-r--r--  1 canzir carpy  134 Feb  6 08:33 mimeinfo.cache
-rw-r--r--  1 canzir carpy  186 Feb  6 08:33 userapp-EIOffice.bin-FF0DVY.desktop
-rw-r--r--  1 canzir carpy  180 Dec 23 15:39 userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
[canzir@localhost applications]$


The "SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY" reference is the same I find in .config/mimeapps.list as User as shown in my post just above here. Why would there then be a "SeaMonkey-GZIZSY" reference in the same list when done as Root? OK, Could be from Root having more privileges than User, i.e. uses global references. Or are these pointers to older/newer installs?

This remark seems to hit the spot;

Originally Posted by ruario (Post 5162433)
Just to expand on the problem. This was caused by Firefox creating a userapp-Firefox-XXXXXX.desktop file and updating mimeapps.list to point to it. This will happen whenever you set Firefox as your default browser from within Firefox itself, rather than your via desktop environment. The breakage is because userapp-Firefox-XXXXXX.desktop can contain hardcoded paths (to binaries, icons, etc.), which might change with future Firefox releases.

I would recommend you set your default browser via the desktop environment itself, e.g. in KDE "System Setting > Default Applications > Web Browser". This avoids having to remove a broken userapp-Firefox-XXXXXX.desktop and correct mimeapps.list manually again in the future.

The recommendation for KDE seems fine, but how do I do that in Mageia?

Have to restart for system updates.

[doktor5000]

The requested results;

Code: Select all

[canzir@localhost ~]$ xdg-settings get default-web-browser
custom-WebBrowser.desktop


Now you would need to find where custom-WebBrowser.desktop is located and what it would actually call (the Exec= stanza inside that .desktop file).
Try with

Code: Select all

locate custom-WebBrowser.desktop

if you have locate installed, this should be the case for a default installation.

Tried to set the default browser like this;

Code: Select all

browser="Seamonkey-2.46.desktop"

Where did you create Seamonkey-2.46.desktop and what does it contain?

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[canzir@localhost ~]$ cat .config/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
text/html=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-htm=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-html=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
message/rfc822=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-eml=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/http=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/mailto=userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$

This is your actual problem, see my initial hint: you would need to find where that file is located and what it would actually call (the Exec= stanza inside that .desktop file).
Try with

Code: Select all

locate userapp-SeaMonkey-Q4MZSY.desktop

if you have locate installed, this should be the case for a default installation.

Code: Select all

[canzir@localhost ~]$ su -
Password:
[root@localhost ~]# cat ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
x-scheme-handler/http=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
x-scheme-handler/about=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-html=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-shtml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
text/html=Seamonkey-2.46.desktop
[root@localhost ~]#

[root@localhost ~]# cat ~/.config/mimeapps.list
[Default Applications]
text/html=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-htm=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-html=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/xhtml+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-xhtml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
message/rfc822=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-eml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/rss+xml=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
application/x-extension-rss=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/http=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/https=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/mailto=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/news=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/snews=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
x-scheme-handler/feed=userapp-SeaMonkey-GZIZSY.desktop
[Added Associations]
[root@localhost ~]#

Well, I won't comment much further on that, this tells me that you ran seamonkey as root. To be honest you should never run such applications as root, period.
But that is irrelevant for your issue with changing the default browser for your regular user.

If you don't want to fiddle that much with it, I'd suggest to either remove the offending stanzas from ~/.config/mimeapps.list and ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list and then use the means of your desktop environment (XFCE) to set your default browser, but you should set it to something that does not change its location when you update seamonkey next time, see my previous hints.


Apart from that, it might be helpful to not post such a huge wall of text and screenshots, as others may find that simply too much to read and grasp.

[Grabo]

OK, thanks, point taken on huge walls of text and screenshots.

EDIT. Correction. The

Code: Select all

browser="Seamonkey-2.46.desktop"

was done in following some of the code in the /mimeapps.list. Shot in the dark. Irrelevant now in light of your last post. Same for its contents, I think, will check.
END EDIT.

The root thing comes from error messages that one has to have root privileges to create directories and the like. Doing sudo whatever runs you through a set of hoops and has you up for being naughty and to be reported to the "boss". "You do not belong to the sudoers group". So; how do I deal with this? All efforts to resolve it has so far met with failure.

I need to get this computer functional because I want to build a business. So? su - + Password.

However; I do subscribe to the Linux protocols on security. On the other hand when I ask "How does LInux Work"? I am actually looking for this kind of structural information that I may navigate through the kernel on my own, not a compendium of commands.
Something like; "when you install a browser, this is how it happens". Not line coding, but activities say (sub-routines and the like) and the results, where to find things.

If I can explain the workings of an electric gate motor's PCB and the logics to housewives so they understand it and how not to be driven crazy by it in English, I cannot see the difficulty here.

Anyhow, thank you very much, you are most helpful.

[Grabo]

Here it is;

Code: Select all

[canzir@localhost ~]$ locate custom-WebBrowser.desktop
[canzir@localhost ~]$ /home/carpy/.local/share/xfce4/helpers/custom-WebBrowser.desktop
[cabzir@localhost ~]$ cd /home/carpy/.local/share/xfce4/helpers; ls
custom-MailReader.desktop  custom-WebBrowser.desktop
[canzir@localhost helpers]$ cat custom-WebBrowser.desktop
[Desktop Entry]
NoDisplay=true
Version=1.0
Encoding=UTF-8
Type=X-XFCE-Helper
X-XFCE-Category=WebBrowser
X-XFCE-CommandsWithParameter=Seamonkey-2.40 "%s"
Icon=Seamonkey-2.40
Name=Seamonkey-2.40
X-XFCE-Commands=Seamonkey-2.40


custom-MailReader.desktop has the same listing.
Can I edit these listing to 2.46 or is that naive?

[doktor5000]

Code: Select all

X-XFCE-CommandsWithParameter=Seamonkey-2.40 "%s"
X-XFCE-Commands=Seamonkey-2.40


custom-MailReader.desktop has the same listing.
Can I edit these listing to 2.46 or is that naive?

You could if there is a command Seamonkey-2.46 which will execute seamonkey, but ultimately it would be better to clean up that mess and redo it, as outlined in my previous post.

[Grabo]

Dok,
Need not have asked. Did edit them, didn't work. Patently the command Seamonkey-2.46 is not there; reason for the question. Suspected something deeper.

Seems I'll have to do a Windows here. Strip everything and re-install Seamonkey-2.46 all over again. Can I simply delete all things Seamonkey and do a clean install? (in /home as you suggested) I do know Linux has no Win type registry, where else do I look to purge remnants?


gohlip,
Thanks for your tips. Copy-pasting the link is not the solution. The Newcomers Howto on the Mageia Welcome dialog has no visible link, but gives the same error on clicking it.

[doktor5000]

Deleting seamonkey won't help. And I've described previously what you would need to purge:

If you don't want to fiddle that much with it, I'd suggest to either remove the offending stanzas from ~/.config/mimeapps.list and ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list and then use the means of your desktop environment (XFCE) to set your default browser, but you should set it to something that does not change its location when you update seamonkey next time, see my previous hints.

[Grabo]

In the meanwhile an automatic update notified me of a failure caused by need of some 58 MB in /usr. While still looking at other things, I moved Seamonkey, Foxit and some other apps out of /usr to my /home directory. In Internet searches Firefox activated as default browser. Curious I checked Edit > Prefs in Seamonkey and set it as default browser.

Clicked a link in Bill Shotts' The Linux Command line . . . Presto! Problem solved. SM 2.46! Still none the wiser.

[doktor5000]

Please mark the thread accordingly by editing the topic of the first post and prefix it by [SOLVED], thanks