Contents

Configuring File Types

Microsoft Internet Explorer can read HTML documents, as well as GIF and JPEG graphics. Internet Explorer can handle other file types by associating new file types with helper applications.

Many file formats are predefined. All you need to do is associate a file format with the application that you want to use to read the file format.

To associate a file type with another application

  1. From the View menu, choose Options, and then choose the File Types tab.
  2. Select the file type that you want to associate with an application, and then choose Edit.
  3. Specify the helper application that you want to use to read the selected file type. To find the application, you may choose Browse.
  4. If the application is compatible with the Microsoft Internet Explorer Software Development Interface, type the DDE service name of the application in the Service Name box. Otherwise, leave this box blank.
  5. Choose OK.


To add a new file type (for advanced users)

  1. From the View menu, choose Options. Then, choose the File Types tab.
  2. Choose Add.
  3. In the Description box, type your own description of the file type.
  4. In the MIME Type box, type the MIME type/subtype of the file type.
    MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) is a standard system for naming different file formats. When Microsoft Internet Explorer retrieves a file from a server, the server provides the MIME type of the file. Internet Explorer uses the MIME type to determine whether the file can be read by Internet Explorer, or whether an appropriate helper application is available to read the file.
  5. In the Suffixes box, type the filename extension(s) commonly used for the file type. Begin each extension with a period. Separate multiple extensions by spaces.
    For servers that do not provide MIME types, Microsoft Internet Explorer uses filename extensions to determine the file format.
  6. Select Binary or Text to specify how the file type is encoded. Most file types are encoded as binary.
  7. Specify the helper application that you want to use to read the selected file type. To find the application, you can choose Browse.
  8. Choose OK.