.cts files in Linux do not seem to have an assigned Magic Number

[morciej]

In Linux, installations need to have the Magic Number to .cts files added.

I believe the file starts with "TSFF\n", but please do correct me if I am wrong. Without it, .cts files are listed as "unknown type" and it is NOT possible to open a .cts file by double clicking on the link, or alternatively ALL files of the type "unknown" are being open by Treesheets (which is not the desirable outcome).

I am not sure who is empowered to request it.

[aardappel]

what do you mean, "linux" ? is this a specific window manager / file manager under linux (kde / gnome ?) how do programs normally register file extensions or file headers there?

[ghuls]

A MIME type for TreeSheets needs to be added: https://freedesktop.org/wiki/Specifications/AddingMIMETutor/

[aardappel]

Anyone on Linux wants to test adding these files, then send a PR to this repo?

[morciej]

Sorry, should have been more specific. Linux Mint ulyssa/focal it is. I am using XFCE.

[morciej]

OK here's a workaround. I am not skilled enough in github-fu to make a pull request; someone please help.

1. Add the following lines to /etc/magic and /etc/magic.mime:

0   string  TSFF    treesheets archive
!:mime application/prs.treesheets

This takes care of the first issue, the system not recognizing .cts archives as anything special. Now we'll create the actual mime type.

2. Add a file named treesheets.xml to /usr/share/mime/packages, containing:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<mime-info xmlns="http://www.freedesktop.org/standards/shared-mime-info">
   <mime-type type="application/prs.treesheets">
     <comment>Treesheets Archive</comment>
     <glob pattern="*.cts"/>
     <icon name="treesheets"/>
   </mime-type>
</mime-info>

3. Run sudo update-mime-database /usr/share/mime

Now the mime type application/prs.treesheets exists, and we can use it to associate .cts files with the treesheets application.

4. Right-click any .cts file in your favourite file manager (FWIW I use thunar, your mileage may vary with others) and select treesheets to always handle this type of file.

END RESULT:

DONE

P.S. I used application/prs.treeshheets for mime type. This makes it a personal mime type. Obviously, the developer needs to use a vnd.xxxxxxx type instead, but it's not my prerogative to select a public mime type.

[aardappel]

@morciej the instructions you gave are all system changes, as opposed to changes to this repo. So a PR would need to take the form of some kind of install script, that does what you did automatically?

What of your instructions is or isn't applicable to other Linux setups?

[morciej]

I suppose so. I am not a programmer, just an amateur system administrator of this particular Linux Mint, old beater of a desktop. I never worked with a Slackware/Debian/Ubuntu/Arch/Fedora, so I can't answer these questions. But the idea of magic numbers and mime types is universal to Linux, so it should work, with distribution-specific adjustments, on any. As for how to do it using install scripts, that's way beyond my capability. It would require knowledge of packaging and scripting that I simply don't have. I am sure others can help pull it together. Right?

[jtojnar]

Another option is adding the entry to https://gitlab.freedesktop.org/xdg/shared-mime-info. That way, distros will know about the MIME type even without TreeSheets installed, and be able to suggest a package to install when user tries to open it.

[jtojnar]

It might also be nice to officially register a MIME type (likely application/vnd.treesheets) with IANA:

• list
• registration form