System Settings/File Associations

Modify an existing file type, or create a new one

Information

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The workspace and the individual applications know the various kinds of files by their file type. This is what allows them to handle the different types of files appropriately. This settings dialog allows you to configure how any known file type is to be handled. It also lets you define new file types, or modify how a known type is recognized.

Alternatively, you can configure a file type in Dolphin using one of the 3 methods to change file associations.

Configuring known file types

In the list in the left part of the window you will find a search tool and a list of all known file types collected in a number of groups. To find a file type enter part of its file type name or file name pattern in the input line at the top.

Note

If you are searching for a file type based on its file name extension, you may need to enter the period character explicitly. For example, to find the file type for file, whose name ends in ".c" (source files for the programming language c), type *.c or even just .c but not *c. In this context the asterisk ("*") does not act as a wildcard sign.

You can also browse the list of file types. Just expand the relevant category, and go through the list of file types that appear. Some of these list are very long, though.

To modify a file type, locate it in the list of file types and click on its name. Now you will see two tabs in the right side of the dialog.

In the General tab you can change the icon associated with this type of file by clicking the icon button in the top left of the tab. You can add or remove file name patterns in the Filename Patterns list, thereby defining which files are recognized as having this type. The Application Preference Order list in the bottom part of the tab names the applications that will show up in the context menu, when you right click on a file of this type. The first application in the list is the one that is used when you left click on the file.

The options in the Embedding tab affect how the file type is handled by Konqueror, when it is used as a file manager.

Adding new file types locally

To add a new file type click on the Add... button below the list of file types in the left side of the window. That brings up a dialog where you should select a group from the Group dropdown list and enter a name in the Type Name text field. Then click the OK button to create your new file type.

Note

You may need to go to the end of the list of files in the group to find your new file type.

Now you can edit the new file type in exactly the same way that you modified an existing file type.

Requesting new file types

The KDE software guesses filetypes using the shared-mime-info database, which is shared with many other software projects. To request a new file type to be added to the database, please, follow the instructions here.