Troubleshooting > Problems with Data > I'm Having Trouble Opening a Fathom Document from My Browser

I'm Having Trouble Opening a Fathom Document from My Browser

When a Web browser encounters a link to a file that it can't open itself, it uses a helper application to open the file instead. Helper applications are supported by most popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape, Mozilla, Opera, etc.) The only major browser with no support for helper applications at this point is Apple's Safari browser. Depending on your browser, you may need to configure it to recognize Fathom as the helper application for Fathom documents.

On the Internet, files are categorized by "MIME-type" and "file extension." Fathom documents have the MIME type application/x-ftm and the extension .ftm.

If you use Netscape or Mozilla browsers, helper applications can be added using the Helpers tab of the General Preferences dialog box. If you use Internet Explorer, helper applications can be added using the File Helpers tab of the Preferences dialog box. (For other browsers, consult the browser's documentation.) Use your browser's helper configuration settings to specify that Web-based data files with the .ftm extension and/or the application/x-ftm MIME type belong to the Fathom application.

If you're using a Macintosh, you may want to also set the downloaded file's File Type and Creator, as shown in the table below.

Finally, if your browser asks whether the files contain binary or text data, indicate that they are binary.

MIME Type

application/x-ftm

File Extension

.ftm

Macintosh File Type

FDoc

Macintosh File Creator

Fthm

Binary or Text?

binary


Key Curriculum Press/Key College Publishing
www.keypress.com/fathom