BMimeType¶

Constructor and Destructor¶

BMimeType()

BMimeType::BMimeType()
BMimeType::BMimeType(const char *MIME_string)

Constructs a new BMimeType object and initializes its MIME type to a copy of MIME_string (if the argument is given). The rules of validity apply (see “Valid MIME Strings”). To see if the initialization was successful, call InitCheck() after you construct a new BMimeType object.

You can also set the MIME type through the SetTo() function.

~BMimeType()

virtual BMimeType::~BMimeType()

Frees the object’s MIME string and destroys the object.

Member Functions¶

Contains()

bool BMimeType::Contains(const BMimeType *other) const

Compares the MIME string with other, returning true if they are identical. If the object is a supertype and it’s the supertype of other, then the method returns true. Otherwise, it returns false.

GetAppHint(), SetAppHint()

status_t BMimeType::GetAppHint(entry_ref *app_ref) const

status_t BMimeType::SetAppHint(const entry_ref *app_ref)

These functions get and set the “app hint” for the object’s application signature. The app hint is a path that identifies the executable that should be used when launching an application that has this signature. For example, when the Tracker needs to launch an app of type “application/YourAppHere”, it asks the database for the application hint. This hint is converted to an entry_ref before it is passed to the caller. Of course, the path may not point to an application, or it might point to an application with the wrong signature (and so on)—that’s why this is merely a hint.

GetAppHint() function initializes the entry_ref to the hint recorded in the database; the argument must be allocated before it’s passed in.

SetAppHint() copies the path corresponding to the entry_ref into the database. app_ref should point to an executable file that has the same signature as this object’s MIME type.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The ref was successfully retrieved or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	(Set) The ref is uninitialized.

GetAttrInfo(), SetAttrInfo()

status_t BMimeType::GetAttrInfo(BMessage *info) const

status_t BMimeType::SetAttrInfo(BMessage *info)

These functions use a BMessage to get and set the list of attributes that are typically associated with files of the MIME type. The BMessage must have the following fields:

Field Name	Type	element[0..n]
attr:name	`B_STRING_TYPE`	Each element is the name of one attribute.
attr:public_name	`B_STRING_TYPE`	Each element is the human-readable name of one attribute.
attr:type	`B_INT32_TYPE`	Each element is the type code for the corresponding attribute.
attr:public	`B_BOOL_TYPE`	true if the attribute is public, false if it’s private.
attr:editable	`B_BOOL_TYPE`	true if the attribute should be user-editable, false if not.

You can actually have any fields you want; it’s up to applications to determine which attributes they recognize and which they don’t.

Each element in each field describes the next attribute. If a file has three attributes, there should be three elements in each field, one per attribute.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	No error.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	Invalid file.

GetFileExtensions(), SetFileExtensions()

status_t BMimeType::GetFileExtensions(BMessage *msg) const

status_t BMimeType::SetFileExtensions(const BMessage *msg)

The database associates a list of file extensions (.xxx filename appendages) with each file type. If a file is otherwise untyped, clients of the database can figure out its type by matching the file’s extension to the lists in the database.

These functions get and set the file extensions that are associated with the object’s MIME type.

If you’re getting the extensions, you’ll find them copied into your BMessage’s extensions field (the BMessage must be allocated). They’re given as an indexed array of strings (B_STRING_TYPE).
Similarly, you pass in the extensions by adding strings to the message’s extensions field.
The BMessage’s what field is unimportant.

For example, to retrieve all the extensions that correspond to this object’s MIME type, you would do the following:

BMessage msg();
uint32 i=0;
char *ptr;

if (mime.GetFileExtensions(&msg) != B_OK)
   /* Handle the error. */

while (true) {
   if (msg.FindString("extensions", i++, &ptr) != B_OK)
      break;
   printf("> Extension: %sn", ptr);
}

A given extension can be associated with more than one MIME type.

A NULL msg to SetFileExtensions() clears the type’s extension list.

Warning

SetFileExtensions() clobbers the existing set of extensions. If you want to augment a type’s extensions, you should retrieve the existing set, add the new ones, and then call SetFileExtensions().

Also, there’s no way to ask the database to give you a set of file types that map to a given extension. To find a type for an extension, you have to get all the installed types with GetInstalledTypes() and ask each one for its set of extensions.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The extensions were found or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_NO_MEMORY`.	Insufficient memory to copy the extensions.

GetIcon(), SetIcon()

status_t BMimeType::GetIcon(BBitmap *icon, icon_size which) const

status_t BMimeType::SetIcon(BBitmap *icon, icon_size which)

GetIcon() and SetIcon() get and set the icons that are associated (in the database) with this object’s MIME type. You specify which icon you want (large or small) by passing B_LARGE_ICON or B_MINI_ICON as the which argument. The icon is passed in or returned through the icon argument. The icon data is copied out of or into the BBitmap object.

The bitmap (if you’re calling SetIcon()) or icon (if you’re calling GetIcon()) must be the proper size: 32x32 for the large icon, 16x16 for the small one. Additionally, the bitmap must be in the B_CMAP8 color space (8-bit color), or the application will crash.

If you want to erase the node’s icon, pass NULL as the icon argument to SetIcon().

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The icon was found or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	The bitmap or icon wasn’t the proper size.

GetIconForType(), SetIconForType()

status_t BMimeType::GetIconForType(const char *file_type, BBitmap *icon, icon_size which) const

status_t BMimeType::SetIconForType(const char *file_type, BBitmap *icon, icon_size which)

These functions get and set the icons that an application that has this object’s MIME type as a signature uses to display the given file type. file_type must be a valid MIME string.

The icon is passed in or returned through the icon argument:

If you’re getting the icon, the BBitmap must be allocated; the icon data is copied into your BBitmap object.
If you’re setting the icon, the bitmap must be the proper size: 32x32 for the large icon, 16x16 for the small one. In BRect lingo, that’s BRect(0, 0, 31, 31) and BRect(0, 0, 15, 15).
If you’re setting the icon, the bitmap must be in the B_CMAP8 color space (8-bit color), or the application will crash.
You can remove an icon by passing NULL as the icon argument to SetIconForType().

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`	The icon was found or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	(Get) NULL `BBitmap` pointer, or file_type is invalid.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	(Set) The bitmap data isn’t the proper size, or file_type is invalid.

GetInstalledTypes(), GetInstalledSupertypes()

static status_t BMimeType::GetInstalledTypes(BMessage *types)
static status_t BMimeType::GetInstalledTypes(const char *supertype, BMessage *subtypes)

static status_t BMimeType::GetInstalledSupertypes(BMessage *supertypes)

These static functions retrieve all the file types that are currently installed in the database, all the installed subtypes for a given supertype, and all the installed supertypes. The types are copied into the types field of the passed-in BMessage (which must be allocated).

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The types were found.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	The supertype string isn’t valid.
`B_NO_MEMORY`.	Insufficient memory to copy the types.

GetLongDescription(), SetLongDescription(), GetShortDescription(), SetShortDescription()

status_t BMimeType::GetLongDescription(char *description) const

status_t BMimeType::SetLongDescription(const char *description)

status_t BMimeType::GetShortDescription(char *description) const

status_t BMimeType::SetShortDescription(const char *description)

Each file type has a couple of human-readable description strings associated with it. Neither description string may be longer than B_MIME_TYPE_LENGTH characters.

These functions get and set the long and short description strings. The Get functions copy the string into the argument (which must be allocated). The Set functions copy the string that the argument points to.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The description was found or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	(Set) description is too long.
`B_NO_MEMORY`.	Insufficient memory to copy the description.

GetPreferredApp(), SetPreferredApp()

status_t BMimeType::GetPreferredApp(char *signature, app_verb verb = B_OPEN) const

status_t BMimeType::SetPreferredApp(const char *signature, app_verb verb = B_OPEN)

These functions get and set the “preferred app” for this object’s MIME type. The preferred app is the application that’s used to access a file when, for example, the user double-clicks the file in a Tracker window: Unless the file identifies (in its attributes) a “custom” preferred app, the Tracker will ask the File Type database for the preferred app that’s associated with the file’s type.

The preferred app is identified by signature, a MIME string. A value of NULL indicates that there is no preferred app for the MIME type.
The app_verb argument specifies the type of access; currently, the only app_verb is B_OPEN.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The preferred app was found or set.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_BAD_VALUE`	(Set…() only). The signature argument is too long (greater than `B_MIME_TYPE_LENGTH`).

GetSupportingApps(), GetWildcardApps()

status_t BMimeType::GetSupportingApps(BMessage *msg) const

static status_t BMimeType::GetWildcardApps(BMessage *msg)

These functions retrieve a list of applications (identified by signature) that know how to handle the object’s MIME type (for GetSupportingApps()) or all MIME types (GetWildCardApps()). The information is returned in msg, which must be allocated by the caller. The msg format is:

Field name	Type	Description
applications	`B_STRING_TYPE` (array)	The signatures of the application that know how to handle the MIME type. The first n applications (where n is defined by be:sub, below) can handle the full type (supertype and subtype). The rest of the applications in the array handle the supertype only.
be:sub	`B_INT32_TYPE`	The number of applications in the “applications” array that can handle the object’s full MIME type. These applications are listed first in the array. This field is omitted if the object represents a supertype only.
be:super	`B_INT32_TYPE`	The number of applications in the applications array that can handle the object’s supertype (not counting those that can handle the full type). These applications are listed after the full-MIME type supporters. By definition, the GetWildcardApps() function never returns supertype-only apps.

For example, here we print the signatures of the apps that can handle “text/plain” and “text” (without checking for errors):

BMessage msg();
BMimeType mime("text/plain");
int32 subs=0, supers=0, n, hold;
char *ptr;

mime.GetSupportingApps(&msg);
msg.FindInt32("be:subs", &subs);
msg.FindInt32("be:supers", &supers);

for (n = 0; n < subs; n++) {
   msg.FindString("applications", n, &ptr);
   printf("Full support: %sn", ptr);
}
hold = n;
for (n = 0; n < supers; n++) {
   msg.FindString("applications", n+hold, &ptr);
   printf("Supertype support: %sn", ptr);
}

If an application supports both the full type and the supertype, it will be listed only once in the “applications” array (as a full supporter).

To set the types that an application supports, use BAppFileInfo::SetSupportedTypes(). To tell an app to support all types, add “application/octet-stream” to its supported-types list.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The signatures were found.
`B_BAD_PORT`.	No `be_app` found.
`B_NO_INIT`.	The BMimeType is uninitialized.
`B_NO_MEMORY`.	Insufficient memory to copy the signatures.

InitCheck()

status_t BMimeType::InitCheck() const

Returns the status of the most recent construction or SetTo() call.

See SetTo().

Install(), Delete(), IsInstalled()

status_t BMimeType::Install()

status_t BMimeType::Delete()

bool BMimeType::IsInstalled() const

Install() adds the object’s MIME type to the File Type database. Delete() removes the type from the database. IsInstalled() tells you if the type is currently installed.

None of these functions affect the object’s copy of the MIME type; for instance, deleting a MIME type from the database doesn’t uninitialize the object.

Warning

Currently, Install() may return a random value if the object is already installed. To avoid confusion, you should call IsInstalled() first:

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The type was successfully added or deleted.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	The object is uninitialized.

IsValid(), IsSupertypeOnly()

static bool BMimeType::IsValid(const char *MIME_string)
bool BMimeType::IsValid() const

bool BMimeType::IsSupertypeOnly() const

The static IsValid() tests its argument for MIME validity. See “Valid MIME Strings” for the rules. The non-static version checks the validity of the object’s MIME string.

IsSupertypeOnly() returns true if the object’s MIME string doesn’t include a subtype.

SetTo(), Unset()

status_t BMimeType::SetTo(const char *MIME_string)

void BMimeType::Unset()

SetTo() initializes this BMimeType object to represent MIME_string. The object’s previous MIME string is freed; the argument is then copied. The argument can be a full supertype/subtype string, or simply a supertype. In any case, it must pass the validity test described in “Valid MIME Strings”.

Unset() frees the object’s current MIME string, and sets the object’s status to B_NO_INIT.

These return codes are also returned by the InitCheck() function.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	The initialization was successful.
`B_NO_INIT`.	MIME_string is NULL or invalid.
`B_NO_MEMORY`.	Not enough memory to allocate a copy of the argument.

StartWatching(), StopWatching()

static status_t BMimeType::StartWatching(BMessenger target)

static status_t BMimeType::StopWatching(BMessenger target)

StartWatching() initiates the MIME monitor, which is used for keeping track of changes to the File Types database. Change notifications will be sent via the BMessenger target in a BMessage with the what field set to B_META_MIME_CHANGED.

Notification messages have the following fields:

Field name	Type	Description
be:which	int32	Change bitmap (see below for a list)
be:type	string	MIME type whose database information was changed
be:extra_type	string	Extra MIME field used for some notifications
be:large_icon	bool	For notifications involving icon changes, true if the large icon was changed; false otherwise

be:which is a bitmask describing the changes made to the database for MIME type be:type. The following masks are defined along with the BMimeType methods used to effect the changes they signal:

Constant	Method
`B_ICON_CHANGED`	`SetIcon()`
`B_PREFERRED_APP_CHANGED`	`SetPreferredApp()`
`B_ATTR_INFO_CHANGED`	`SetAttrInfo()`
`B_FILE_EXTENSIONS_CHANGED`	`SetFileExtensions()`
`B_SHORT_DESCRIPTION_CHANGED`	`SetShortDescription()`
`B_LONG_DESCRIPTION_CHANGED`	`SetLongDescription()`
`B_ICON_FOR_TYPE_CHANGED`	`SetIconForType()`
`B_APP_HINT_CHANGED`	`SetAppHint()`

The BMimeType methods are given for illustrative purposes only —anything that alters the database for a MIME type will also trigger a notification message. The be:extra_type field is used only in the B_ICON_FOR_TYPE_CHANGED message and indicates the application signature for which the change is valid.

StopWatching() terminates the MIME monitor previously initiated for the given BMessenger.

Type(), GetSupertype()

const char *BMimeType::Type() const

status_t BMimeType::GetSupertype(BMimeType *super) const

Type() returns a pointer to the object’s MIME string. If the object isn’t initialized, this returns a pointer to NULL.

GetSupertype() initializes the argument with this object’s supertype. (You can then call Type() on the argument to see the supertype.) super must be allocated before it’s passed in. If this object isn’t initialized, super is uninitialized.

The errors apply to GetSupertype() only.

Return Code	Description
`B_OK`.	Everything’s fine.
`B_BAD_VALUE`.	This object isn’t initialized.

Operators¶

bool BMimeType::operator==(const BMimeType &type) const

bool BMimeType::operator==(const char *type) const

Two MIME types are equal if they are both initialized to the same string (without regard to case).

API Documentation

BMimeType

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