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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client Web Browsers
If you want to change the email client that Mozilla launches when an email link ("mailto" link) is clicked then:
  1. Launch Mozilla and enter the URL about:config and hit Enter.
  2. Control-click (or right-click) on any list entry and choose the New pop-up menu, and then the String sub-menu. In the first pop-up that appears, put applications.mailto. In the second, put (for example), the path to the OS X Mail application:
    file:///Applications/Mail.app/Contents/MacOS/Mail
  3. Control-click on any entry, and again select New and String. Put applications.mailto.parameters in the first pop-up, then put "%url%" in the second pop-up.
  4. Control-click on any entry, but this time select New and then Boolean. Enter network.protocol-handler.external.mailto in the first pop-up, and then put true in the second.
Restart Mozilla and send Steve Jobs an email to test it out!

[robg adds: A previous hint covered this in a slightly different manner; I think this new hint is a bit clearer on the whole process.]
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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client | 8 comments | Create New Account
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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: joedec on Jul 02, '03 12:55:05PM

A much simpler solution is add the following line to user.js (in your profile dir).

user_pref("network.protocol-handler.external.mailto", true);


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Jeff Smith
Sunnyvale, California



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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: morgion on Jul 03, '03 12:22:31AM

You could also use the "no mess, no fuss" method of about:config and just add the network.protocol-handler.external.mailto option with a value of true.

I believe whatever mail handler you have specified in System Preferences: Internet: Email will then be used by Mozilla.

So both of the hints are right, and everybody's happy. :-)



[ Reply to This | # ]
Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: rogerwilco on Aug 26, '03 10:55:20PM

I can't get this to work.



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It must be a boolean perference type.
Authored by: BrunoUsesBBEdit on Apr 19, '04 09:34:00AM

Adding the on preference "network.protocol-handler.external.mailto" as a boolean (NOT string type) value of "true" causes mailto links to open in Mail.app without even having to relaunch mozilla.

That is of course unless you have changed your default mail application to Entourage or something.

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--==<< B r u n o >>==--



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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: rogerwilco on Aug 26, '03 10:37:25PM

I don't see "user.js" in my profile directory. Please help me find it. Thx.



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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: dolphy on Jul 03, '03 10:37:29AM

I'm a relative Unix newbie, so please bear with me...

Where does one find the profiles directory of which you speak?

Thanks.

Ethan

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dolphy



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Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: morgion on Jul 03, '03 12:59:03PM

You don't need to find your profiles directory to impliment this; although, for future reference, it's in your home directory (commonly refered to as ~):
~/Library/Mozilla/Profiles/[your name or "Default User"]/[random characters].slt/prefs.js

To set an external mail client the -simple- way, just follow Step 1 and Step 4 of this hint.

I believe whatever mail handler you have specified in System Preferences: Internet: Email will then be used by Mozilla.

PS, as the "Important Stuff" in the Post a Comment section says:
# Try to reply to other people comments instead of starting new threads.
# Read other people's messages before posting your own to avoid simply duplicating what has already been said.



[ Reply to This | # ]
Change default Mozilla/Netscape email client
Authored by: tucklis on Apr 05, '04 02:04:38PM

Thanks RobG, worked a treat! Spent ages trying to find a solution so I just thought I would add:

Google, if you are trying to find an answer on this one someone might be searching for:

mailto link with netscape
mailto link with netscape 7
using mail with netscape
using mail with netscape 7
using external email with netscape
netscape mac os x and mail

Kerry



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