I can't seem to host svg files...

[kizzume]

I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I embed it into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server and host it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text form instead.

Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put on a strange limitation or something?

[Oliver Hunt-2]

First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you  
should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml

--Oliver

On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:

>
> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I  
> embed it
> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server  
> and host
> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text form  
> instead.
>
> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put on a  
> strange
> limitation or something?
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
>

[kizzume]

Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file, because I really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  All I know about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in with FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a yearly fee for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.

The server is not an application server--it just holds files.

Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another server:
http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/Flag_of_France.svg

Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:

http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg

And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:

http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg

Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:

First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you  
should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml

--Oliver

On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:

>
> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I  
> embed it
> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server  
> and host
> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text form  
> instead.
>
> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put on a  
> strange
> limitation or something?
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
>

[Oliver Hunt-2]

Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,  
you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to  
report the correct mimetype.

--Oliver

On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:

>
>
> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,  
> because I
> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  
> All I know
> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in with
> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a  
> yearly fee
> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>
> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
>
> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another  
> server:
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
>
> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
>
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
>
> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
>
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
>
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>
>>
>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
>>
>> --Oliver
>>
>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
>>> embed it
>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
>>> and host
>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text form
>>> instead.
>>>
>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put on a
>>> strange
>>> limitation or something?
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>

[Doug Schepers-3]

Hi, kizzume-

kizzume wrote (on 9/28/2007 3:19 AM):
>
> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file, because I
> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

You can tell by trying out the URL in Web-Sniffer [1].  Think of it as a
validator for server configuration, if that helps.

In this case, your server seems not to know about SVG, so it tells the
browser that it's sending it a text file.


>  All I know
> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in with
> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a yearly fee
> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>
> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.

It's usually easy to fix this problem... instructions are on the SVG
Wiki [2].


By the way, this list, www-svg, is an W3C forum to discuss issues with the
SVG Spec. For questions about development details and such, you should post
to the very active,  friendly, and helpful list called SVG-Developers [3].


[1] http://web-sniffer.net/
[2] http://wiki.svg.org/MIME_Type
[3] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/svg-developers/

Regards-
-Doug Schepers
W3C Staff Contact, SVG, CDF, and WebAPI

[kizzume]

I'd follow the instructions, but it's impossible to create a file called ".htaccess".  I couldn't even change the name of ".htaccess.txt" to ".htaccess" AFTER it was on the server--it's an invalid filename.  Is this a linux only thing?

Doug Schepers-3 wrote:

Hi, kizzume-

kizzume wrote (on 9/28/2007 3:19 AM):
>
> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file, because I
> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.

You can tell by trying out the URL in Web-Sniffer [1].  Think of it as a
validator for server configuration, if that helps.

In this case, your server seems not to know about SVG, so it tells the
browser that it's sending it a text file.


>  All I know
> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in with
> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a yearly fee
> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>
> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.

It's usually easy to fix this problem... instructions are on the SVG
Wiki [2].


By the way, this list, www-svg, is an W3C forum to discuss issues with the
SVG Spec. For questions about development details and such, you should post
to the very active,  friendly, and helpful list called SVG-Developers [3].


[1] http://web-sniffer.net/
[2] http://wiki.svg.org/MIME_Type
[3] http://groups.yahoo.com/group/svg-developers/

Regards-
-Doug Schepers
W3C Staff Contact, SVG, CDF, and WebAPI

[kizzume]

This is what I don't understand:  "User agents use media types to determine whether a specific format is supported and how the content should be processed. "

Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't understand--at all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to tell it that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes right over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be asking the host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.

"Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be correct.  No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."

That's alright.

Thanks for the help.

Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:

Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,  
you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to  
report the correct mimetype.

--Oliver

On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:

>
>
> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,  
> because I
> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.  
> All I know
> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in with
> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a  
> yearly fee
> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>
> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
>
> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another  
> server:
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
>
> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
>
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
>
> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
>
> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
>
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>
>>
>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
>>
>> --Oliver
>>
>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
>>> embed it
>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
>>> and host
>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text form
>>> instead.
>>>
>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put on a
>>> strange
>>> limitation or something?
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>

[Oliver Hunt-2]

> Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't  
> understand--at
> all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to  
> tell it
> that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes  
> right
> over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be  
> asking the
> host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.

The mime type (or media type) tells the browser what the type of the  
file is, the name has *no* meaning, all that matters is what the  
browser is told.

>
> "Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be  
> correct.
> No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."
You should be able to say that their server isn't reporting the  
correct mimetype for svg files, they should be able to configure  
their server to report the correct one.

--Oliver

>
> That's alright.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>
>>
>> Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,
>> you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to
>> report the correct mimetype.
>>
>> --Oliver
>>
>> On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,
>>> because I
>>> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
>>> All I know
>>> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in  
>>> with
>>> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a
>>> yearly fee
>>> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>>>
>>> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
>>>
>>> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another
>>> server:
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
>>>
>>> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
>>>
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
>>>
>>> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
>>>
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
>>>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
>>>>
>>>> --Oliver
>>>>
>>>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
>>>>> embed it
>>>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
>>>>> and host
>>>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text  
>>>>> form
>>>>> instead.
>>>>>
>>>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put  
>>>>> on a
>>>>> strange
>>>>> limitation or something?
>>>>> --
>>>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t- 
>>>>> seem-
>>>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
>>>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12935804
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>

[kizzume]

Well, I've contacted the host via email--I hope it goes over okay, and I hope they know what the heck I'm talking about.

Thanks again for the help.

[kizzume]

Okay, that's starting to make some more sense.  Somewhat.  If the filename has no meaning, then how does any file get recognized as anything?  No, I guess I'm more confused than ever now.

How can a setting on the server tell a browser what type of files are on that server?  Is this mime type thing a file?  If it's a setting--how does it work--how does it decide what TYPES of files are on the server?  Is this some sort of database or something associated with each file, checking to see what type it is or something?  Is it like the old filing sytem that used to be on MacOS9 and earlier?  The more I look into this, the more confused I'm getting.

Is there a "mime types for dummies" sort of faq I could look at?

Sorry for my confusion--but, I'm confused.

Thanks for the help.

Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:

> Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't  
> understand--at
> all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to  
> tell it
> that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes  
> right
> over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be  
> asking the
> host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.

The mime type (or media type) tells the browser what the type of the  
file is, the name has *no* meaning, all that matters is what the  
browser is told.

>
> "Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be  
> correct.
> No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."
You should be able to say that their server isn't reporting the  
correct mimetype for svg files, they should be able to configure  
their server to report the correct one.

--Oliver

>
> That's alright.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>
>>
>> Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,
>> you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to
>> report the correct mimetype.
>>
>> --Oliver
>>
>> On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,
>>> because I
>>> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
>>> All I know
>>> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in  
>>> with
>>> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a
>>> yearly fee
>>> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
>>>
>>> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
>>>
>>> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another
>>> server:
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
>>>
>>> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
>>>
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
>>>
>>> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
>>>
>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
>>>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
>>>>
>>>> --Oliver
>>>>
>>>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
>>>>> embed it
>>>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
>>>>> and host
>>>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text  
>>>>> form
>>>>> instead.
>>>>>
>>>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put  
>>>>> on a
>>>>> strange
>>>>> limitation or something?
>>>>> --
>>>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t- 
>>>>> seem-
>>>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
>>>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem- 
> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12935804
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>

[Rick-2]

On 9/28/07, kizzume <kizzume@...> wrote:
>
>
> Okay, that's starting to make some more sense.  Somewhat.  If the filename
> has no meaning, then how does any file get recognized as anything?  No, I
> guess I'm more confused than ever now.

Consider this, if you are generating dynamic content, there is no
file.  How does the browser know what it is?

The content header.

Actually, in the case of files, mime types are used by the browser to
look at the file extention and report to the browser what is coming in
the content header.  In the case of dynamic content, the server
program that generates the content knows what the content is, it
should, it's generating it, so it sets the content header itself.  You
don't see the content header because it isn't part of the document, it
is the header that tells the client what kind of document is coming so
it can decide if it will even accept it in the first place, and if so,
what to do with it.  You want it to display an SVG image, so the
client has to know that one is coming.

The bottom line is that the server does look at the file extension for
static documents, then uses the mime type to determine what the
content is.

The svg mime type is image/svg+xml, this is what is set in the content
header, what is set in the mime types table is this:

image/svg+xml       svg svgz

What are svg and svgz?  File extensions.  The mime type that everyone
keeps telling you to get set is how the server translates the file
extension to a document type.  But if it isn't there it can't.  If you
create a new kind of content and create a new plugin for a client to
deal with it, you have to create a new mime type so the server can
translate the file extension to a document type and tell the client
what is coming.  If you want the world to start using your fabulous
new content, you register the mime type so that everyone else can use
it.

If it isn't there, the server uses the default, which is text.

This is all low level server to client negotiation stuff that you
shouldn't have to worry about unless you are generating dynamic
content.  In fact, you don't have to worry about it, or even read a
mime types for dummies book, just get the mime type set and the
problem will go away.

> How can a setting on the server tell a browser what type of files are on
> that server?  Is this mime type thing a file?  If it's a setting--how does
> it work--how does it decide what TYPES of files are on the server?  Is this
> some sort of database or something associated with each file, checking to
> see what type it is or something?  Is it like the old filing sytem that used
> to be on MacOS9 and earlier?  The more I look into this, the more confused
> I'm getting.
>
> Is there a "mime types for dummies" sort of faq I could look at?
>
> Sorry for my confusion--but, I'm confused.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't
> >> understand--at
> >> all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to
> >> tell it
> >> that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes
> >> right
> >> over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be
> >> asking the
> >> host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.
> >
> > The mime type (or media type) tells the browser what the type of the
> > file is, the name has *no* meaning, all that matters is what the
> > browser is told.
> >
> >>
> >> "Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be
> >> correct.
> >> No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."
> > You should be able to say that their server isn't reporting the
> > correct mimetype for svg files, they should be able to configure
> > their server to report the correct one.
> >
> > --Oliver
> >
> >>
> >> That's alright.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the help.
> >>
> >>
> >> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,
> >>> you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to
> >>> report the correct mimetype.
> >>>
> >>> --Oliver
> >>>
> >>> On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,
> >>>> because I
> >>>> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
> >>>> All I know
> >>>> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in
> >>>> with
> >>>> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a
> >>>> yearly fee
> >>>> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
> >>>>
> >>>> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
> >>>>
> >>>> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another
> >>>> server:
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
> >>>>
> >>>> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
> >>>>
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
> >>>>
> >>>> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
> >>>>
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
> >>>>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --Oliver
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
> >>>>>> embed it
> >>>>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
> >>>>>> and host
> >>>>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text
> >>>>>> form
> >>>>>> instead.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put
> >>>>>> on a
> >>>>>> strange
> >>>>>> limitation or something?
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-
> >>>>>> seem-
> >>>>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
> >>>>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
> >>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> --
> >> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12935804
> >> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12936069
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
>

--
Cheers!
Rick

[kizzume]

Thank you very much for such a verbose response.  That was extremely helpful.  I guess sometimes I just need to read something in several different ways to get it in my thick skull.

Unfortunately, I already made a request which was worded in an "I have no idea what I'm talking about and I admit it" sort of manner before reading this description, but I think they'll understand just out of svg and mime type being metioned.  Hopefully. ;)

Thanks again for such a verbose response. :)

Rick-2 wrote:

On 9/28/07, kizzume <[e-mail]> wrote:
>
>
> Okay, that's starting to make some more sense.  Somewhat.  If the filename
> has no meaning, then how does any file get recognized as anything?  No, I
> guess I'm more confused than ever now.

Consider this, if you are generating dynamic content, there is no
file.  How does the browser know what it is?

The content header.

Actually, in the case of files, mime types are used by the browser to
look at the file extention and report to the browser what is coming in
the content header.  In the case of dynamic content, the server
program that generates the content knows what the content is, it
should, it's generating it, so it sets the content header itself.  You
don't see the content header because it isn't part of the document, it
is the header that tells the client what kind of document is coming so
it can decide if it will even accept it in the first place, and if so,
what to do with it.  You want it to display an SVG image, so the
client has to know that one is coming.

The bottom line is that the server does look at the file extension for
static documents, then uses the mime type to determine what the
content is.

The svg mime type is image/svg+xml, this is what is set in the content
header, what is set in the mime types table is this:

image/svg+xml       svg svgz

What are svg and svgz?  File extensions.  The mime type that everyone
keeps telling you to get set is how the server translates the file
extension to a document type.  But if it isn't there it can't.  If you
create a new kind of content and create a new plugin for a client to
deal with it, you have to create a new mime type so the server can
translate the file extension to a document type and tell the client
what is coming.  If you want the world to start using your fabulous
new content, you register the mime type so that everyone else can use
it.

If it isn't there, the server uses the default, which is text.

This is all low level server to client negotiation stuff that you
shouldn't have to worry about unless you are generating dynamic
content.  In fact, you don't have to worry about it, or even read a
mime types for dummies book, just get the mime type set and the
problem will go away.

> How can a setting on the server tell a browser what type of files are on
> that server?  Is this mime type thing a file?  If it's a setting--how does
> it work--how does it decide what TYPES of files are on the server?  Is this
> some sort of database or something associated with each file, checking to
> see what type it is or something?  Is it like the old filing sytem that used
> to be on MacOS9 and earlier?  The more I look into this, the more confused
> I'm getting.
>
> Is there a "mime types for dummies" sort of faq I could look at?
>
> Sorry for my confusion--but, I'm confused.
>
> Thanks for the help.
>
>
> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >
> >
> >> Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't
> >> understand--at
> >> all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to
> >> tell it
> >> that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes
> >> right
> >> over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be
> >> asking the
> >> host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.
> >
> > The mime type (or media type) tells the browser what the type of the
> > file is, the name has *no* meaning, all that matters is what the
> > browser is told.
> >
> >>
> >> "Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be
> >> correct.
> >> No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."
> > You should be able to say that their server isn't reporting the
> > correct mimetype for svg files, they should be able to configure
> > their server to report the correct one.
> >
> > --Oliver
> >
> >>
> >> That's alright.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the help.
> >>
> >>
> >> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,
> >>> you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to
> >>> report the correct mimetype.
> >>>
> >>> --Oliver
> >>>
> >>> On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:
> >>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,
> >>>> because I
> >>>> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
> >>>> All I know
> >>>> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in
> >>>> with
> >>>> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a
> >>>> yearly fee
> >>>> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
> >>>>
> >>>> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
> >>>>
> >>>> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another
> >>>> server:
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
> >>>>
> >>>> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
> >>>>
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
> >>>>
> >>>> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
> >>>>
> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
> >>>>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
> >>>>>
> >>>>> --Oliver
> >>>>>
> >>>>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
> >>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
> >>>>>> embed it
> >>>>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
> >>>>>> and host
> >>>>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text
> >>>>>> form
> >>>>>> instead.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put
> >>>>>> on a
> >>>>>> strange
> >>>>>> limitation or something?
> >>>>>> --
> >>>>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-
> >>>>>> seem-
> >>>>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
> >>>>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> --
> >>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
> >>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> --
> >> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12935804
> >> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12936069
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
>


--
Cheers!
Rick

[Rick-2]

On 9/28/07, kizzume <kizzume@...> wrote:
>
>
> Thank you very much for such a verbose response.  That was extremely helpful.
> I guess sometimes I just need to read something in several different ways to
> get it in my thick skull.

> Unfortunately, I already made a request which was worded in an "I have no
> idea what I'm talking about and I admit it" sort of manner before reading
> this description, but I think they'll understand just out of svg and mime
> type being metioned.  Hopefully. ;)
>
> Thanks again for such a verbose response. :)

Well, it is good to know why things happen.  Your server administrator
should understand what you want.  I looked over my post and I made a
couple silly errors (as I do when I don't proof)

>
> Rick-2 wrote:
> >
> >
> > On 9/28/07, kizzume <kizzume@...> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >> Okay, that's starting to make some more sense.  Somewhat.  If the
> >> filename
> >> has no meaning, then how does any file get recognized as anything?  No, I
> >> guess I'm more confused than ever now.
> >
> > Consider this, if you are generating dynamic content, there is no
> > file.  How does the browser know what it is?
> >
> > The content header.
> >
> > Actually, in the case of files, mime types are used by the browser to

The above should read used by the server, not the browser.

> > look at the file extention and report to the browser what is coming in
> > the content header.  In the case of dynamic content, the server
> > program that generates the content knows what the content is, it
> > should, it's generating it, so it sets the content header itself.  You
> > don't see the content header because it isn't part of the document, it
> > is the header that tells the client what kind of document is coming so
> > it can decide if it will even accept it in the first place, and if so,
> > what to do with it.  You want it to display an SVG image, so the
> > client has to know that one is coming.
> >
> > The bottom line is that the server does look at the file extension for
> > static documents, then uses the mime type to determine what the
> > content is.
> >
> > The svg mime type is image/svg+xml, this is what is set in the content
> > header, what is set in the mime types table is this:
> >
> > image/svg+xml       svg svgz
> >
> > What are svg and svgz?  File extensions.  The mime type that everyone
> > keeps telling you to get set is how the server translates the file
> > extension to a document type.  But if it isn't there it can't.  If you

That should be content type.  I believe the rest is fairly accurate,
if it isn't, I'm sure we will find out.

> > create a new kind of content and create a new plugin for a client to
> > deal with it, you have to create a new mime type so the server can
> > translate the file extension to a document type and tell the client
> > what is coming.  If you want the world to start using your fabulous
> > new content, you register the mime type so that everyone else can use
> > it.
> >
> > If it isn't there, the server uses the default, which is text.
> >
> > This is all low level server to client negotiation stuff that you
> > shouldn't have to worry about unless you are generating dynamic
> > content.  In fact, you don't have to worry about it, or even read a
> > mime types for dummies book, just get the mime type set and the
> > problem will go away.
> >
> >> How can a setting on the server tell a browser what type of files are on
> >> that server?  Is this mime type thing a file?  If it's a setting--how
> >> does
> >> it work--how does it decide what TYPES of files are on the server?  Is
> >> this
> >> some sort of database or something associated with each file, checking to
> >> see what type it is or something?  Is it like the old filing sytem that
> >> used
> >> to be on MacOS9 and earlier?  The more I look into this, the more
> >> confused
> >> I'm getting.
> >>
> >> Is there a "mime types for dummies" sort of faq I could look at?
> >>
> >> Sorry for my confusion--but, I'm confused.
> >>
> >> Thanks for the help.
> >>
> >>
> >> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >> Why can't files just be used as files?  I guess I just don't
> >> >> understand--at
> >> >> all.  A file isn't a file unless there's something on the server to
> >> >> tell it
> >> >> that it's a certain type of file?  Why is that necessary?  It goes
> >> >> right
> >> >> over my head, and since I really don't understand what I'd be
> >> >> asking the
> >> >> host, I'm going to have to refrain until I do understand.
> >> >
> >> > The mime type (or media type) tells the browser what the type of the
> >> > file is, the name has *no* meaning, all that matters is what the
> >> > browser is told.
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> "Yes, I'm calling because I want you to change the mime type to be
> >> >> correct.
> >> >> No, I don't really know what that means, but I need you to do it."
> >> > You should be able to say that their server isn't reporting the
> >> > correct mimetype for svg files, they should be able to configure
> >> > their server to report the correct one.
> >> >
> >> > --Oliver
> >> >
> >> >>
> >> >> That's alright.
> >> >>
> >> >> Thanks for the help.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>> Your host is serving the SVG files with text/plain as the mimetype,
> >> >>> you'll need to contact your host so that they can setup the server to
> >> >>> report the correct mimetype.
> >> >>>
> >> >>> --Oliver
> >> >>>
> >> >>> On 27/09/2007, at 6:19 PM, kizzume wrote:
> >> >>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Is this something you can tell if you try to look at the file,
> >> >>>> because I
> >> >>>> really truly have absolutely no idea what you're talking about.
> >> >>>> All I know
> >> >>>> about the kind of server I have is that it holds files.  I log in
> >> >>>> with
> >> >>>> FireFTP, create directories, and upload files.  It's one I pay a
> >> >>>> yearly fee
> >> >>>> for.  That probably doesn't tell you anything though.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> The server is not an application server--it just holds files.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Here's one I made a copy of that was working perfectly on another
> >> >>>> server:
> >> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/flag_of_france.svg
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Here's one I converted with inkscape from a bmp:
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/kizzume-logo.svg
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> And here's a stupid test drawing made in inkscape:
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> http://www.infraxes.com/kizzume/images/drawing.svg
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> Oliver Hunt-2 wrote:
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>> First guess: Your server isn't sending the correct mimetype -- you
> >> >>>>> should make sure it is definitely being sent as image/svg+xml
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>> --Oliver
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>> On 26/09/2007, at 5:22 AM, kizzume wrote:
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>> I can take an svg file from another server that works great when I
> >> >>>>>> embed it
> >> >>>>>> into a page, but as soon as I copy that same svg file to my server
> >> >>>>>> and host
> >> >>>>>> it there, it won't view as a picture--it just shows it in text
> >> >>>>>> form
> >> >>>>>> instead.
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>> Am I doing something wrong, or are there some servers that put
> >> >>>>>> on a
> >> >>>>>> strange
> >> >>>>>> limitation or something?
> >> >>>>>> --
> >> >>>>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-
> >> >>>>>> seem-
> >> >>>>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12899768
> >> >>>>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>>
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>> --
> >> >>>> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >> >>>> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12933163
> >> >>>> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>>
> >> >>
> >> >> --
> >> >> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-
> >> >> to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12935804
> >> >> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >> --
> >> View this message in context:
> >> http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12936069
> >> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >
> >
> > --
> > Cheers!
> > Rick
> >
> >
> >
>
> --
> View this message in context: http://www.nabble.com/I-can%27t-seem-to-host-svg-files...-tf4522017.html#a12937555
> Sent from the w3.org - www-svg mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>
>
>

--
Cheers!
Rick