[Bug 90378] Should make downloaded files-read only

[Nikolaus Rath]

Public bug reported:

Binary package hint: firefox

When firefox downloads a file and the user chooses to open this file
directly with an application (openoffice, gedit ..), the file is saved
in a temporary folder. The file is removed by firefox at some later
point (I couldn't figure out when exactly).

The problem is that in the application, the user is presented with a
completely normal, writable file. An average user can not know that any
changes he makes will be lost *even if he saves the file*, because the
application does not ask for a new filename. But also as a more
experienced user I often forget that I am dealing with a temporary file.
I assume that my data is safe when I press save. If for some reason the
data cannot be saved (because it was downloaded from the net), I expect
to be asked for a new filename.

Although this is neither a real firefox nor openoffice (or gedit etc)
bug, it easily leads to dataloss.

I see three options to fix this:

1) Firefox should mark downloaded files read only when they are just
temporary. This will hopefully cause applications to show the correct
behaviour when changes are made.

2) Firefox should not delete temporary files if they have been changed.
Problem here is that the file still has an obscure name and sits in a
tmp directory.

3) Firefox should tell the called application to show the data without
associating it with a filename. This would be the best option, but it is
most likely not possible to implement for all files.

** Affects: firefox (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: Unconfirmed

** Description changed:

  Binary package hint: firefox
  
  When firefox downloads a file and the user chooses to open this file
  directly with an application (openoffice, gedit ..), the file is saved
  in a temporary folder. The file is removed by firefox at some later
  point (I couldn't figure out when exactly).
  
  The problem is that in the application, the user is presented with a
  completely normal, writable file. An average user can not know that any
  changes he makes will be lost *even if he saves the file*, because the
  application does not ask for a new filename. But also as a more
  experienced user I often forget that I am dealing with a temporary file.
  I assume that my data is safe when I press save. If for some reason the
  data cannot be saved (because it was downloaded from the net), I expect
  to be asked for a new filename.
  
  Although this is neither a real firefox nor openoffice (or gedit etc)
  bug, it easily leads to dataloss.
  
  I see three options to fix this:
  
  1) Firefox should mark downloaded files read only when they are just
  temporary. This will hopefully cause applications to show the correct
  behaviour when changes are made.
  
  2) Firefox should not delete temporary files if they have been changed.
  Problem here is that the file still has an obscure name and sits in a
  tmp directory.
  
  3) Firefox should tell the called application to show the data without
  associating it with a filename. This would be the best option, but it is
  most likely not possible to implement for all files.
- 
- 
-  It is very easy to forgot that the file is temporary and will be deleted soon.

-- 
Should make downloaded files-read only
https://launchpad.net/bugs/90378