# man > MAILCAP.ORDER(5)

[_MAILCAP.ORDER_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MAILCAP.ORDER/5/markdown)                        Order Mailcap Entries                       [_MAILCAP.ORDER_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MAILCAP.ORDER/5/markdown)

## NAME
       /etc/mailcap.order - the mailcap ordering specifications

## DESCRIPTION
       The  order of entries in the _/etc/mailcap_ file can be altered by editing the _/etc/mailcap.or‐_
       _der_ file.  Each line of that file specifies a package and an optional mime type.  Mailcap en‐
       tries that match will be placed in the order of this file.  Entries that don't match will  be
       placed later.

### Example
           mime-support:*/*
           gv:application/postscript
           netscape:text/html
           less:text/*
           emacs:text/*

       The  above  would  make  any  entries  provided  by the **mime-support **package (as found in the
       _/usr/lib/mime/packages_ directory) take priority over everything else.  The **gv **package will be
       used over anything else when it comes to postscript documents.  **Netscape **will be used for any
       html documents and **less **will be used for any remaining text documents.  However,  since  nei‐
       ther  netscape  or  less provide for editing documents, any edit or compose actions will fall
       through to the **emacs **rules.

       After modifying this file, be sure to run _/usr/sbin/update-mime_ (as root)  to  propagate  the
       changes into the _/etc/mailcap_ file.

       Remember that this files takes _package_ names and not _executable_ names.  If you want to define
       rules  that reference specific programs, the best way is to include them in _~/.mailcap_ or the
       user section of the _/etc/mailcap_ file.

## LIMITATIONS
       There is currently no way to break out a certain type from a wildcard rule.  If, for example,
       both xv and gimp were to specify "image/*" rules, it isn't possible to use xv for _gif_  images
       but use gimp for _jpeg_ images.

       Also,  I would like to add the ability to specify certain actions in the rules.  For example,
       if netscape were to have an _edit_ rule but I wanted to use  emacs  for  editing/creating  html
       documents, I could place a line like

         emacs:text/* action=edit|compose

       before  the  netscape  entry.   The **update-mime **program would then spit out entries such that
       netscape _view_ rule comes **before **the emacs _view_ rule but have the netscape _edit_ rule comes **af‐**
       **ter **the emacs _edit_ rule.

## SEE ALSO
       [**mailcap**(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/mailcap/5/markdown) [**run-mailcap**(1)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/run-mailcap/1/markdown) [**update-mime**(8)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/update-mime/8/markdown)

## AUTHOR
       The **mailcap.order **specification was written by Brian White <<bcwhite@pobox.com>>

Debian Project                              16th Aug 1998                           [_MAILCAP.ORDER_(5)](https://www.chedong.com/phpMan.php/man/MAILCAP.ORDER/5/markdown)