What is MIME type "application/vnd.ms-artgalry"?

A MIME type is a string that tells browsers and other tools how to handle a particular kind of file.

application/vnd.ms-artgalry is a MIME type created by Microsoft for files that store art gallery data. It manages digital art collections with their images and descriptive settings.
Files using this format usually have the CIL extension.

Vendor-specific format that works with Microsoft applications.
Art collection storage which holds images along with layout and display settings.
Metadata container for extra information like titles, descriptions, and organizational orders.

It is designed to let software organize and present art in a structured way.
Additional details can be found at the IANA MIME Registry.

Associated file extensions

.cil

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

When serving content with this MIME type, set the Content-Type header:


    Content-Type: application/vnd.ms-artgalry

HTML

In HTML, you can specify the MIME type in various elements:


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/vnd.ms-artgalry">Download file</a>

Server-side (Node.js)

Setting the Content-Type header in Node.js:


    const http = require('http');    
    
    http.createServer((req, res) => {    
      res.setHeader('Content-Type', 'application/vnd.ms-artgalry');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.cil

FAQs

What is the primary file extension for application/vnd.ms-artgalry?

The primary file extension associated with this MIME type is .cil. These files are typically known as "Computer Illustrated Library" files and contain collections of clip art or media assets used by older Microsoft Office applications. You can learn more about the specific extension at /file-extension/cil/.

Which software opens files with the application/vnd.ms-artgalry content type?

This format is proprietary to Microsoft and is designed to be opened by the Microsoft Clip Organizer or the older Microsoft Clip Gallery tool found in previous versions of Microsoft Office. It is not compatible with standard image viewers or third-party graphic editors.

Can web browsers display application/vnd.ms-artgalry files directly?

No, modern web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not natively support rendering application/vnd.ms-artgalry content. If a server sends this header, the browser will usually prompt the user to download the .cil file to their local disk.

How do I configure an Apache server to serve .cil files correctly?

To ensure .cil files are identified correctly by client software, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/vnd.ms-artgalry .cil. This ensures the correct MIME header is sent during the download.

What does the "vnd" prefix mean in this MIME type?

The prefix vnd stands for vendor-specific. It indicates that application/vnd.ms-artgalry is not a public standard but a proprietary format developed by a specific organization—in this case, Microsoft—for their art gallery data structures.

Is application/vnd.ms-artgalry used for modern web galleries?

No, this is a legacy format intended for desktop software integration (specifically Microsoft Office). Modern web galleries typically use standard image formats like image/jpeg or image/png combined with HTML5 and JSON, rather than proprietary binary containers.

Are there security risks associated with opening .cil files?

As with any proprietary binary format parsed by legacy software, there is a potential risk if the file is malicious and exploits vulnerabilities in the parsing application (Clip Gallery). Always ensure your files come from trusted sources before importing them into Microsoft Office tools.

General FAQ

What is a MIME type?

A MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) type is a standard that indicates the nature and format of a document, file, or assortment of bytes. MIME types are defined and standardized in IETF's RFC 6838.

MIME types are important because they help browsers and servers understand how to process a file. When a browser receives a file from a server, it uses the MIME type to determine how to display or handle the content, whether it's an image to display, a PDF to open in a viewer, or a video to play.

MIME types consist of a type and a subtype, separated by a slash (e.g., text/html, image/jpeg, application/pdf). Some MIME types also include optional parameters.

How do I find the MIME type for a file?

You can check the file extension or use a file identification tool such as file --mime-type on the command line. Many programming languages also provide libraries to detect MIME types.

Why are multiple MIME types listed for one extension?

Different applications and historical conventions may use alternative MIME identifiers for the same kind of file. Showing them all helps ensure compatibility across systems.