What is MIME type "application/vnd.sun.xml.impress"?

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

application/vnd.sun.xml.impress is a MIME type for slide presentation files. It is used by applications like OpenOffice.org Impress and similar programs.
It stores data in an XML format. This makes the file easy to parse and exchange.

Main Use: Creating and displaying slide shows similar to those in Microsoft PowerPoint.
Functionality: Supports text, images, graphics, and multimedia content on slides.
Interoperability: Designed to work on multiple platforms and with open standards.

Files using this MIME type include presentation content. The primary file is seen with the extension SXI.
Other related OpenOffice.org XML file types include SXW, STD, STC, SXC, STI, SXD, STW, SXM, and SXG.
They share a common XML design for handling office documents.

For further details see OpenDocument Format on Wikipedia.

Associated file extensions

.sxw, .std, .stc, .sxc, .sti, .sxd, .stw, .sxi, .sxm, .sxg

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/vnd.sun.xml.impress

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/vnd.sun.xml.impress">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.sun.xml.impress');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.sxw, .std, .stc, .sxc, .sti, .sxd, .stw, .sxi, .sxm, .sxg

FAQs

What is the application/vnd.sun.xml.impress MIME type used for?

This MIME type represents legacy OpenOffice.org Impress presentation files, most commonly using the .sxi extension. It indicates that the file is a slide deck created in the older Sun XML format, which was the predecessor to the modern OpenDocument Format (ODF).

How do I open a file with the application/vnd.sun.xml.impress content type?

You can open these files using modern office suites like LibreOffice Impress or Apache OpenOffice. While the format is obsolete, these applications maintain backward compatibility and can open, edit, and save .sxi or .sti files.

Can web browsers display application/vnd.sun.xml.impress files directly?

No, web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not natively render OpenOffice Impress files. If a server sends this MIME type, the browser will typically prompt the user to download the file rather than displaying the slides in the window.

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

To ensure .sxi files are identified correctly, add the following line to your .htaccess file or main configuration: AddType application/vnd.sun.xml.impress .sxi. This ensures the server sends the correct Content-Type header to the client.

What is the difference between this type and application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation?

The type application/vnd.sun.xml.impress refers to the older Sun XML format (extensions like .sxi), used by OpenOffice.org 1.0. The type application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.presentation refers to the newer ISO standard OpenDocument format (extensions like .odp), which replaced the Sun XML format in later versions.

How can I convert an application/vnd.sun.xml.impress file to Microsoft PowerPoint?

Open the file in LibreOffice or OpenOffice, then use the "Save As" or "Export" feature. Select a Microsoft PowerPoint format like .pptx (PowerPoint 2007-365) or .ppt (PowerPoint 97-2003) from the file type dropdown menu.

Why are extensions like SXW and SXC associated with this context?

Extensions like .sxw (Writer) and .sxc (Calc) belong to the same legacy OpenOffice.org XML family. However, application/vnd.sun.xml.impress is specifically for presentations (.sxi). The other extensions use their own specific subtypes, such as vnd.sun.xml.writer or vnd.sun.xml.calc.

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.