What is MIME type "application/x-starcalc"?

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

application/x-starcalc is a MIME type that marks spreadsheet files made by StarCalc software.
It tells your computer that the file holds data arranged in rows and columns with formulas and formatting.
Files with this type are saved with the file extension SDC.

Specifies the spreadsheet format for proper handling.
Ensures that compatible office suites (like StarOffice or similar applications) open the file correctly.
Supports numerical calculations and organized data storage.

For more details on MIME types, visit Wikipedia: MIME.

Associated file extensions

.sdc

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-starcalc

HTML

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


    <a href="file.dat" type="application/x-starcalc">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/x-starcalc');    
      res.end('Content here');    
    }).listen(3000);

Associated file extensions

.sdc

FAQs

What is the application/x-starcalc MIME type used for?

application/x-starcalc is the legacy media type associated with spreadsheet files created by StarOffice Calc (versions 3.0 through 5.x). These files typically use the .sdc extension and contain grid data, formulas, and formatting similar to modern Excel files.

Which software can open files with the application/x-starcalc content type?

While StarOffice is discontinued, you can still open these files using LibreOffice or Apache OpenOffice. These modern suites maintain backward compatibility and allow you to view, edit, and convert legacy .sdc spreadsheets.

How do I configure an Apache server to handle .sdc files correctly?

To ensure your Apache server sends the correct headers for StarCalc files, add the following line to your .htaccess or httpd.conf file: AddType application/x-starcalc .sdc. This prevents the server from serving the binary spreadsheet data as plain text.

Why does my browser download the file instead of displaying it?

Web browsers do not have native support for rendering StarCalc spreadsheets. Consequently, when a browser encounters the application/x-starcalc MIME type, it defaults to downloading the file so you can open it with a compatible desktop application.

Is application/x-starcalc the same as the OpenDocument format?

No, this is a proprietary binary format that predates the XML-based OpenDocument standard. Modern open-source spreadsheets use the MIME type application/vnd.oasis.opendocument.spreadsheet and the extension .ods.

How do I fix Nginx errors when serving StarCalc files?

If Nginx serves .sdc files as application/octet-stream, you need to update your mime.types file. Add the entry application/x-starcalc sdc; within the types { ... } block and reload the Nginx service to apply the changes.

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.