What is MIME type "application/x-stargallery-thm"?

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

The MIME type application/x-stargallery-thm designates files created for StarOffice Gallery themes. It is a non-standard type reserved for storing design and layout settings.

Files with this MIME type, usually ending in THM, hold visual style data. They define how image collections and layouts appear within the gallery environment.

Main use case: It provides a set of instructions for a gallery’s look and arrangement.
Practical detail: It stores settings like color schemes, fonts, and layout guidelines.
Additional use: It ensures a consistent visual style in StarOffice applications.
Technical note: Being an experimental MIME type, support may be limited to applications designed with StarOffice in mind.

For more context on StarOffice gallery themes and related file types, see StarOffice.

Associated file extensions

.thm

Usage Examples

HTTP Header

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


    Content-Type: application/x-stargallery-thm

HTML

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


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

Associated file extensions

.thm

FAQs

What is the primary function of the application/x-stargallery-thm MIME type?

This MIME type is used to identify StarOffice Gallery theme files. It contains configuration data that dictates the visual layout, fonts, and color schemes for image collections within the legacy StarOffice suite.

How do I open a file with the application/x-stargallery-thm type?

You generally need StarOffice or early versions of OpenOffice to open and interpret these files correctly. Because they contain proprietary formatting instructions, standard text editors or image viewers will not display the content meaningfully.

Is this MIME type related to video thumbnails found on digital cameras?

No, despite sharing the .thm extension, this MIME type is unrelated to the thumbnail files generated by cameras like Canon or GoPro. Camera thumbnails are typically renamed JPEG images, whereas application/x-stargallery-thm files contain specific application data for StarOffice.

How should I configure my web server to serve these files?

Since this is a non-standard legacy type, you must manually add it to your server configuration. For Apache, add the line AddType application/x-stargallery-thm .thm to your .htaccess or config file to ensure browsers handle the download correctly.

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

Web browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and Edge do not have native support for rendering StarOffice themes. Consequently, when encountering application/x-stargallery-thm, the browser defaults to downloading the file for local processing.

Are there other MIME types associated with the .thm extension?

Yes, the .thm extension is ambiguous and often associated with image/jpeg (for camera thumbnails) or application/vnd.eri.thm (for Sony Ericsson themes). It is important to verify the file header or source to distinguish a StarOffice file from a standard image.

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.