My OS is Linux Ubuntu 10.04. I've been listening to Beebotron for a while now. The last few days when I click on a link it downloads and then won't play in the media player. I get the message "appears to be a text file". No idea what to do. Any assistance gratefully received.

Hi Jane!

I'm on Lucid (10.4) as well.

Could you give me an example prog that gives you an "appears to be a text file" please (as in the Radio Station and the Programme Name)?

And could you let me know whether you're in the UK or not (there are different links depending on whether you're inside or outside the UK).

I know from experience that anyone who asks a question on Linux gets two back, but that's life - but I'll try to help, honestly!

Ta.

[ The Beeb are having troubles right now, and a lot of the Beebotron's links are manufactured (as in bodged by me), and are not guaranteed to work. ]

Cheers, K

Hi again. Sorry to take 2 months to reply. I actually gave up on listening to the BBC and forgot I'd made this post.

Current example: Download of Afternoon Readling: Three Short Stories by E.Nesbit:ndsire Triples.. Downloads as" GST Decode Bin2:This appears to be a text file."

I am in Canada. Still using 10.04 Lucid.

Sounds like you've already got a file with the same name as the one you're trying to download, so the application doesn't really download it and tries to use the text file.

I deleted all wma files from my computer and then tried again. I get the same message.

Hey, Jane

Kronialias should be where he can help answer your questions in a week or two. I don't have Linux, so to me, it's like speaking Martian when people talk about it PAW is pretty brilliant, very knowledgeable in all things computer. Hopefully he can help you figure out whats what before then.

I posted this query on the linux Ubuntu notice board and got some help there. I've found I can get the wma files to play if I right click on the Beebotron link, copy location, and then paste the location into my mplayer. It takes a few moments for the file to download, but then plays just fine.

I'm glad you found an answer, and thanks so much for posting it here. It will certainly help other Linux users. Kronalias would usually have been right on this one, but unfortunately he's otherwise engaged at the moment. Timing, timing, timing

I wish I'd have known more about Linux. I have windows and use Total Recorder Pro to listen to streams. I have to right click/copy/paste into that to get streaming as well so, although I don't get the "text" thing with it, it's not just a Linux problem apparently.

Anyway, thanks again for posting your fix

Jan

That's the technique that I use for my VLC player, when creating links on the Beebobodge, Jane.

. Ivor



The original and real cat with the swishy tail.
Accept no imitations.

You know, I think a lot of programs use this method. The weird thing about Jane's problem is the "text file" thing. I've never seen that before.