.17 — NCSA Mosaic Configuration File

National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA) · 1993

Developer

National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)

Key Features

Stores user-specific browser settings.
Plain text format for easy manual editing (if understood).
Associated with early graphical web browsers.
Primarily of historical or archival interest.

Best For

Storing NCSA Mosaic browser configurations.
Historical analysis of early web browsing.
Archiving specific browser states.

Less Ideal For

Modern web browser settings.
Any general-purpose data storage.
Sharing complex configuration across different browsers.
Storing sensitive user information.

Common Use Cases

Customizing NCSA Mosaic browser behavior.
Saving personalized browser preferences.
Archival purposes for historical web browsing data.
Researching early web browser technology.

How to Open It

Open with any plain text editor (e.g., Notepad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, Gedit on Linux).
Attempt to open with historical NCSA Mosaic emulators if available for research.
Examine the file's content to understand its specific directives, if any.

What is a .17 file?

The .17 file extension is primarily associated with configuration files used by the NCSA Mosaic web browser, one of the earliest graphical web browsers. These files store settings and preferences that customize the browser's behavior and appearance. While NCSA Mosaic itself is largely historical, its configuration files might still be encountered in specialized archival or historical computing contexts. Understanding their purpose requires looking back at the early days of the World Wide Web and how users interacted with nascent browser technologies.

Programs That Open .17 Files

Platform	Program
Windows	Notepad	Free	Official
	Notepad++	Free
macOS	TextEdit	Free	Official
Linux	Gedit	Free
	Nano	Free

Common Problems with .17 Files

⚠️ Cannot open or understand the file's content.

Since it's a plain text configuration file for an old browser, its content might be cryptic without knowledge of NCSA Mosaic's internal settings. Use a text editor to view it, but modification is not recommended unless you are an expert in historical web browsers.

⚠️ File is corrupted or unreadable.

Ensure the file has not been truncated or altered by incompatible software. If it's a critical configuration, try to find a default or backup version if possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is .17 a common file format today?▼

No, the .17 format is very uncommon today as NCSA Mosaic is an obsolete web browser.

Can I use a .17 file with modern browsers like Chrome or Firefox?▼

No, modern browsers do not recognize or use .17 files for configuration or any other purpose.

What kind of information is stored in a .17 file?▼

Typically, it stores settings related to user preferences, display options, proxy configurations, or other operational parameters for the NCSA Mosaic browser.

Technical Details

These files are plain text documents containing key-value pairs or structured directives that the NCSA Mosaic browser would parse to load user-specific configurations. They are not a standardized format with a rigid specification but rather a collection of settings specific to the browser's internal logic and capabilities.

Did You Know?

NCSA Mosaic was one of the first browsers to display images inline with text, revolutionizing the web.

The development of NCSA Mosaic heavily influenced the design of Netscape Navigator and later Internet Explorer.

Security Information

As plain text configuration files, .17 files themselves do not typically contain executable code or pose a direct security risk. However, if found in an unexpected context, ensure they originate from a trusted source, as misconfigured browser settings could indirectly lead to security vulnerabilities or unintended behavior.