Using .NET, how can you find the mime type of a file based on the file signature not the extension.

Question

I am looking for a simple way to get a mime type where the file extension is incorrect or not given, something similar to this question only in .Net.

Answer 1

This sounds similar to this question.

Answer 2

In Urlmon.dll, there's a function called FindMimeFromData.

From the documentation

MIME type detection, or "data sniffing," refers to the process of determining an appropriate MIME type from binary data. The final result depends on a combination of server-supplied MIME type headers, file extension, and/or the data itself. Usually, only the first 256 bytes of data are significant.

So, read the first (up to) 256 bytes from the file and pass it to FindMimeFromData.

Answer 3

I did use urlmon.dll in the end. I thought there would be an easier way but this works. I include the code to help anyone else and allow me to find it again if I need it.

using System.Runtime.InteropServices;

...

    [DllImport(@"urlmon.dll", CharSet = CharSet.Auto)]
    private extern static System.UInt32 FindMimeFromData(
        System.UInt32 pBC,
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStr)] System.String pwzUrl,
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPArray)] byte[] pBuffer,
        System.UInt32 cbSize,
        [MarshalAs(UnmanagedType.LPStr)] System.String pwzMimeProposed,
        System.UInt32 dwMimeFlags,
        out System.UInt32 ppwzMimeOut,
        System.UInt32 dwReserverd
    );

    public string getMimeFromFile(string filename)
    {
        if (!File.Exists(filename))
            throw new FileNotFoundException(filename + " not found");

        byte[] buffer = new byte[256];
        using (FileStream fs = new FileStream(filename, FileMode.Open))
        {
            if (fs.Length >= 256)
                fs.Read(buffer, 0, 256);
            else
                fs.Read(buffer, 0, (int)fs.Length);
        }
        try
        {
            System.UInt32 mimetype;
            FindMimeFromData(0, null, buffer, 256, null, 0, out mimetype, 0);
            System.IntPtr mimeTypePtr = new IntPtr(mimetype);
            string mime = Marshal.PtrToStringUni(mimeTypePtr);
            Marshal.FreeCoTaskMem(mimeTypePtr);
            return mime;
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            return "unknown/unknown";
        }
    }

Answer 4

Use forensictools.net for exact solution

Answer 5

this returns application/octet-stream for any file (.txt,.mp3,.pdf)

Answer 6

You can also look in the registry.

    using System.IO;
    using Microsoft.Win32;

    string GetMimeType(FileInfo fileInfo)
    {
        string mimeType = "application/unknown";

        RegistryKey regKey = Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey(
            fileInfo.Extension.ToLower()
            );

        if(regKey != null)
        {
            object contentType = regKey.GetValue("Content Type");

            if(contentType != null)
                mimeType = contentType.ToString();
        }

        return mimeType;
    }

One way or another you're going to have to tap into a database of MIMEs - whether they're mapped from extensions or magic numbers is somewhat trivial - windows registry is one such place. For a platform independent solution though one would have to ship this DB with the code (or as a standalone library).

Answer 7

I think the right answer is a combination of Steve Morgan's and Serguei's answers. That's how Internet Explorer does it. The pinvoke call to FindMimeFromData works for only 26 hard-coded mime types. Also, it will give ambigous mime types (such as text/plain or application/octet-stream) even though there may exist a more specific, more appropriate mime type. If it fails to give a good mime type, you can go to the registry for a more specific mime type. The server registry could have more up-to-date mime types.

Refer to: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms775147%28VS.85%29.aspx

Answer 8

what if we need to find file extension from mimetype?