Detecting MIME Types in WXR Files

[ReadyMadeWeb]

In the process of creating a service to convert TypePad data to WXR formatted files, we've encountered some unique problems with TypePad data. Namely, many TypePad files are saved without file extensions, which prevents the existing importer from importing those files into the wp-content/uploads folder.

In order to import and rename these otherwise ignored files, we've created a patch for the WordPress importer that does the following:

1. If there is an attachment in the WXR and the importer is not able to determine the file type from the file name (ie missing extension), the patched version will make a light (body-less) request to the web server where the file is hosted for information we can use about the file. The things we're interested in are file type, size, and filename.

2. If the importer is processing an attachment under the above situation, and it is able to determine the file type, then it will rewrite the local version of the file to have the appropriate file extension.

This is a simple bit of code, but it makes a huge difference as TypePad saves without file extensions quite regularly.

We've attached our patch and a sample WXR file from ragsgupta.com, the Brightcove co-founder's blog.

[ReadyMadeWeb]

Patch to WordPress Importer

[ReadyMadeWeb]

Example WXR Import File

[nacin]

Duplicate of #21913.