Change All / Get Info issue. How to set which application opens a file?

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Level 1

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Change All / Get Info issue. How to set which application opens a file?

Hello,
I would like to be able to set which application opens a specific file, but cannot get the 'Change all' option in the get info to stick, or to have scvope beyond the immediate folder. For example: whenever I download an.xml file and try to open it the application it defaults to is 'Property List editor' - so I have to go into 'get info' and set the application that I want to use to open the file. Let's say - Textmate. That file will then remain set, for the length of that session anyway - but clicking 'Change all' will not mean that the next file downloaded will default to 'Textmate', or that any .xml files outside the folder will open in Textmate. I have to set them all manually, which gets to be a drag.
I once had a little open source app. that I used to set the preferences as to which application opened a specific suffix - which worked with some, some of the time... but after a clean install I lost it - and can't remember what it was called. Anyway, it didn't entirely solve the problem, only lessened it.

Powerbook G4, Mac OS X (10.4.11), 15" 2gb 1.67GHz

Posted on Mar 9, 2009 8:06 AM

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Answer 1

Limnos

Level 10

427,619 points

Mar 9, 2009 8:38 AM in response to dromedary

[Mac OS X: Double-Clicking a File Opens the Wrong Application|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2291?viewlocale=en_US]

*Changing the application used to open all files of a certain kind*

1) In a Finder window highlight a file of the kind you want to change the application to open that kind of file.

2) While that file is highlighted, select File > Get Info or press command (apple or propeller icon) + i to get a file information window.

3) In the lower part of the info window there is an "open with" menu with a list of applications.

4) If your application is already in the box then it is the default application for opening that kind of file and you don't need to do anything more. Close the get info window.

5) If the application showing in the menu is not the one with which you wish to open the file then select a new application. If your application does not appear there then select the "other..." and track down the application (usually in the Applications folder at the main level of the computer).

6) If you wish to change all files of this type to open with this application in future, make sure the "change all" button is selected.

7) Close the get info window.

I know that what I posted may have been what you have been doing, but wanted to double check.

I don't know to what application you are referring but application/file type association is done by Launch Services. Potentially this can become corrupted. You can use Onyx (free) utility to rebuild LS, but in doing so you will lose all non-default associations.

As with any problems, I would also make sure you have run disk utility to verify and repair your drive, and repair permissions on your computer, before doing any other actions. It's surprising what that can clear up. You can slo just try starting in Safe mode, then restarting normally and see if that helps.

[Mac OS X: Double-Clicking a File Opens the Wrong Application|http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2291?viewlocale=en_US]

[Mac OS X: Starting up in Safe Mode|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107393]

[What is Safe Boot, Safe Mode? (Mac OS X)|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107392]

[Safe Boot takes longer than normal startup|http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107394]

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Answer 2

dromedary Author

Level 1

0 points

Mar 9, 2009 5:18 PM in response to Limnos

Hi Limnos,
Thanks for getting back so quickly. I have been manually using get info and change all - but it hasn't been sticking. I guess the app. suffix that I change the most is .as... because many of my actionscript classes want to open in Dreamweaver...and I want them to open in textmate (usually). I tried Safe Mode and changed an .as file away from Dreamweaver to Textmate. When I hit 'change all' the dialogue said " Are you sure you want all your textmate files to open with textmate? which seemed rather odd. When I restarted the change had not held. Disk and permissions are all 100%. If LS was corrupted, wouldn't it show up there?
Anyway it looks like the Onyx fix is the only option left - if I want to stop this annoyance... I'll give it a go.

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Answer 3

Apr 26, 2009 7:35 PM in response to dromedary

Hi Dromedary,

Did Onyx solve your problems. I have often had that same problem on a variety of 10.4 machines. Since it sometimes worked and sometimes did not, I had a theory that it depended on the application. Some stick and some do not with the "change all."

I am having the problem with a machine that has a brand new install of 10.4 with a combo update to 10.4.11. We have some OS 9 spreadsheets (Lotus 1-2-3) that all insist on thinking they are Excel files. An individual change works, but "change all" does not.

Since it is a very fresh install, I am doubting that it is a corruption fixable by Onyx, but am curious as to your experience.

thanks

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