Save CSV files automatically to Download folder

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Level 4

2,104 points

Save CSV files automatically to Download folder

I save stock quotes from Yahoo via a csv file to my Download folder.

Before the Snow Leopard update, I just hit a hyperlink in my iWork (Numbers) spreadsheet and this csv file was automatically saved to my Download folder, and if double-clicked, opened properly in a new Numbers spreadsheet. Now hitting this link brings up a new tab with the text file displayed in Safari. Anyone know what's going on here and how to correct it?

3.06GHz iMac, Mac OS X (10.5), External firewire drive

Posted on Sep 8, 2009 3:45 PM

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Answer 1

Sep 8, 2009 5:09 PM in response to Bob H.

Hi,
Try right-clicking (ctrl-click) on the file and choose "Get Info" in the info window - scroll down to "Open With" and select the program you want the file to open with - check the box that says "change all" the files will now open in the program you specified.

Regards

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Answer 2

Bob H. Author

Level 4

2,104 points

Sep 8, 2009 8:53 PM in response to Josef Kowalewski

Josef -- Thanks for the suggestion. This is already set to Numbers. The step that is missing is Safari automatically saving the file. This used to happen, but now I have to manually save the text that shows up in the Safari window. This is no big deal, but I'm trying to get it back to where I was before the upgrade.

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Answer 3

Sep 8, 2009 9:04 PM in response to Bob H.

What happens if you right-click on the link - do you get any options?

Regards

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Answer 4

Bob H. Author

Level 4

2,104 points

Sep 9, 2009 1:26 PM in response to Josef Kowalewski

Joesf -- Good thought, but I just get the usual spreadsheet options like "Cut" , "Paste", etc.

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Answer 5

golabuk

Level 1

70 points

Dec 1, 2009 8:23 PM in response to Bob H.

Having the same problem since upgrading to 10.6.2. Safari 4.0.4. seems to have a talent for annoyances of the sort that were happily missing in 4.0.3. Can no longer download a .CSV file by clicking on a "download file" link such as one finds, e.g, on PayPal, etc. Instead, the .CSV code is displayed in a new browser window. Have tried editing MIME and file types, but am flying in the dark without instruments on this, and nothing has worked so far. Any thoughts out there on how to re-educate Safari so it downloads .CSV files? Many thanks for any help.

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Answer 6

golabuk

Level 1

70 points

Dec 2, 2009 8:45 AM in response to golabuk

Follow-up: Reverted the system to 10.6 from 10.6.2, which brought Safari back from 4.0.4 to 4.0.3. Same problem. This now appears to be an issue with Safari 4 rather than Snow Leopard. Note that Firefox downloads .CSV files from web pages just fine. Curiously, Safari (4) is able to download .CSV files from some sites (e.g., PayPal account history) but not others (e.g., Mal's e-commerce/batch orders). This led me to think it had to do with the site, but again, no problem downloading .CSV files with Firefox even from sites where Safari displays the code in a window. A puzzler.

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Answer 7

Jan 9, 2010 1:47 PM in response to Bob H.

This is not a complete answer but I have the same problem downloading .csv files in Safari 4.0.4 with snow leopard not in leopard and no problem with firefox under snow leopard.

If you use option click on the Safari download link the file is saved to downloads as with leopard but you then have to click on the downloaded file to get Excel to open in.

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