Right-click (Contextual Menu) Options Gone Missing

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Right-click (Contextual Menu) Options Gone Missing

I've posted this to the Snow Leopard area without resolution, so maybe it belongs here...

Up until recently, when I right-clicked on a JPEG within Safari, I got quite a long list of options for what I wanted to do with the picture... save to a particular location, save to iPhoto (my favourite), and others I can't remember.

The situation was similar if I right-clicked on a link... save to a particular location, etc.

Now, all of a sudden, I only get 3 options.. Copy pictures (or link), Download (no specifiable location) and Open in new window. What happened to all my other options?

I don't recall buying and installing a 3rd party app for that (but it is possible). Anyway, I want my other options back.

Suggestions?

So far I've tried moving my contextual menu items out of the Library and restarting. That actually worked the first time, but the problem promptly returned, and doing that again didn't work. I've also tried the same thing with contextual menu items within my Home directory Library, with no success.

I miss the amazing convenience of having those extra right-click options!

...Charles

iMac 24 (Intel), Mac OS X (10.6.2)

Posted on May 29, 2010 8:46 AM

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Answer 1

May 29, 2010 10:23 AM in response to cp_whaley

HI,

Try emptying the Safari cache. From the Safari Menu Bar click Safari/Empty Cache...

Relaunch Safari.

If that doesn't help, go to ~/Library/Caches/com.apple.Safari/ Move the Cache.db file to the Trash and Relaunch Safari. If that didn't make a difference.....

If you are running v10.6.2 as your profile indicates, you need to update your system software. Click the Apple Menu/Software Updates. After the updates are installed repair disk permissions.

Launch Disk Utility. (Applications/Utilities) Select MacintoshHD in the panel on the left, select the FirstAid tab. Click: Repair Disk Permissions. When it's finished from the Menu Bar, Quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac. If you see a long list of "messages" in the permissions window, it's ok. That can be ignored. As long as you see, "Permissions Repair Complete" when it's finished... you're done. Quit Disk Utility and restart your Mac.

If that doesn't help go here for more instructions.

http://macosx.com/forums/mac-os-x-system-mac-software/44792-safari-contextual-me nu.html

Carolyn 🙂

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Answer 2

cp_whaley Author

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May 30, 2010 7:00 AM in response to Carolyn Samit

Unfortunately, none of that worked. I am using 10.6.3, so no update req'd (just forgot to set that correctly).

Neither of the cache related-options worked.

Repairing permissions certainly did bring up a huge list, but repairs completed, still have missing options.

The suggestions on the other linked page seem to be for people who've lost all contextual menu items. I tried some of those suggestions anyway, including downloading and re-installing Safari. No luck.

I just want to re-emphasize that I haven't lost ALL contextual items, but here's what I see when I right-click an image on a page displayed in Safari...

Open Link
Open Link in New Window
Download Linked File
Copy Link
Open Image in New Window
Download Image
Copy Image

Compare that with what you see when you right-click on a JPEG in Safari and you'll see all the options I've lost.

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Answer 3

cp_whaley Author

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May 31, 2010 4:54 PM in response to cp_whaley

Help... I need more suggestions on this. I've exhausted ones I've received already. Where are those missing right-click (contextual menu) items hiding, after being so useful to me for so long!

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Answer 4

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 1, 2010 8:09 AM in response to cp_whaley

I see you removed some contextual menu items previously - what were they, and are there any present now?.

You see the same behaviour in a new user account?

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Answer 5

cp_whaley Author

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Jun 1, 2010 10:01 AM in response to andyBall_uk

In my Contextual Menu Items Folder within my System Library, I have...
QuickCompareCMPlugIn.plugin
YSIFinderPlugin.plugin
FusionVMDKPlugIn.plugin

In my Contextual Menu Items Folder within my Home Library, I have...
DropboxPlugin.plugin

I know where the Fusion and Dropbox ones came from, but don't know about the other ones.

I don't think I deleted any others while removing them from the Libraries, then putting them back later.

The new user option was an interesting twist. I created one, and it did restore the options that went missing in Safari. I looked in the new user library and there was no Contextual Menu Items folder at all. I guess one would expect that with a brand new account.

That doesn't help with my primary (admin) account of course, although I guess I could try deleting or removing the Contextual Menu Items folder in the Home Library again (although that didn't help last time I tried.

Does any of this suggest next steps?

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Answer 6

andyBall_uk

Level 7

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Jun 1, 2010 1:47 PM in response to cp_whaley

From what you've said - I'd sure try removing dropbox & the others again - perhaps one at a time, quitting Safari & restarting the Finder, or even logging out/restarting the mac between them, to see which one(s) if any, reduce your contextual menu choices.
It seems very likely that one of them interferes.

https://www.dropbox.com/help/41

If you track it down - check to see if you have the latest version.

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Answer 7

cp_whaley Author

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Jun 1, 2010 6:02 PM in response to andyBall_uk

Oh, c'mon... you can't expect anyone in their right mind to play that game! One by one, doing all the permutations and combinations, then quitting Safari, restarting the Finder and restarting the computer every time???? That would take about 5 weeks around the clock!

Instead, I got rid of all Contextual Menu Folder items everywhere. Quicker solution, but it didn't solve my problem and I have no idea what extra functionality I've lost.

I don't particularly want to switch browsers, but Chrome and Firefox have similar right-click functions to the ones I lost in Safari.

This leads me to wonder how I'm getting right-click (contextual menu) functionality when I've deleted them all from the Libraries? Only Safari presents problems.

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Answer 8

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 1, 2010 7:49 PM in response to cp_whaley

Charles - there's four altogether, from what you wrote above ? - but anyway

Since a new account behaved normally -It seemed possible that the sole user CM item was the cause - but if this is gone & you did restart Finder & Safari, then the culprit must be elsewhere in your regular account.

I'd still look to see if dropbox has any processes running in that problem account alone - Activity Monitor should help out there.

CM addons you removed, can simply be replaced where you found them, to restore the functions they offered.

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Answer 9

cp_whaley Author

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Jun 7, 2010 3:24 PM in response to andyBall_uk

I reluctantly uninstalled Dropbox (one of my favourite apps) completely along with all associated files.

Not a solution.

I can't find any trace of a Contextual Menu Items folder anywhere, and I've already eliminated all of the contents of the ones I used to have.

I can't imagine what else is preventing Safari from displaying the extra right-click options I got addicted to. For now I keep both Safari and Chrome running. When I want to download an image or linked file to a specific location, I copy the URL over to Chrome and do it from there.

A horrible solution, but it'll have to do for now.

I could abandon Safari altogether, but Chrome just isn't there yet... although it seems to be the fastest loading browser. Safari still has a lot of goodies that Chrome lacks, in spite of the ones I've lost.

What other hidden files could Safari be using that is screwing this up?

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Answer 10

andyBall_uk

Level 7

20,516 points

Jun 7, 2010 3:59 PM in response to cp_whaley

Maybe activity monitor can help out - if it's an app or process that shows up there ?

I'd compare the lists from each account, with just Safari open ( you can click to have it in name order ) - Choose 'all processes' from the dropdown at the top, then use Edit-select all (or command A) and Copy/Paste to a text document which you can drag to the dropbox (Users/username/Public/dropbox) of the other account - then do the same thing & compare the lists side by side - it should be pretty quick to see if there's an extra app or process in your admin account. Of course, the differences may be unrelated to your issue, but hopefully something will stand out.

Anything in Home/Library/Internet Plug Ins/ for your main account ?
or in
Home/Library/LaunchAgents/ ?
Home/Library/Input Managers/ ?

Try quitting Safari, moving the file Home/Library/Preferences/com.apple.safari.plist to the desktop, then testing again? ( if no better, quit again, and drop it back, overwriting the new one that will be there - that way you'll get any personal preferences back again)

Anything in System Preferences-Accounts-your account- Login Items

It's odd that the CM folder has vanished from your account.

If the above doesn't throw any light - you could again use Activity Monitor, highlight the Safari app, click Inspect, then choose 'open files and ports'. You'll get a loooong list, which you can copy and paste here, in case we spot something.

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Answer 11

cp_whaley Author

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Jun 7, 2010 5:00 PM in response to andyBall_uk

WOW... once I saw your new list of things to try, I thought, OMG, I'll be busy until OS XX is announced! LOL

Anyway, I tried one of your simplest suggestions first... moving com.apple.safari.plist from Preferences to desktop, and restarting Safari. BINGO! That worked beautifully. All the extra CM options came back....... until I quit and restarted Safari again. BOOO!!! Back to the truncated list of right-click options.

I've repeated the process... same again. Something is clearly corrupting that .plist file as fast as I can create a new one.

Anyway, I see that Safari 5 was announced an hour ago. That will be my next test.

Anyway, thanks for keeping the suggestions coming.

...Charles

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Answer 12

cp_whaley Author

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Jun 7, 2010 5:49 PM in response to cp_whaley

Happy days are here again!

I'm not going to hold my breath, but it appears that my newly installed Safari 5 has restored the functionality that went missing for quite a while. All my right-click options are back again (for now).

Thanks to all who offered suggestions.

I won't close this out for a couple days to be sure I have a final resolution.

I couldn't help but notice that people are already reporting Safari 5 problems here and it's only been downloadable for a few hours! Whew! You helpers out there sure have your work cut out for you!

I wish I could buy you all a beer!

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Answer 13

cp_whaley Author

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Jul 13, 2010 8:15 AM in response to cp_whaley

Hi... I'm back!

In my most recent update I found that the latest Safari 5 download eliminated my problem with certain contextual menu items disappearing.

Well, it turns out that installing Safari 5 also eliminated a couple menu bars I was using (those powered by Conduit). I didn't act on that right away, but when I re-installed them last week, my old contextual menu problem returned. Took them out again and the contextual menu was back to the way it should be.

This isn't an issue with the same menu bars in Firefox, so I guess it comes down to the interface between the Conduit menu bar software and Safari.

This isn't a solution if you want both, of course. I'll notify the Conduit people.

For me the contextual menu items I use so often are a higher priority than the Conduit stuff.

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