You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Shortcut to open selected file/folder with given app - Automator?

Hi!


Say, I have selected a file or folder in Finder. Now I'd want to use shortcut to open the file or folder with given app (for example, some text editor or such). That is this global shortcut must be connected to this action (and given app).



How to automate this trick? Automator example? Hints?

Posted on Jun 7, 2020 12:23 PM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jun 7, 2020 1:21 PM

You could make a Quick Action in Automator that looks like this:

The Filter Finder Items of Text documents just prevents it from trying to open a Folder, though I don't know if that would cause an error.


Just adjust the filter criteria and the Application for each of the types you want to open.


You can create a custom shortcut for the action in the Keyboard System Preferences.

But, I'm not sure what you are saving when you can just ctrl-click on the item and pick the app to open it in the Open With dropdown. You get more options available to choose from. You would have to make a bunch of custom actions and then remember all of the keyboard shortcuts.

4 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jun 7, 2020 1:21 PM in response to anli975

You could make a Quick Action in Automator that looks like this:

The Filter Finder Items of Text documents just prevents it from trying to open a Folder, though I don't know if that would cause an error.


Just adjust the filter criteria and the Application for each of the types you want to open.


You can create a custom shortcut for the action in the Keyboard System Preferences.

But, I'm not sure what you are saving when you can just ctrl-click on the item and pick the app to open it in the Open With dropdown. You get more options available to choose from. You would have to make a bunch of custom actions and then remember all of the keyboard shortcuts.

Jun 7, 2020 1:47 PM in response to anli975

Files are opened by apps, folders by the Finder.


You can set a file to be opened by a selected app by bringing up the Info pane for that file (Control (right) - click on the file and select Get Info from the contextual menu). In the Open with section of the Info window select the app you want to open it with. Then double clicking on the file will open it with that app.



Shortcut to open selected file/folder with given app - Automator?

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.