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User profile for user: rickielondon
rickielondon Author
User level: Level 1
5 points

Files saved with wrong "kind" label

Would appreciate any ideas. I am finding that certain files will not open in the intended application. In Finder, these files show with the wrong "kind" identifier. In particular, these are Waveform Audio (WAV) files saved properly with the .wav extension. If I select one of these files in Finder, and ask for "Get Info", the info properly shows "waveform audio" as the "kind". Nonetheless, the Finder window itself shows something else under "kind" -- often pdf, sometimes Word document or Pages document. This is a new problem; these same files previously opened with no problem, so I assume the "kind" has somehow changed. The only workaround I have found is manual on a file-by-file basis: if I force a file to open in the relevant application, it will do so, and the "kind" identifier in Finder then changes back from, say, incorrect "pdf" to correct "Waveform audio". If helpful I can provide screenshots.

MacBook Pro, Apple M1 chip, OS Monterey 12.6.3. The relevant application is Reaper (Digital Audio Workstation).

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 12.6

Posted on Sep 27, 2024 3:11 AM

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2 replies
User profile for user: BDAqua
BDAqua
User level: Level 10
245,501 points

Sep 27, 2024 4:11 PM in response to rickielondon

 Open Terminal and use the following command string to do so:


sudo mdutil -E /

This basically asks for temporary super user status, which is why Terminal may ask you for your password (it may not if you’ve used a sudo command recently or are already logged in as a super user or root. The command asks the unix tool mdutil to reindex the spotlight database for everything on the computer, including external drives, mounted disk images, etc. To re-index only for a specific drive, use the /Volumes path. For example, for an external drive named “MiniMe,” the command would look like this:


sudo mdutil -i on /


Rebuilding a drive index can take a long time, so be prepared to wait whether you do it through the System Preference panel or the command line.


If still need be…


Open Terminal and run each of these one at a time


/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user


sudo will ask you for an Admin password that won't be echoed.

Carefully type your admin password when asked & hit enter.


sudo /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -seed -lint -r -f -v -dump -domain local -domain system -domain user -domain network


killall Dock


sudo mdutil -E /


sudo mdutil -i on /


Rebuilding a drive index can take a long time, so be prepared to wait whether you do it through the System Preference panel or the command line.

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Files saved with wrong "kind" label

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