TextEdit "hide extension" box is always unchecked

+1

This behaviour is driving me nuts.

This is dirving me nuts, too, plus TextEdit doesn't seem to want to remember the file format, either, and keeps defaulting to RTFD. I've scoured the intertubes looking for an answer, hoping maybe there was some top-secret Terminal command, but nothing. All I can suggest is that we submit feedback to Apple and hope for a fix in 10.7.3.

+1,000,000 !!!!

I recently upgraded from an old Powerbook G4 running 10.4 to my fancy new MacBook Pro running 10.7 Lion. Spent the good part of a couple days getting my files and settings all set on the new computer and was VERY happy to see that "Show All Filename Extensions" or don't show checkbox option in the Finder preferences.

Well, as happy I was to find that was as MISERABLY (is that a word??) ANNOYED at this TextEdit box that, as you all know, you CONSTANTLY have to keep checking to remove the fix extension!! I use TextEdit ALL THE TIME for notes and organizing and copy/pasting text info from the web and its driving me crazy....

So, we have a bunch of people here annoyed with a known problem...any word on a solution from anyone?? 😟

Found a possible related and interesting discussion in the 10.6 Snow Leopard forums that everyone might want to take a look at:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/2750744

Discusses the Finder preference to hide the file extensions and its effect on various files. Although this Finder preference "sets the stage" for the ability for the extensions to be hidden, it does not IN AN OF ITSELF remove the extensions from view!! There is a secondary issue with a specific file/applications attributes which must "allow" the extension to be hidden.

Now, that being said, I recall that older OS versions used to "save" the state of that "Hide Extension" checkbox in TextEdit so that one would NOT have to check it each and every time a file was saved.

So, the quetion remains: is this a bug/glich in 10.7?? Is there some way around this without having to check the box EACH AND EVERY TIME the file is saved or by checking the box in the Get Info window in the Finder??

Wanted to show all of you something that I noticed after reading the other posts in the link I just posted above....

The discussion in the other links spoke about TWO file/preference attributes that needed to be present for the extension to be toggled as showing/hidden. First, the Finder preference has to be unchecked BUT ALSO the "hide extension" file attribute must be checked.

Notice this Get Info screenshot of two of my TextEdit files. In this screenshot my Finder preferences are set so that extensions are HIDDEN. The file on the left "Test" was saved in TextEdit with the "Hide Extensions" checkbox CHECKED in the Save diaglog box...the file on the right "Car Videos to See.rtf" was saved in TextEdit with the "Hide Extensions" checkbox left UNCHECKED:

NOW, if you go to the Finder preference to "Show All Filename Extensions" and play/toggle that checkbox on, off, on, off my file "Test" will, in the Finder, SHOW and HIDE its extension as I play with the "Show All Filename Extensions" checkbox. However, my "Car Videos to See.rtf" is unaffected by the Fnder "Show All Filename Extensions" checkbox!!...NO MATTER WHAT, the ".rtf" extension STAYS VISIBLE.

So, the KEY is that that "Hide Extension" attribute MUST be checked are shown in my "Test" file Get Info information. And THAT can be accomplished by checking the "Hide Extension" checkbox in the TextEdit Save dialog box.

...BUT we still need to get that checkbox in the TextEdit Save dialog box to STAY CHECKED!!! How do we do that??? 😕😟

I also found an apple script that will batch-hide file extenions at this link:

https://discussions.apple.com/thread/1004810?messageID=4762701#4762701?messageI D=4762701

I have NOT tried the script but posting for everyone's FYI if they are interested.... 🙂