Filed under: Mac 101
Mac101: Always Open With
A file icon's stylized display often shows you a relationship between the file and the application that it opens in. For example, an HTML file that stores web page information might display a small Safari compass or a Firefox globe. Word files are marked with a blue W, Powerpoint files with a P, QuickTime movies with a stylized Q. These icon hints indicate which program will open and attempt to read the file when you double-click it in Finder.
Many file types can be used in more than one program. For example, you can play MP3 files in QuickTime or in iTunes, you can open a text file in TextEdit or in Word, movies in QuickTime or VLC. Finder allows you to change the application associated with each file. Here's how: Control-click (right-click) any file. A contextual menu opens over the file. Release any keys you are pressing and then press the option key. The menu item that had said "Open With" changes to "Always Open With". Select any application from the Always Open With submenu. Two things happen. First, your file will open in the application you select. Second, Finder updates the file's association so it will always open in that application. Its icon updates, changing to reflect its new "native" application.
Say, however, you want all your MP3 files to open in QuickTime or all your text files to open in TextEdit, or so forth. Do this instead. Select any representative file in Finder and choose File -> Get Info (Command-I). Locate the section of the Info pane named "Open with". Select the Application you want to use from the pop-up menu and then click Change All... By doing this, you instruct OS X to change the application association for all files on your computer that share the same type, text, MP3, MOV, XLS, or whatever.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Robb said 7:26PM on 4-17-2007
Thanks! I check this site daily and have used a mac for a year now and thought there just wasn't that option. Keep up the Mac101 articles please.
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Halopend said 8:00PM on 4-17-2007
I've always used the info dialogue to permanently change the opening program but using opt+right click menu may be kinda handy. I really oughta try using opt more often as it can give delightful results
Examples. opt+delete in iTunes will delete a file from from the computer, rather than the playlist it's in. Right click on a open program in the dock and hold opt to get the "force quit" option (I use this one ALL the time on stubborn programs).
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Miguel said 9:11PM on 4-17-2007
Holy crap that's awesome.
Also, I just figured this out: pressing Command + (Anything in you dock) finds that thing you clicked in your finder.
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theoldcoot said 9:32PM on 4-17-2007
Anybody know what the Mac iCar or the iMac-MAC Desiel will be out, that you can control with either the iPod or the iPhone from anywhere in the world using the iGPS that will be optional on both the iPod and the iPhone?
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Eleventeen said 10:35PM on 4-17-2007
Well thanks, Jeff, for the obligatory sanctimonious Mac guy know-it-all comment for this thread. Feel free to insult everybody else you meet in the real world too...
Regardless of the comment, *I* hadn't heard of this option, it's real helpful as I'm trying out a few different media players (NicePlayer, VLC, and QuickTime with Xiph and Divx plugins) and it helps to assign all the files over while I'm testing them.
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b-dot said 11:12PM on 4-17-2007
it's funny that you post that today, since i have been having trouble using the "get info>open with>change all" setting.
it seems to not stay. it automatically reverts to opening with "excel", instead of "particle illusion"
just damn weird, since i never experienced this issue previously.
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Jon Stieglitz said 11:23PM on 4-17-2007
I recently discovered that in Finder Preferences you can uncheck Hard disks and the Macintosh HD will no longer appear on the desktop. I no longer need applications like desktopple to clear my desktop completely.
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VanillaSpice said 11:34PM on 4-17-2007
What is really bringing down TUAW's image, Jeff, are comments like yours.
Far from being common knowledge, the "Always open with" contextual menu item is a hidden gem that most do not know of. Who cares that you already knew about it?
It is the height of egotism to declare that since you know something, everyone else either does or should, and no mention of that thing should therefore ever be made.
Erica brought obscure information to light. You brought ego and derision. It is the latter that is useless garbage.
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sporobolus said 12:03AM on 4-18-2007
this is not exactly "101" stuff, but determining the type of a file, is trickier than most users would expect; Mac OS X will use not only the filename extension, but also the creator code, and the file type code; when you change the application binding ("association") for all files of a type, it's the particular combination of these, not e.g. all ".txt" files, that you are changing
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Mary said 4:08AM on 4-18-2007
Vanilla Spice, are you a TUAW poster in disguise?
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Danny said 4:34AM on 4-18-2007
Good tip and even though I did know about it, I welcome this and all other entries so far on the new Mac 101 thread. People who are anxious that they might be overwhelmed by things they already know can always skip quickly over these posts.
Worth adding - though folk will soon see it for themselves - that you can get the 'Get Info' dialogue on the contextual menu (whether a file is selected or not), i.e. no need to go through the File menu as some might have assumed Erica's post implied. And if you hold down Option 'Get Info' becomes 'Open Inspector' (either from the File menu or the contextual menu).
'Open Inspector' is just like 'Get Info' but the window it opens changes the file it's focused on with the selection. (If tht explanation is not transparent, try it and you'll see.) The 'Inspector' can be very useful if you want to change the 'Opens With' or 'Permissions' of a small number of files without filling up the screen with 'Get Info' windows.
Holding down Option can bring a world of joy. I still regularly use this when clicking the close button on a window (or splodge-W). Holding down Option at the same time closes all windows (or tabs). It's done since at least OS 9 and once discovered it's a feature than can easily become a firm friend.
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Kobe said 5:09AM on 4-18-2007
Nice tip, but what about .EPS files?
Some of them are Illustrator files (vector) and some Photoshop (pixel). How can I undo the action "open all .EPS files with Photoshop"?
Now Photoshop tries to open/raster everything...
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Joe said 10:09AM on 4-18-2007
Is there a way to set this option for multiple machines simultaneously? We've had a problem at my workplace where TextEdit decided to be the default app for .DOC files. We want Word to handle it. Is there a .plist or something for this that I can manage?
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eric f. said 11:19AM on 4-18-2007
I concur. despite being a self proclaimed "Mac Expert", I did not know about the contextual menu option for "always open with".
Jeff, bite me.
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VanillaSpice said 7:38PM on 4-18-2007
Heh, what an odd question, Mary! No, I am not a TUAW poster in disguise. I am just sick of the Erica-bashing, and I've been heartened to see I am not alone - quite a lot of people have expressed the same frustration recently.
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kay Hargreaves said 3:39AM on 4-19-2007
this blogging is a whole new wonderful world for me and i found out loads of stuff on this site i didn't know, being new to Mac. it's good to have son's recommendations to help their mums technology adventures.
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Adrian said 8:18PM on 4-19-2007
Jeff, you're a dick.
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Bob Gould said 2:00AM on 5-04-2007
Cool Site
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