Author Topic: Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...  (Read 1169 times)

Offline Dreambird

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« on: January 30, 2018, 09:30:02 PM »
Probably an easy solution but I can't think of it right now...

It seems that all my files that have been all along and should still be doing so opening with either TextEdit and Preview are no longer doing so. TextEdit files are prompting as to not having an app to open with and want me to pick one... a couple open with Terminal that I stumbled one. Any Preview files like images are opening with Photoshop CS6, however SOME image files and it appears .pdf files are still opening with Preview.

There's got to be a simple way to reset this other than just digging through all the normally associated extensions until eventually I find 'em all?

Thanks.... smile.gif
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Offline Xairbusdriver

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #1 on: January 30, 2018, 10:09:51 PM »
How about a list of suffixes and what app that the OS wants to open them. Please be as specific as possible.Take your time, no "stumbling, please. wink.gif
    .jpg/.jpeg
    .tif/.tiff
    .png
    .pdf
    .psd
    .txt
    .rtf
    etc
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Dreambird

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #2 on: January 30, 2018, 10:49:46 PM »
Gosh... If I knew the "whole" list of extensions offhand I'd just go through them and change them all! Sorry, there are a lot.
That's why I tried to outline some types of files I tried when I found the problem... pretty much it seems TextEdit files like .txt and .rtf are saying when double clicked upon that there is no associated app... and it prompts you to go to the App Store actually because in the drop down window that comes up doesn't see TextEdit as a possibility, it's not highlighted. You have to pick it. The .rtfd files I tried are another matter... they try to open with Terminal.

Preview image files are opening in PS CS6... the ones like .jpg, .tif, .png, however .pdf files open in Preview as they should and also .psd files open in Preview, I even have 1 .tga file which opens in Preview... as it should.

It could be that the computer just could do with a good cleaning up... I'm going to try running Onyx and Disk Warrior, with the restarts and see if things go back to usual.
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On permanent walk-about... ;)
MacBook Pro Retina, mid-2012, SSD 500GB, 16GB RAM, High Sierra 10.13.6, iPad Air 2, iOS 11.4.1

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #3 on: January 31, 2018, 08:38:27 AM »
Specifics are the key clue, however. Surely you can find at least one of almost every file format you can think of. There are web sites that can provide the hundred or more that are around. But we use only a very small sub-set of those and I've already mentioned nine of them. You can quote my previous post and simply add the app that opens it.

The dialog asking for an app to open a file it has lost connection with while suggesting you seek an app at the App Store is perfectly normal in this situation.

QUOTE
Preview image files are opening in PS CS6... the ones like .jpg, .tif, .png, however .pdf files open in Preview
.jpg, .tif and .png files are not "Preview" files. Preview is mainly a PDF reader/writer. It can open and even export (even a pdf) to most image file formats. It does  not have a built-in file type, although it usually assumes you want to save any file you open with it as the same format.

Image file formats are expected to open in an image editor like Adobe's apps or GraphicConverter.

There is a file in the system that keeps track of what suffix belongs to which app. There are third-party apps that can re-assign those matchings. It appears that the core file in the OS is corrupted and it needs to be replaced/repaired. I don't have time today to dig any further, but a search for something like "file type associations" might be of use. Please let us know what you find out. wink.gif

You can also assign any file to be opened with just about any app by using its Info window.
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Jack W

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #4 on: January 31, 2018, 05:15:34 PM »
I would:
• Repair Permissions
• Run OnyX - daily & weekly scripts
Good to be Here.

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(2) External HD - Firewire/USB Macally Enclosures  with 1TB Hitachi Drives,
Time Machine external drive - ditto above - 1/2 TimeMac

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #5 on: January 31, 2018, 10:25:04 PM »
I will post some instructions tomorrow afternoon (2/1/17). My wife has me rearrange a collection of 20+ years in our attic. Actually some of the stuff we acquired 45+ years ago! Then, there is stuff that belongs to our #1 Son's family and, of course, stuff from both our parents, and then there is some stuff that seems to have come from some other planet!! eek2.gif

Before I detail the very simple steps tomorrow, please do one thing for me. Select one of the files (any one of them) that is opened by an app you think is incorrect. Do a Get Info on it. What is listed as the default app the OS thinks should open it? Work with us, please. wink.gif

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #6 on: February 01, 2018, 09:08:26 AM »
Waiting on a response from the OP...
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes:

Offline Xairbusdriver

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Problem with Preview and TextEdit file associations...
« Reply #7 on: February 02, 2018, 02:34:07 PM »
I wonder if the OP found a suitable answer to the question? We certainly hope so, but it would be great to post the solution for the current and future forums users. wink.gif
« Last Edit: February 02, 2018, 02:35:05 PM by Xairbusdriver »
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF COUNTRIES
Those that use metric = #1 Measurement system
And the United States = The Banana system
CAUTION! Childhood vaccinations cause adults! :yes: