Finder Open With lists programs multiple times

When I right click on a file in Finder and select Open With, multple versions of the same programs are listed. I've got 5 versions of Evernote, 4 of Pixelmator, 3 of PDFpen and 2 of Skitch. What's causing this? When I look in my Applicaitons folder, there's only the most current version.

It may be that Launch Services database needs to be rebuilt.
Copy and paste this command in the Terminal:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -seed

Similar Messages

Finder Open With Lists Some Applications Twice

My finder>open with menu lists some applications twice.
A minor annoyance I'd like to fix.
Example: If I choose a JPG file and go to "open with" the following programs are listed twice: Firefox, QuickTime, RealPlayer & Safari. Some other programs are listed once.
There are NOT two versions of these programs on my computer, but there is the System folder from my old Mac.
Is there a way to fix this little problem?
Macbook Pro Mac OS X (10.4.8) 17 inch

The mac finder will pick up applications anywhere on your hard drive when you do the "open with".
If you aren't using your old System Folder you could create a .zip archive of it and remove the original Folder.
I'd be open to hearing other approaches, but this will work.

Executing a program multiple times with different variants

Hi All,
I want to create a tool which executes a program multiple times taking different variants (which I would be
maintaining in an excel sheets) and for each time the program gets executed, its output would be
written to a particular file.
I understand that this requirement is quite vague but I am trying to figure out if a tool/program could
be written in abap which does this or do I need to think of a different platform such as C#.Net
Thanks,
Faiz

Hi Rahman,
This class 'cl_salv_bs_runtime_info' will get the output of internal table.
   DO n times.
      cl_salv_bs_runtime_info=>set
      SUBMIT ZARCHER_0099 WITH VARIANT..(variant name can from your excel sheets?)
      cl_salv_bs_runtime_info=>GET_DATA
      call 'GUI_DOWNLOAD' or OPEN DATASET...(down output to file)
   ENDDO.
Hope can help you.
regards,
Archer

PDF, with electronic signature, will not save. In Finder it's nowhere, tried multiple times..

Started in Preview to save...but PDF, with electronic signature, will not save. In Finder it's nowhere, tried multiple times.

I am having the same problem with signatures. I am including a form in a pdf portfolio to collect signatures from different users who have Reader. I make sure that features have been extended for reader. Most of the time they are okay. But every once in a while (at least one every two weeks) I get a user telling me they can't sign. No message or error of any kind, just a quick blink but no signature. As a work-around I've had to save a copy and re-extend features. This can be time consuming when there are a few documents I need to circulate. Please advise.

Is there a way to shorten the "Open With" list?

Hi -
This may be a question for Apple because it is a uniquely Apple Finder problem.
Or maybe some clever 3rd party Apple developer will take this on - because this is an Apple Finder problem (hint).
Is there a way to shorten the "Open With" list that appears when I right-click on a file?
Heres why this is important to me.
1- I'm seeing multiple versions of the same app on the list, like Photoshop CS5, Photoshop CS5.1, Photoshop CS 5.5. I can't think of any reason why I would ever want to use an older version of Photoshop. And it's not only Photoshop or even Adobe products.
2- I see incorrect apps being suggested. If I right click on an Illustrator file I see that TextEdit is one of the choices. I get Photoshop as an option to open HTML files. I see BBEdit as an option to open JPEG files. These are bizarre associations. Why are they even on the list?
3- With so many irrelevant choices the possibility of selecting the wrong application increases and doing so is a waste of time and resources. Once I accidentally selected a text editor to open a JPEG. After about 3 minutes of RAM-sucking processing I got a huge file of jibberish text characters that was thousands of lines long. Waste of time!
I KNOW I'm not the only one with this question.
Is there anyone out there with an answer???
Thanks,
JL

baltwo - thank you for the expert advice.
I did as you instructed and the situation is better but I don't believe it's solved.
I still get 3 versions of Photoshop when I right click on a PSD. I also get Dashcode and Textwrangler - which are the oddest associations. All together I get 25 apps responding to "Open With" on a PSD. And this is an improvement.
Do you think I would get even better results if I ran the same command again?
Thanks again.
JL

Open With my program doesn't work

I have Java program which runs on PCs and saves files with a special extension. When I double click on a saved file, I would like it to open with my program. This worked before when my program was stored on the C drive. But now I store it more appropriately in the Program Files folder, and it does not work anymore.
If I try to say Open With and browse to my program, it does not show up in the list, so I cannot choose it. Or if I go to Default Programs in the Start menu, click on Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program, select my extension, click on Change program, and browse to my program, again it does not show up in the list, so I still cannot choose it.
I am using Windows Vista, and I am able to make associations with other programs, but not with my program.
How can I make it work? Thanks for your time!

Sorry to bother you with this. Yes, this was a Windows problem, not a Java problem.
The solution was to use the Registry Editor. Just for the record, let me post my solution:
For being able to open files with my extension, I had to create a registry in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts,
including the subkey of the program name in the subfolder OpenWithList
and the subkey of the program id in the subfolder OpenWithProgIds.
And for the program id I had to create another registry entry in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT,
including the subfolders Shell, Open, and Command, where I placed the
subkey of the directory of my program.
I did all this with my installation program Inno Setup (www.jrsoftware.org). Here is
the code I created with Inno Setup for recognizing my ".ac" extension:
[Registry]
Root: HKCU; Subkey: "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.ac"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCU; Subkey: "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.ac\OpenWithList"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCU; Subkey: "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.ac\OpenWithList"; ValueType: string; ValueName: "a"; ValueData: "Ananya.exe"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCU; Subkey: "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.ac\OpenWithProgIds"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCU; Subkey: "Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.ac\OpenWithProgIds"; ValueType: binary; ValueName: "AnanyaCurves"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves"; ValueType: string; ValueData: "AnanyaCurves"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell"; ValueType: string; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell\Open"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell\Open"; ValueType: string; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell\Open\Command"; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "AnanyaCurves\Shell\Open\Command"; ValueType: string; ValueData: """C:\Program Files\AnanyaCurves\Ananya.exe""""%1"""; Flags: uninsdeletekey
Now my program even shows up in the Recommended Programs!
And, by the way, this only worked if I put my extension key in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.
It did not work if I tried to put my extension key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.

How change the File Open With list of apps?

In Bridge CS3, how does one edit the list of applications in the File > Open With menu (also available from the contextual menu for any image).
The list contains a number of applications that I would never use to open an image, and I would like to add to it, a new image editor (pixelmator) that does not appear in it. I have looked in the Bridge Help and the Preferences dialog and don't see any option to do this.

OK, I have now learned that Mac OS keeps the list of which apps to open what, in the "launch services database."
This database can be cleaned up and reset which somewhat simplifies the list that is displayed by the Finder OR by Bridge CS3.
Here is an article on how to reset the launchdb:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031215144430486
Be sure to read all the way to the end as there are updated instructions down among the comments.
Here is a thread in the Apple Support forums discussing the same issue, and it includes links to some 3rd-party programs that can reset launch services without use of a lengthy Terminal command:
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?messageID=1289317
Even after rebuilding the launchdb, I find that a large number of apps are "registered" to open JPG files, including Camino, Opera, TextWrangler and others with only a tenuous connection to JPG. I don't understand why this is, and I would still like to find a way to limit the JPG Open-With list to a few graphics programs. But cleaning up the launchdb as described in the linked pages, did get rid of some programs and added some missing ones.
Hope this actually constructive info is useful to others.
Dave Cortesi

Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu ?

After the install I now have duplicates of all the stuff I used to have in the open with menu.
Like VLC and then under it VLC (version number).
How do I clear it?

As seen here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
*Mac OS X: Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu*
Ever wondered how to "clear" the Finder's Open With... contextual menu choices of any extraneous or older applications? (This is the menu that appears when you control-click or "right-click" a document icon.)
If your Open With... menu is filled with too many choices to easily scroll through, you can remove the less-commonly used choices. These steps will clear the list except for the most current applications that can open your document.
From the Finder Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder in the Home window.
Open the Preferences folder.
Find com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
Rename "com.apple.LaunchServices", such as to "com.apple.LaunchServices.old", or move it to the Trash.
The next time you use the Open With.... contextual menu in the Finder, only current applications will be listed. Some items may return if the application that controls them adds itself back to the list.

Clean up Finder "Open With" contextual menu in Yosemite

How do I clean up the Finder "Open With" contextual menu in Yosemite? I have several duplicate and obsolete entries in mine. There are several articles out there that show how to do this for previous versions of Mac OS X, but the instructions don't line up with what I see in Yosemite.
Also, the entries I have in the menu are from a version of Windows through a version of VMware Fusion, both of which versions I haven't used in a long while. I did a clean install of Yosemite this morning (on an erased disk) so I'm curious how the menu was populated. Did it somehow get inherited through the iCloud Keychain?
Thanks for any help!

As seen here: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
*Mac OS X: Clearing the Finder "Open With" contextual menu*
Ever wondered how to "clear" the Finder's Open With... contextual menu choices of any extraneous or older applications? (This is the menu that appears when you control-click or "right-click" a document icon.)
If your Open With... menu is filled with too many choices to easily scroll through, you can remove the less-commonly used choices. These steps will clear the list except for the most current applications that can open your document.
From the Finder Go menu, choose Home.
Open the Library folder in the Home window.
Open the Preferences folder.
Find com.apple.LaunchServices.plist.
Rename "com.apple.LaunchServices", such as to "com.apple.LaunchServices.old", or move it to the Trash.
The next time you use the Open With.... contextual menu in the Finder, only current applications will be listed. Some items may return if the application that controls them adds itself back to the list.

Edit "Open With"-list

How can I edit the "Open With"-list in finder?
I know that I can change default application by clicking on "Get info", but I don't want to change default application I just want to add an application to the top of the "Open With"-list.
Usually I open images in Preview, but sometimes I want to use the application imageJ without having to go to "Open With" -> "Other". Right now I have Safari in the "Open With"-list and I would like to swap Safari for imageJ (since I never use Safari for images).
Thanks!

You can't edit the Open With list, it is created by the system by polling all your installed applications for their list of files that they can open. If a program claims it can open jpegs, it is added to the list. If it lacks a notification file for the system to read it won't be added. There is nothing you can do about either situation--you can't add, subtract nor rearrange the list.
The absolute easiest way to occasionally open a file with some program other than the default is to launch the program, then drag 'n drop the file onto the icon of the running program in the Dock.
If this is something you do semi-regularly you might want to make a new Service using Automator to open a selected file with your program. Thus I mainly want my html files to open in Safari when double clicked, but since I hand code I ofter want to open the file in both Safari and TextEdit. So I made a Service to open in TextEdit. When I right click a file there is my Service down at the bottom of the Contextual Menu to open the file in TextEdit.
Rob Griffiths has written a tutorial on creating a Service in Automator:
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9137494/Howto_create_a_Service_in_Snow_Leopard?source=rssnews
There's an introduction to Automator here:
http://www.macosxautomation.com/automator/transcript.html
Personally I really like the "new" Services and revamped Automator.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Reset "open-with" list

Hello
i am wondering how i can reset the "open-with" list in finders context menu
Background: i am writing a small mac-application and based on the tests with old versions i do have my open-with list spammed with about 10 entries of the same programm (for each version one entry adding the version number)
I tried following this hint in apple docs:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
without success.
any other idea in mind ?
Best regards
fidel

This is from MacOSXhints.com:
http://forums.macosxhints.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=25012
"I cannot remember where I got this from but all credits go to the original author:
If your "Open With" menu shows applications that are no longer installed, or shows some of them as duplicates, you can use the following Terminal command to rebuild your LaunchServices database:
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/\
Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister \
-kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
just copy and paste into terminal and let it run
Or if you just want to shorten the Open With... then maybe this will help:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...ery=info.plist
Keep this stored in a stickies or something, you would want to be able to find it again next time."
/p

Is there a way to remove items from "Open With" list?

I have an interesting dilemma that I have not yet found an answer to in all of my internet/discussion forum searches. Maybe I'm asking the wrong questions or searching in the wrong places, but I've given up and now have to post the question in hopes there's an answer out there.
My issue is that whenever I want to use the "Open With" feature for an image/jpeg file, the list of choices is massive! Looking at it now, it lists over 30 applications, but at most I would only ever want to open this type of file in one of maybe four applications.
Starting off, I used to have Parallels on my computer. Have since purchased VMWare Fusion 4 and now use that as my virtual machine to run Windows for some of my design work. As far as I know, I had removed ALL of Parallels from my computer when I uninstalled the app. I followed all of the instructions in the uninstall process, but there seems to be something left behind.
It may seem that mentioning that wouldn't have anything to do with the "Open With" function, but here is a screen shot to show what happens whenever I right-click an image file:
http://www.virtuosocreative.com/apple/openwith1.jpg
Most of the time, if I right click the image, it'd be to open in Photoshop or Set as Desktop. On occasion I have had to open a jpeg file in Illustrator, but that's it.
For some reason, there are still Parallels applications showing on the "Open With" list, even though it was uninstalled and removed from my computer. But like I said earlier, it looks like I missed something.
In addition, although I am not logged into Windows or have Fusion running in the background, the "Open With" list includes all of the suggested Windows apps as well. why???
As much as I appreciate there being such an abundance of options to choose from, this gets extremely annoying when using the feature and I wanted to see if there was any way to modify this list.
More than anything, I really want to get rid of all the Parallels extras that are left on my system. But also, I wanted to see if there was a setting to tweak so that whenever I click on "Open With" on my Mac, it'll only list applications that are my Mac applications and nothing through Fusion or Parallels or anything else. And to take it a step further, it'd be nice to shorten the list to only applications I would personally use for opening a jpeg file. (i.e. Preview (default), Photoshop, Illustrator, Safari).
My system is a 2010 iMac i5 2.8GHz/8GB RAM. Lion OS X 10.7.3
Thanks!

The Open With menu is built by LaunchServices which collects the information from each app as to what it says it can open. VMWare appears to be registering every app to open jpegs.
You might try rebuilding the LaunchServices database. I believe this command still works in Lion. Or, you could use a utility like OnyX to call it:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Finder open with option problem

If I right/Control click on a file and go to the contextual menu Open With, there a multiple occurrences of the same application in the list e.g. use quicktime quicktime or quicktime. Not all application have multiple entries and which ever one I chose, the application will launch. This issue is limited to my account on my imac.
I have used Cocktail to delete all user and system cache but the problem persists. If I search for the application e.g. quicktime, there is only 1 on my disk in applications folder.
Is there a preference to delete or a way to force a rebuild of the service directory.
Thanks
imac G4 17inch Mac OS X (10.4.6)

Simon,
Resetting Launch Services, by Dr. Smoke should be helpful.
;~)

Compressor is not a finder "open with" recommended application for qt's

On my macbookpro If I select a quicktime file in the finder and go to the file:open with:recommended applications, compressor is not a choice. I can easily choose it as a nonrecommended application, but it's a bit of a pain. The same is true for a quicktime export from fcp (the first quicktime export option, not quicktime conversion) which has a fcp icon not a qt icon. On my G5 tower, qt files do have compressor as an option for open with, but fcp exports, do not.
Obviously I could change the "open with" option in the file info for either an individual file or all files of this type, but I just want compressor available in the "open with" list for either file type.
This ain't a deal breaker, just a minor annoyance.
Message was edited by: Michael Grenadier

What version of FCS/FCP, Michael?
If you're using FCP 5.x, the issue with QuickTime Movie exports from FCP is because those movies do not have an .mov extension. You can't drag them to the Compressor icon on the dock and force Compressor to open, for instance, like you can for anything else that actually has a .mov extension.
As far as opening QT movies with Compressor, mind explaining why you're doing this? That is, you're opening them in Compressor for previewing purposes, correct?

TS3212 when i download it saves as a file? itunes-setup? and ask me to open with a program. what am i missing

when i download i tunes im asked to open save cancel. wherever i save it saves as a file itunes-setup. when i try to open this file it asks me to open with a program. just want to download i tunes, i had it before, thanks

Have a look here > http://www.apple.com/support/itunes/install/

Finder Open With lists programs multiple times

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