Setting the Default Application

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(this needs a bit of love; kill or move the OOo stuff, talk about what we set as default, Neo vs Retro, better header for "Setting....")
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{{fixme}}<!-- this needs a bit of love; kill or move the OOo stuff, talk about what we set as default, Neo vs Retro, better header for "Setting...."--> {{fixme}}<!-- this needs a bit of love; kill or move the OOo stuff, talk about what we set as default, Neo vs Retro, better header for "Setting...."-->
-On [[Wikipedia:Mac_os_x|Mac OS X]], in the absence of an HFS+ creator code associated with a file, the last-installed application that claims it can open a certain type of file becomes the default application to open that file type (most Cocoa or UNIX applications fail to properly set the creator code metadata on files they create).+<!-- to techy?? On [[Wikipedia:Mac_os_x|Mac OS X]], in the absence of an HFS+ creator code associated with a file, the last-installed application that claims it can open a certain type of file becomes the default application to open that file type (most Cocoa or UNIX applications fail to properly set the creator code metadata on files they create).-->
-The following instructions apply equally for [http://www.geocities.com/terry_teague/openoffice.html Start OpenOffice.org] and for [[NeoOffice]] with the following exceptions:+<!--The following instructions apply equally for [http://www.geocities.com/terry_teague/openoffice.html Start OpenOffice.org] and for [[NeoOffice]] with the following exceptions:
# Start OpenOffice.org does not contain the proper information to claim it can open Microsoft Office file formats or most "generic" formats like RTF and plain text, so it will not be listed in the Finder's drop-down lists by default. # Start OpenOffice.org does not contain the proper information to claim it can open Microsoft Office file formats or most "generic" formats like RTF and plain text, so it will not be listed in the Finder's drop-down lists by default.
-# [[OpenOffice.org_Mac_OS_X_(X11)|OpenOffice.org/X11]] cannot open WordPerfect documents.+# [[OpenOffice.org_Mac_OS_X_(X11)|OpenOffice.org/X11]] cannot open WordPerfect documents.-->
-# NeoOffice properly claims it can open all of the document types it can open, but it respects established settings of installed applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, TextEdit, WordPerfect, or Safari) and will not set itself as the default application for their document types if those applications are already installed on your Mac.+While NeoOffice properly claims it can open all of the document types it can open, it respects established settings of installed applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, TextEdit, WordPerfect, or Safari) and will not set itself as the default application for their document types if those applications are already installed on your Mac.
-=== Setting the default application to open NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org, Microsoft Office, WordPerfect, and HTML, RTF or plain text documents ===+== Setting NeoOffice as the default application for Microsoft Office and other documents==
 +These methods also work for WordPerfect, and HTML, RTF and plain text documents.
==== General method ==== ==== General method ====
-#Select a document of one of the types, i.e., <tt>foo.sxw</tt>, in the Finder.+#In the Finder, elect an MS Office document e.g. <tt>foo.doc</tt>, <tt>foo.xls<tt>, etc.
-#Select '''Get Info''' from the Finder's '''File''' menu (or type cmd-I).+#Select {{Menu|Get Info}} from the Finder's {{Menu|File}}} menu (or type {{Key|cmd-I}}.
-#Click on the disclosure triangle next to "Open with:" to expand that section.+#Click on the disclosure triangle next to {{Section|Open with:}} to expand that section.
#Choose the appropriate launcher application from the drop-down list. #Choose the appropriate launcher application from the drop-down list.
-#Click the "Change All" button and "OK" in the resulting dialogue.+#Click the {{Button|Change All}} button and {{Button|OK}} in the resulting dialogue.
-Repeat these steps for each additional document type you want to open in NeoOffice or OpenOffice.org (.sxi, .sxc, .sxd, .rtf, .doc, etc.). +Repeat these steps for each document type you want to open in NeoOffice (.ppt, .rtf, .html, etc.).
-==== If NeoOffice (or Start OpenOffice.org) is not listed in the "Open with:" drop-down list ====+==== If NeoOffice is not listed in the "Open with:" drop-down list ====
-#Select "Other" from the "Open with:" drop-down list.+#Select {{prefName|Other}} from the {{prefName|Open with:}} drop-down list.
-#A window will open that looks like the standard Mac OS X "open file"-dialogue window. At the top of this window, there is selector that reads "Recommended Applications"; change this to read "All applications".+#A window will open that looks like the standard Mac OS X {{Window|open file}}-dialogue window. At the top of this window, there is selector that reads {{prefName|Recommended Applications}}; change this to read {{prefName|All applications}}.
-#You should now be able to select any application in your "Applications" folder, including the ones that were previously greyed out. Select NeoOffice (or Start OpenOffice.org).+#You should now be able to select any application in your "Applications" folder, including the ones that were previously greyed out. Select NeoOffice.
#Check the "Always open with..." box in the lower part of the window and confirm. #Check the "Always open with..." box in the lower part of the window and confirm.
#Continue with step 5 above. #Continue with step 5 above.
 +<!--Are these threads still necessary here?
Additional suggestions and alternative wordings are available on [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums trinity]: [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1079], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1141], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1217], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1113], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=8326#8326] Additional suggestions and alternative wordings are available on [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums trinity]: [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1079], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1141], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1217], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&t=1113], [http://trinity.neooffice.org/modules.php?name=Forums&file=viewtopic&p=8326#8326]
 +-->
=== Caveats === === Caveats ===

Revision as of 20:05, 3 November 2007

This article is not up to date, or it needs structural or stylistic changes to conform with the rest of this wiki.


While NeoOffice properly claims it can open all of the document types it can open, it respects established settings of installed applications (e.g. Microsoft Word, TextEdit, WordPerfect, or Safari) and will not set itself as the default application for their document types if those applications are already installed on your Mac.

Contents

Setting NeoOffice as the default application for Microsoft Office and other documents

These methods also work for WordPerfect, and HTML, RTF and plain text documents.

General method

  1. In the Finder, elect an MS Office document e.g. foo.doc, foo.xls<tt>, etc.
  2. Select Get Info from the Finder's File} menu (or type cmd-I.
  3. Click on the disclosure triangle next to Open with: to expand that section.
  4. Choose the appropriate launcher application from the drop-down list.
  5. Click the Change All button and OK in the resulting dialogue.

Repeat these steps for each document type you want to open in NeoOffice (.ppt, .rtf, .html, etc.).

If NeoOffice is not listed in the "Open with:" drop-down list

  1. Select Other from the Open with: drop-down list.
  2. A window will open that looks like the standard Mac OS X open file-dialogue window. At the top of this window, there is selector that reads Recommended Applications; change this to read All applications.
  3. You should now be able to select any application in your "Applications" folder, including the ones that were previously greyed out. Select NeoOffice.
  4. Check the "Always open with..." box in the lower part of the window and confirm.
  5. Continue with step 5 above.


Caveats

  • Since some past Mac OS X security update from Apple, a user must have first launched the application before it can be set as the default.
  • Some document types come without extensions and sometimes different HFS+ file type codes end up being assigned for the same document type (for instance, some internet apps set WDBN instead of W6BN or W8BN as the file type for Microsoft Word .doc files). These have to be set seperately, so for such a document, the user might have to repeat on 4-6 "variations" of Word doc to get all Word docs, etc.
  • The method related above changes the default for all documents. To change the default for any one individual document, use Get Info, select the appropriate application and close the Info window (i.e., stop with step 4 in the General Method list).


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