Macworld: Prefs: How to open files with the right ...

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6 Replies Last post: Dec 31, 2005 5:53 PM by hsmultimedia

hsmultimedia

275 posts since
Jul 3, 2001

Dec 31, 2005 6:29 AM

Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

My netbank allows me to save account statements as .xml-files, which should be opened in Excel. My computer (iMac, Tiger) however, defines them as Final Cut Pro files. Hence I cannot open them by double-clicking, but must open them from within Excel.

A newspaper that I regularly dowload PDF-files from, delivers them as .asp files, which my computer insists should be openend in Photoshop - Photoshop doesn't agree - though the right choice is Preview or Acrobat Reader...

How do I set my computer prefs to open files with the right app

...And a happy New Year to everyone!

macnuke

6,659 posts since
Mar 5, 2004

1. Dec 31, 2005 6:42 AM

in response to: hsmultimedia

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

heh
go to one of your files.
say you choose the .xml file.
click once to highlite it.
Get Info or <command>i
in the panel halfway down..
you can see the arrow and Open With.
that's where you choose what app you wish to set it to open with.
if it isn't listed in choices, choose "Other" and you can path to the app you wish to use and select it there.
now you also have the option to leave it at that file only or to Change All right under Open With.
changing all will allow future files of that file type to open with the app you chose with a simple double click.

hsmultimedia

275 posts since
Jul 3, 2001

2. Dec 31, 2005 7:16 AM

in response to: macnuke

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

Thanks for the advice! it works for the .asp-file. However, when I browse to let Excel open .xml-files, Excel is greyed out while - apparently - I may choose any other app, even those not appropriate.

The files do open in Ecxel if I open them from within Excel...

macnuke

6,659 posts since
Mar 5, 2004

3. Dec 31, 2005 7:32 AM

in response to: hsmultimedia

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

look down a little lower on the Get Info panel.
check to make sure your ownership & permissions is Read & Write.
the open the details arrow underneath and look at "access" and "Others"
you need to set to Read & Write.
then you should be able to change open With.
it may be locked.. if so, click on the lock to authenticate and unlock.

Nobody

58,347 posts since
Oct 18, 2007

4. Dec 31, 2005 12:15 PM

in response to: hsmultimedia

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

this may not be what you're looking for, but another way to open that file with excel is to drag it onto the excel icon in the dock.

if it doesn't let you, try cmd-opt-drag ... that will "force" excel to try to open the file.

Millenniumman

470 posts since
May 4, 2005

5. Dec 31, 2005 2:05 PM

in response to: hsmultimedia

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

If excel is grayed out just go to the top and change the menu from "recommended applications" to "all applications".

By the way, isn't .xml an XML (Extensible markup language) file, rather than an excel file? Or does excel use XMLs? The standard excel file extension is .xls.

hsmultimedia

275 posts since
Jul 3, 2001

6. Dec 31, 2005 5:53 PM

in response to: Millenniumman

Re: Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

In reply to:<hr />
If excel is grayed out just go to the top and change the menu from "recommended applications" to "all applications".

<hr />

This did the trick. Thanks to all of you for your time end effort!

In reply to:<hr />
By the way, isn't .xml an XML (Extensible markup language) file, rather than an excel file? Or does excel use XMLs? The standard excel file extension is .xls.

<hr />

My bank offers the option of saving the web site information as an .xml-file to be opened in Excel. I still don't understand why my computer identifies this as a FCP document... But as long as it opens in Excel I guess I can live with that.

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Dec 31, 2005 6:29 AM

Prefs: How to open files with the right apps?

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