Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Adding iPhoto to the "open with" list

3bs

3bs

macrumors 603
Original poster
May 20, 2011
5,434
24
Dublin, Ireland
When I right click on images and go to "open with" I get a list of programs but iPhoto isn't one of them. I can click on other and navigate to it but is there a way to add it to this list so it always shows up? I don't want images to always open with it, just for it to be on this list.
 
3bs said:
When I right click on images and go to "open with" I get a list of programs but iPhoto isn't one of them. I can click on other and navigate to it but is there a way to add it to this list so it always shows up? I don't want images to always open with it, just for it to be on this list.
Click to expand...
I haven't tested it yet, but I'm going on a hunch. Try this:
  1. Select an image file, such as a .png file
  2. Right-click and "Get Info"
  3. Under "Open with:" make a note of your preferred default app
  4. Click the dropdown, click "Other" and browse to and select iPhoto.app
  5. Click "Change All"
  6. Now right-click on an image file and verify that iPhoto is on the "Open With" menu
  7. Now follow steps 1-5 to change the default app back to your earlier preference
  8. Now right-click an image file and see if iPhoto remains on the list
You might be able to do this without the "Change All"
 
GGJstudios said:
I haven't tested it yet, but I'm going on a hunch. Try this:
  1. Select an image file, such as a .png file
  2. Right-click and "Get Info"
  3. Under "Open with:" make a note of your preferred default app
  4. Click the dropdown, click "Other" and browse to and select iPhoto.app
  5. Click "Change All"
  6. Now right-click on an image file and verify that iPhoto is on the "Open With" menu
  7. Now follow steps 1-5 to change the default app back to your earlier preference
  8. Now right-click an image file and see if iPhoto remains on the list
You might be able to do this without the "Change All"
Click to expand...

After changing it to iPhoto, in the Get info section it changed. But when I right click a file go to open with, it's still says Preview (default). Double clicking the file opened it with iPhoto. I changed it back to Preview but iPhoto didn't show up on the list of open with programs.
 
3bs said:
After changing it to iPhoto, in the Get info section it changed. But when I right click a file go to open with, it's still says Preview (default). Double clicking the file opened it with iPhoto. I changed it back to Preview but iPhoto didn't show up on the list of open with programs.
Click to expand...
First, did you use the same file type for everything? For example, if you changed a .jpg, then Preview would still show for the .png files. Also, did you "Change All"? If you did, the default should have changed for all files of that type. If you change the Open With selection without clicking Change All, you only change that one particular file, and not all files of that type. You may also try relaunching Finder after you make a change, to make sure it "takes".
 
GGJstudios said:
First, did you use the same file type for everything? For example, if you changed a .jpg, then Preview would still show for the .png files. Also, did you "Change All"? If you did, the default should have changed for all files of that type. If you change the Open With selection without clicking Change All, you only change that one particular file, and not all files of that type. You may also try relaunching Finder after you make a change, to make sure it "takes".
Click to expand...

I used the exact same file but I also made sure I clicked change all and accepted the change. It did open with iPhoto afterwards but it only showed up as the default program in the Get Info section until I relaunched Finder. I switched back to Preview and relaunched Finder again but iPhoto is not on the list of Open With programs now. Thanks for the suggestion but do you have any other ideas?
 
3bs said:
I used the exact same file but I also made sure I clicked change all and accepted the change. It did open with iPhoto afterwards but it only showed up as the default program in the Get Info section until I relaunched Finder. I switched back to Preview and relaunched Finder again but iPhoto is not on the list of Open With programs now. Thanks for the suggestion but do you have any other ideas?
Click to expand...
It was worth a shot. I don't know how comfortable you are with Terminal, but it might help to rebuild the launch services database.

How to rebuild the LaunchServices database - Mac OS X Hints
 
3bs said:
I do want to add iPhoto to the list but I never use Terminal and I don't wanna mess up my Mac. Thanks anyway :p
Click to expand...
If you simply copy and paste the command exactly as shown, you won't mess up your Mac, but you have to do what you're comfortable with. You can also use Onyx to rebuild the launch services database.
 
Last edited:
GGJstudios said:
If you simply copy and paste the command exactly as shown, you won't mess up your Mac, but you have to do what you're comfortable with.
Click to expand...

Oh if it's as simple as that then I'll give it a try now.

Edit: I entered this /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/\
Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister \
-kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

and I got this -bash: /System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister: No such file or directory
 
3bs said:
Oh if it's as simple as that then I'll give it a try now.
Click to expand...
What version of Mac OS X are you running? Also see my last post regarding Onyx.

From OnyX:
LaunchServices
This option rebuilds the LaunchServices, meaning it removes the links between documents and applications which can open them by default.

When you launch a new type of document for the first time, you are presented with an alert message. You then have several options: allow your document to be opened by the application to which the System defaulted, let the Finder display this application in its surrounding sub/folder, or cancel opening the document. Once opened a first time, the link between this type of document and the application which executed it is stored. Also stored are all installed applications, your choices of specific applications to open specific types of documents as well as your choice of a default web-browser.

After rebuilding, double-clicking documents or web-links may call unexpected applications. To change that back to your preferred settings, select a file of the desired type in the Finder, choose "File/Get Info" (Apple-I), select the application you prefer from the list of available choices in the "Open With..." menu, then click "Change All" to tell the Finder that all similar files shall call that same application. The default web-browser can be redefined in any browser's Preferences pane. Rebuilding LaunchServices also allows you to correct misc problems: Duplicated display or display of deleted applications in the contextual menu's "Open With", incorrect Icons for certain files and folders, launching of wrong application on double-clicking a document.

LaunchServices can be rebuilt from the Maintenance panel > Rebuild or from the Automation panel.

Warning: Rebuilding Launch Services takes quite a while to execute. Please wait!
Click to expand...
 
GGJstudios said:
By the way, Launch Services is on the Maintenance tab in OnyX.
Click to expand...

It's telling me to do this but I try and after it restarts the Apple logo turns into a stop logo and I have to hold the power button to turn off my Mac and turn it back on. How do I do this exactly? The way I did it was click on restart and then pressed and held command + R

Edit: I tried LaunchServices but it didn't help

Screen Shot 2012-02-21 at 23.56.38.png
 
Last edited:
iPhoto, more than just a way to view images, is an organizational tool.
if you 'open' a photo in the app, you are also storing it.

is this what you want? it's pretty easy to just drag an image onto the iPhoto icon (in the dock for instance), and it will import into the iPhoto library, where u can then edit it (or stare at it) to your heart's content.

preview, for example, is a better app for simply viewing or editing an image.

i have my mp3s all set to open with quicktime player. if i want to KEEP an mp3, i can drag it into iTunes, but if i only want to check it out, QT is a better option;
it's not saving and cataloging the song.

same idea with iPhoto...
 
fisherking said:
iPhoto, more than just a way to view images, is an organizational tool.
if you 'open' a photo in the app, you are also storing it.

is this what you want? it's pretty easy to just drag an image onto the iPhoto icon (in the dock for instance), and it will import into the iPhoto library, where u can then edit it (or stare at it) to your heart's content.

preview, for example, is a better app for simply viewing or editing an image.

i have my mp3s all set to open with quicktime player. if i want to KEEP an mp3, i can drag it into iTunes, but if i only want to check it out, QT is a better option;
it's not saving and cataloging the song.

same idea with iPhoto...
Click to expand...

I get your point but that's why I want it in the "open with" list. I don't want to set it as my the default program to open images. I want to keep Preview for that. But some images I want to open with iPhoto so I can store them in albums and currently I either have to drag and drop them into iPhoto or right click > open with > other > pick iPhoto. I would like to be able to select iPhoto from the Open With list. There must be a way to add it since other programs I've installed are there such as Chrome, Firefox and Skitch.
 
3bs said:
I get your point but that's why I want it in the "open with" list. I don't want to set it as my the default program to open images. I want to keep Preview for that. But some images I want to open with iPhoto so I can store them in albums and currently I either have to drag and drop them into iPhoto or right click > open with > other > pick iPhoto. I would like to be able to select iPhoto from the Open With list. There must be a way to add it since other programs I've installed are there such as Chrome, Firefox and Skitch.
Click to expand...

i get it. still, u CAN just drag the file onto the iPhoto icon in the dock...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back