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What to Do When Double-Clicking a File
Opens the Wrong Application or Says
It Can't Find the Application

You open a file that has a file extension in its name, but not the type or creator data and the wrong application opens. For example, you think the file belongs to one application but in fact does not open the expected program. Or even worse, you know that you have the program to view the file but the computer can't locate it. Here is the solution.

You an choose which application you want to open the file, for example, Acrobat Reader should open all your pdfs but sometimes they open in preview. This is how to select the correct one or simply experiment with some applications to see which one will open it. The pictures below deal with AppleWorks but can pertain to any application

Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar, 10.3 Panther or 10.4 Tiger

To open a document once:

1. Click the document's icon in the Finder to select it.
2. Choose File > Open With.
3. Choose the desired application. You may choose "Other" to select an application not on the list.

To configure documents of this type to open with a certain application:

1. Click the document's icon in the Finder to select it.
2. Choose File > Get Info.
3. When the new window opens, click the disclosure triangle (up/down arrow) next to "Open with:".
4. Choose the desired application from the "Open with" pop-up menu. You may choose Other to select an application not on the list. And direct the dialog box to another application which you feel may open the file.
5. Click Change All.

"There is no default application specified to open the document " xxxxxxxxxx" or as in the case below, the name makes no difference.

Click Choose Application. Another window will open. It wants you to direct the window to where the Application is that you want to use to open the document. If you click the up/down arrows by the word enable, you get more choices. Here I have elected to only show recommended applications. I click the Macintosh HD on the left, click again on the applications folder and click open. When that opens I choose the correct application from the list and say open again.

If this information does not solve your problem, contact Miss Mac 454-7253

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