file associations in MacOS X; breakage?

[Henry]

Folks:

What's the file associations mechanism in MacOS X? Is it subject to
breakage, something like having a corrupt Desktop File in OS9? Is there a
file somewhere that could be scrambled?

I've got a problem what would be explained by such. Right now, for example,
I've got generic file icons for documents that used to be correctly
displayed as FrameMaker docs. When I try use Get Info-->Open With, the
Finder crashes.

The Finder also crashes when opening certain folders. Even using the
File-->Open dialog to navigate into these folders results in a Finder crash.
I'm guessing these folders contain files whose associations are, well,
messed up.

Clues? Suggestions?

Note: there's a utility called BatchTyper which might help, but as yet all
I can find is references to it. Download links are dead ends.

Thanks,

Henry

[email]henryn@zzzspacebbs.com[/email]

[Ronald Florence]

[email]russotto@grace.speakeasy.net[/email] (Matthew Russotto) writes:

> >What's the file associations mechanism in MacOS X? Is it subject to
> >breakage, something like having a corrupt Desktop File in OS9? Is there a
> >file somewhere that could be scrambled?

>
> Yep.
>
> /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/LaunchServices
>
> It's a directory.

Actually, I think the original poster wants
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist -- which is a
plist file, not a directory.
--

Ronald Florence [url]www.18james.com[/url]

[Henry]

Ronald:
Mathew:

Thank you both for your responses to my posting:

in article [email]ued6gjv985.fsf@auda.18james.com[/email], Ronald Florence at
[email]ron@18james.com[/email] wrote on 7/9/03 11:35 AM:

> [email]russotto@grace.speakeasy.net[/email] (Matthew Russotto) writes:
>

>>> What's the file associations mechanism in MacOS X? Is it subject to
>>> breakage, something like having a corrupt Desktop File in OS9? Is there a
>>> file somewhere that could be scrambled?

>>
>> Yep.
>>
>> /Users/yourname/Library/Preferences/LaunchServices
>>
>> It's a directory.

>
> Actually, I think the original poster wants
> ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist -- which is a
> plist file, not a directory.

The bad news:

Deleting my preference files didn't do it. In addition to what you suggest,
I found a couple of other files that people recommend removing with respect
to file association issues. In total:

cd ~/Library/Preferences
rm LSApplications LSClaimedTypes LSScheme com.apple.LaunchServices.plist\
.LSClaimedTypes_Backup .LSApplications_Backup .LSSchemes_Backup


The good news:

I've fixed the problem, or at least figured out a workaround. I created a
new user account, and the files that were not usable before became fully
functional. No crashes in a brief test. Nothing wrong with my disks, etc.

Of course, now I have to sort out some privilege issues and set up the new
account to suit.

Evidently the problem is in a preference file of some type, but apparently
not one of the ones referenced above.

Thanks,

Henry

[email]henryn@zzzspacebbs.com[/email] remove 'zzz' antispam