Author Topic: open with dialog box  (Read 353 times)

Offline yonnie

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open with dialog box
« on: November 06, 2012, 12:15:32 PM »
Every time I try to open something the system throws up a dialog box with a default application or choose "other" and if I choose "other" the file manager pops up with a heading that says "choose application" and all I get to choose from are all of my files.  No applications available as a choice!

How do I change this so I get applications to choose from instead of files?

Offline atolboo

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #1 on: November 06, 2012, 03:00:08 PM »
Can you give an example of "something" ???

Offline ternor

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #2 on: November 06, 2012, 03:31:28 PM »
How are you trying to open files?  If you are using the file manager, right-click on the file and you will get options for opening the file.

Offline daniel

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #3 on: November 06, 2012, 03:39:19 PM »
hi yonnie,

no body knows, which DE you are using now, and so we can only guess...

So please post more informations about your current system.

Thanks
Daniel

Offline yonnie

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #4 on: November 07, 2012, 06:58:42 AM »
sorry, using the LXDE, but have same problems with other Linux distro's DE's, such as Mate and gnome.  When you click on other instead of the default choice for an application to open with, the file manager opens up giving a plethora of personal files from which to choose an application.  The dialog box should present the application menus, sometimes it does, often it does not.

A prime example is opening a .pdf file.  If you choose other instead of the default reader, the file manager will open.  The header bar at the top will say "choose an application" but all the choices are files, not applications.

I have not been able to locate a preferences setting that decides how to set this in PCLOS.  Although, the behavior is more like a bug.

Offline atolboo

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #5 on: November 07, 2012, 08:27:23 AM »
A prime example is opening a .pdf file.  If you choose other instead of the default reader, the file manager will open.  The header bar at the top will say "choose an application" but all the choices are files, not applications.
In my KDE Desktop it is the top level of KMenu with a list starting with 'Other programs, Archive, Documentation, Editors and ...'.
And I can descend into this list to select the application of my choice.

I have not been able to locate a preferences setting that decides how to set this in PCLOS.  Although, the behavior is more like a bug.
In KDE right-click on the file > Properties > General tab > wrench icon > Application for this... > Add > etc.. ;)

I hope this is of any help.
« Last Edit: November 07, 2012, 08:58:41 AM by atolboo »

Offline ternor

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #6 on: November 07, 2012, 03:10:51 PM »
Which file manager does LXDE use?  In the sidebar or in the menu there may be (as in Konqueror) an icon and/or menu selection to open a list of applications.  In Konqueror that list is called 'services'.

Offline daniel

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #7 on: November 07, 2012, 03:23:14 PM »
PCManFM, and you can read here how to use...

http://pclosmag.com/html/Issues/201102/page10.html

Good luck
Daniel

Offline yonnie

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Re: open with dialog box
« Reply #8 on: November 09, 2012, 05:39:03 PM »
LXDE PCLOS uses PCmanFM.  The problem mostly occurs when trying to open attachments sent via Thunderbird.  When other (instead of default) is selected I get applications to choose from in the PCmanFM instead of the real application menus.  I've tried finding a preferences setting, doesn't seem one exists.  There does not seem to be a way of setting a choice for this in Thunderbird.  I do not recall having this issue with just Thunderbird, but after a lot of time verifying this problem, it seems to only happen in Thunderbird.  I have tested other email readers yet.

Thanks for the help