How does OSX tell what app to open when you double click a file?

[Paul Dupuis]

Actually, this issue is that some of our users keep multiple versions of 
our App installed. In most cases, when the user double clicks a document 
from our app, the MOST RECENTLY INSTALLED version launches, but in some 
cases, and older version launches.

In those instances where an older version launches, the user swears that 
they have never used "Open With" or done anything (that they are aware 
of) to set the default app for our document extension to an older version.

So really, I am just trying to understand how OSX figure out how to 
determine what app to open for a document.

For example, if you drag installed 5 apps, APP1, 2, 3, etc, that all had 
a info.plist defintion for a .xyz file extension onto a virgin OSX 
system out of the box and then double-clicked a .wyz file, which of the 
5 would open?



On 8/6/2019 5:23 PM, Bob Sneidar via use-livecode wrote:
> If you are simply trying to open an file with a specific app that may or may not be the default, what I use is launch document using the with argument. In my Forms Generator app this becomes necessary, because some PDF viewers may not be able to edit forms. So I have an interface where the user selects which app they want to open fillable forms with, so I can force the issue when the time comes.
>
> Bob S
>   
>
>> On Aug 6, 2019, at 13:57 , Bob Sneidar via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:
>>
>> I found this. Didn't read too deep tho'.
>>
>> https://www.chainsawonatireswing.com/2012/09/19/changing-default-applications-on-a-mac-using-the-command-line-then-a-shell-script/#find-out-the-current-default-for-an-extension
>>
>> Bob S
>>
>>
>>> On Aug 6, 2019, at 13:36 , Paul Dupuis via use-livecode <use-livecode at lists.runrev.com> wrote:
>>>
>>> So we make an OSX desktop app in LiveCode that has several document types. We add these to the info.plist file in the App bundle so they are defined, with doc icons, extensions, types, etc.
>>>
>>> If a user has APPv1 installed that has a plist entry for the file extension .myext and then installs APPv2 that also has a plist entry for file extension .myext. how does OSX tell what APP to open when a user double clicks on document.myext?
>>>
>>>
>>> I googled and found information on setting default app for document types, but not how OSX handles this by default?
>>>
>>> In window, it is the App's responsibility to check the Registry for its document types and, it it wants to, ask the user if they want those document associated with it. Or it is done by the app's installer on Windows
>>>
>>> I just can't find how OSX does it.
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> use-livecode mailing list
>> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
>> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences:
>> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
>
> _______________________________________________
> use-livecode mailing list
> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your subscription preferences:
> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
>