topic Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS in Installation & update

Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Stress Co_ — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 05:33:22 GMT

Since installing the demo version of AC15...
I can't reset the default application to open .pln files.
The default is AC15 and I want it to be AC13.

Using "get info"> "Open with:> selecting AC13> change all
always reverts back to AC15

I'm not sure if it's a Mac OS problem or an AC problem
Can anyone confirm/repeat the problem?
Thanx
Marc

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Thomas Holm — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:11:07 GMT

Stress wrote:
I'm not sure if it's a Mac OS problem or an AC problem

Both. Since GS don't version-mark their apps the MacOSX expects it, the OS defaults to always open a document that is "owned" by a certain app by the last installed version of that app.

Unless you delete AC15, the cure is to re-install AC13!

You could try just re-applying the last AC13 hotfix/update, but I don't think that would be enough.

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Stress Co_ — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:31:36 GMT

Thanks Thomas.
I'll try reinstalling 13 and/or the last update.

BTW, looking at the screenshot I attached.
I see "get info" once again shows the AC version number for the file.
(Does that indicated Graphisoft IS version marking the files?)

Related TOPIC

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Thomas Holm — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:47:42 GMT

Well, there are several aspects here I guess. For example, your .pln is marked 13.003 but the app is marked 13.0.0. (Which AFAIK every hotfixed version of 13 is.)

I for one, would like the main versions to "own" their documents so when I double-click a 13 pln it should open in (the latest version of) AC13 as default. Thus no one in the office would run the risk of accidentally migrating a project to the next version. There are (still) so many issues with uncontrolled version migration that I've never understood why Graphisoft persists doing it this way. But I guess they could explain it someway, if they want to.

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:46:58 GMT

I've noticed this too, Launch Services seems buggy in the way it handles the file associations. The reproducible fix in my experience is:

+ Select your .pln, choose "Get Info"
+ From the "Open with.." popup menu make sure you choose "Other", not one of the versions that is already listed in the menu.
+ Navigate to your desired version's folder (13/14)
+ Tick the "Always Open With" box, and then select your Application, click OK.
+ Then apply the "Change all" setting in the Get Info window

Cheers,
Reino

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Thomas Holm — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 09:59:40 GMT

Digicat wrote:
I've noticed this too, Launch Services seems buggy in the way it handles the file associations. The reproducible fix in my experience is:

+ Select your .pln, choose "Get Info"
+ From the "Open with.." popup menu make sure you choose "Other", not one of the versions that is already listed in the menu.
+ Navigate to your desired version's folder (13/14)
+ Tick the "Always Open With" box, and then select your Application, click OK.
+ Then apply the "Change all" setting in the Get Info window

Cheers,
Reino

Sorry. That isn't safe. The procedure you mention won't guarantee that ther right version opens the file, since the versions apparently identify themselves too similarly to the system. The system will eventually default to open with the last installed AC version anyway

The only safe way to handle this is to always open the app first, and then use its Open command to navigate to and open the file.

You might try to re-install the version you want as default. That should work, but I guess just until you install a new hotfix to the later version. Not safe as I see it.

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

David Maudlin — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 12:38:14 GMT

Thomas wrote:
The only safe way to handle this is to always open the app first, and then use its Open command to navigate to and open the file.

Or drag the file to the correct Dock icon.

David

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 13:39:33 GMT

David wrote:
Or drag the file to the correct Dock icon.
David

Indeed, the tried and not-so-inconvenient method.

The change I mentioned has been consistent on several 10.6.8 workstations, I'm going to investigate further as it might have something to do with some additional tinkering with Launch Services.

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Thomas Holm — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 08:47:47 GMT

Digicat wrote:
David wrote:
Or drag the file to the correct Dock icon.
David
Indeed, the tried and not-so-inconvenient method....

Well, since several versions have identical default icons, for this to be safe it requires that you've tinkered with the app icons too, something not all are comfortable with.

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

David Maudlin — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:17:56 GMT

Thomas wrote:
Digicat wrote:
David wrote:
Or drag the file to the correct Dock icon.
David
Indeed, the tried and not-so-inconvenient method....
Well, since several versions have identical default icons, for this to be safe it requires that you've tinkered with the app icons too, something not all are comfortable with.

The user has the same issue if opening the correct version of ArchiCAD first, then navigating to the .pln file: they have to know which icon to click on to open the correct version.

David

Re: Setting default AC Version to open .pln - Mac OS

Thomas Holm — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 14:08:33 GMT

I won't dispute that. But of course, there are other ways to find the right apps than using the Dock. Like navigating through the Finder, conventional aliases etc. More work, but no tinkering.

But that's really beside the point. The issue here is that because of the way Graphisoft has chosen to (or not to) utilize MacOSX's versioning and file-to-app binding, this remains an issue for users. THere is a real risk for unplanned version migration if you're not aware of these issues. And since unplanned version migrations can cause severe problems, especially in a multi-user environment, I'm careful not to recommend any other procedure than to make sure what program version you're opening and then open the work files.

David wrote:
Thomas wrote:
Digicat wrote:
Indeed, the tried and not-so-inconvenient method....
Well, since several versions have identical default icons, for this to be safe it requires that you've tinkered with the app icons too, something not all are comfortable with.
The user has the same issue if opening the correct version of ArchiCAD first, then navigating to the .pln file: they have to know which icon to click on to open the correct version.

David