Default Programs

AmigaOS users can make feature requests in this forum.
Post Reply
User avatar
Nicsoft
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:02 pm

Default Programs

Post by Nicsoft »

Could a Prefs-program like "Default Programs" that MS Windows uses, be made for AmigaOS 4.1?
For the settings in SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/Sys/
User avatar
daveyw
Posts: 252
Joined: Mon Sep 12, 2011 7:44 pm

Re: Default Programs

Post by daveyw »

It's not super user-friendly, but this function already exists.

Prefs/Deficons.

Select a file-type, right click and select "Information".

The def_icon opens (if you have an icon installed).

Select the Icon tab and select your default tool.
User avatar
Nicsoft
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:02 pm

Re: Default Programs

Post by Nicsoft »

That Prefs-program is so difficult for me to understand, that editing icon by icon in SYS:Prefs/Env-Archive/Sys/
Is for me, much easier (but a very slow procedure). Prefs/Deficons seems to be aimed at "rocket scientists"...
User avatar
PJS
Beta Tester
Beta Tester
Posts: 60
Joined: Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:07 am
Location: McLean, VA

Re: Default Programs

Post by PJS »

Hi Nicsoft,

There are two parts to dealing with files and their "Default Tools"...

First question is: is your "Project" or data file type already recognized?

Just right-click over the file icon and see what the red word at the top of
the Context Menu says. If it says "project", it's not recognized as
anything specific. If it is recognized, it will say something like "txt",
"jpeg", etc.

If recognized, then skip to below. If not, then you have face DefIcons
Prefs and set up a file type and how it will be recognized. It is
challenging, but if you roam around and look at it's existing settings,
you'll get a good idea of how it works. A lot of times, a simple suffix
PATTERN match is good enough (that's all lesser systems do).

Once your file type is recognized, then the easiest, direct way I know of
setting the "Default Tool" for a given file type is to just open WBInfo on
the file, change the program you want to use as a "Default Tool" and then
use the "Save as default <file type>" menu item.

Easy Peasy!

A few caveats to note:

- if your data file already has an icon file (an .info file) then the
settings in that icon will preempt whatever you set for the system
Default Tool. You can fix that by opening the WBinfo on that file and
using the menu item "Delete icon" to get rid of that file's .info file
and then rely on the system Default config.

- If you can, use the APPDIR:<tool name> path instead of a literal path
to somewhere on your system. For example, you could call Multiview like
this:

APPDIR:Multiview

That lets the system use whatever tool you used wherever you last used
it from. It will also avoid some of the problems with tools not being
found if you move files/programs between drives, systems, etc.

- After setting/changing the Default Tool, you usually have to close and
reopen the WB directory where you data files are to be able to use the
new setting.

- DefIcons can sometimes be finnicky about the list order in which the
definitions are created. Things at the top of the list take precedence
over matches lower in the list.

Good luck,

PJS
User avatar
Nicsoft
Posts: 29
Joined: Fri Jun 17, 2011 11:02 pm

Re: Default Programs

Post by Nicsoft »

Thank you very much, PJS.

I'll give it a try. Now I understand a lot more...
Post Reply