Mac software question

Velvet Vocals

Ok so I'm totally mortified that I haven't been able to figure this out my self, but I've been trying to do it now for several months and I've read every tech article I can find on the subject and I still can't get it so it's time to admit defeat and ask for help... RAGE:mad:

Right, I have a macbook and I installed the program VLC for watching movie clips coz its a million times better then quick time and I don't have to pay for it in order to use the full screen option. But.... and here comes the embarrassing bit.... I can't figure out how to make it my default movie player. I have to control click every time and choose it over quick time.... the really annoying thing is before I had the macbook rebuilt I had it installed and it was the default player that time (can't remember how I did it last time...which is even more annoying, knowing that I've done it before)
so if anyone could put me out of my misery and tell me how to make VLC my default movie player on my macbook I'd be forever grateful.

cornbb

Thats a good question actually. I'd consider myself Mac-savvy but have only figured out how to associate individual files with applications... Would be good to hear a solution for this one.

snollup

On OS X isnt there a tool called automater. Is it poss to write a small script using this so certin file types will default to a particular app?

Velvet Vocals

cornbb wrote: »

Thats a good question actually. I'd consider myself Mac-savvy but have only figured out how to associate individual files with applications... Would be good to hear a solution for this one.

I feel a little less embarrassed now.... thanks:)

Velvet Vocals

snollup wrote: »

On OS X isnt there a tool called automater. Is it poss to write a small script using this so certin file types will default to a particular app?

It could be, but I know that I did it very simply the last time. I know it was just a setting..... I didn't have to write a script or do anything complicated.
I've thought about it maybe being a setting on the install, what I might do is remove it and reinstall it and see if anything comes up asking me to make it default....

WUSBDesign

If you do a right-click on the movie clip, you will be presented with a menu with "Open With" as one of the options. Sounds windoze-like, but this should work.

Velvet Vocals

yeah I do that, every time, but it doesn't change to the default program. I can use it fine, but I just don't want to have to do the ctrl-click, open with thing everytime.

cornbb

WUSBDesign wrote: »

If you do a right-click on the movie clip, you will be presented with a menu with "Open With" as one of the options. Sounds windoze-like, but this should work.

That'll only set the default for that particular file, not all files of that type.

cornbb

Aha, found the solution!

Get info on one of the files in question (highlight it and hit CMD+I), go to "Open with:", select VLC and then hit Change All...

nialler

highlight the file you want to open in vlc (beit .mov, .avi, .wmv)

hit apple-i (or command-i) get info (under file menu)

about 4 panels down there is a open with area, select VLC in there, and change all.

Job done!

lol only seen corn's answer!

440Hz

Select the file, do GET INFO, apple + i.

Then further down that list you will see the above. Select the application you want to open, and select the change all option underneath.

WUSBDesign

Another option, introduced to MacOS 7 (or 8?), is drag-n-drop. Select the movie clip's icon, drag it and drop onto VLC's icon. The latter's icon can be in the Dock or Desktop.

Velvet Vocals

thanks guys, I don't have my macbook with me now to try out those solutions but I'll give them a go as soon as I get home.

Velvet Vocals

cornbb wrote: »

Aha, found the solution!

Get info on one of the files in question (highlight it and hit CMD+I), go to "Open with:", select VLC and then hit Change All...

IT WORKED!!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!IT WORKED!!!!!!!!!so what if I didn't figure it out my self.... (ok I do feel a small sense of loss.... but I'm also very grateful !!!)
Thank you!!!
xxxxx:)

440Hz

Very strange how three people typed the answer within 2 mins of each other. If I ahdn't stopped to take a screen grap and upload I might have crossed the finish line first! Dammit