Open In Different Programs
Method 1: Changing Default Program for a Specific File
- Right-click on the file you want to open in a different program, such as a PDF file.
- Choose "Get Info" from the dropdown menu.
- In the popup window that appears, locate the section where you can choose the default application for opening the file.
- Select the desired program from the list of compatible applications, such as Preview.
- Optionally, check the box that says "Change All" to apply this change to all files of the same type (e.g., all PDF files).
- Close the popup window, and now the file will open in the selected program when you double-click on it.
Method 2: Opening a File in a Different Program Using Drag and Drop
- Locate the file you want to open in a different program, such as a PDF file.
- Click and hold on the file to select it.
- Drag the file over to the icon of the program you want to open it with, such as Chrome.
- Release the mouse button to drop the file onto the program's icon.
- The file will now open in the selected program, allowing you to utilize its features, such as printing options.
- If the program is not compatible with the file type, a popup will appear stating that the program cannot open the file.
Did you know that as a teacher or student, you have the capability to launch a file in a different program simply by selecting the file, dragging it to a program, and letting it go? This feature is particularly helpful when you're trying to print. Let me demonstrate: On my desktop, I have this PDF file. If you choose to right-click on it, you can opt to open it in a different, compatible program like Preview. However, if you select 'Get Info,' you'll see a popup where you can choose this option for all PDF files. For instance, selecting 'Preview' will only affect this file, but choosing 'Change All' will apply it across all PDF files, ensuring that every PDF opens with Preview instead of the previously set Adobe. This is a great tool because sometimes Adobe doesn't print correctly, whereas Preview may yield better results.
Here's another cool trick: Did you know that I can simply select the file, drag it over to Chrome, and it pops up? This is beneficial because, again, sometimes Preview doesn't print well, but Chrome prints better. So I can select the shortcut 'Command P' and, of course, when it comes to printing, I'll use the print dialogue system. By doing so, I have all the print shortcuts that I previously had.
Let's say, for example, I'm going to print to the color printer, and there's my preset. This trick of opening up a file in a different program really helps when you're printing because sometimes it doesn't print very well in its default application.
Just to quickly review: You can right-click and go to 'Get Info'; that's where you'll want to choose the default application. Additionally, the applications below it are compatible with it, and selecting 'Change All' will apply this change to all files of that type, such as PDFs. You can do this with Word files as well. Just right-click on them and change their default program.
Moreover, you can hover, and it's not just Chrome; you can hover in any program. If it's compatible, it'll just display a popup stating something similar to 'Not compatible,' indicating that the program cannot open the file. So I can hover over Safari, and it will open up in Safari. This is a great way to solve some of the printing issues you may have. That's it! Thank you for watching.
