Assigning Actions to Files

When you open a file, Nautilus performs the default action for that file type. The File Types and Programs preference tool contains a table of file types, their associated file extensions, and their default actions. This table specifies what happens when you double-click on a file in Nautilus.

You can also use Nautilus to modify the actions that are associated with a particular file or file type.

You can use the File Types and Programs preference tool to perform the following tasks:

• Specify the default action for a file type. You can also change the default action for a file type in Nautilus.

• Associate a file type with one or more applications. The default action might specify to open the file in an application that is associated with the file type.

• Associate a file type with one or more viewers. The default action might specify to open the file in a viewer that is associated with the file type.

• Associate a file extension with a MIME type. The MIME type specifies the format of the file so that Internet browsers and email applications can read the file.

To Modify Actions

You can modify the actions associated with a file or file type. You can do the following:

• Specify that the action is the default action for a particular file.

• Specify that the action is the default action for a particular file type.

• Specify that the action is an item in the Open With submenu for a particular file.

• Specify that the action is an item in the Open With submenu for a particular file type.

• Specify that the action is not an item in the Open With submenu for a particular file type.

To modify the actions associated with a file or file type, perform the following steps:

1. In the view pane, select the file for which you want to modify an action. If you want to modify an action associated with a file type, select a file of that type.

2. Choose File -> Open With. Perform either of the following steps:

   • Choose Other Application. An Open with Other Application dialog is displayed.

   • Choose Other Viewer. A Open with Other Viewer dialog is displayed.

3. From the table in the dialog, select the application or viewer for which you want to modify the behavior.

4. Click on the Modify button. A Modify dialog is displayed. The following table describes the options on the Modify dialog:

   Option	Description
   Include in the menu for file-type items	Select this option to include the application or viewer in the Open With submenu for this file type.
   Use as default for file-type items	Select this option to use the application or viewer as the default action for this file type.
   Include in the menu for filename only	Select this option to include the application or viewer in the Open With submenu for this file, and not for other files of this type.
   Use as default for filename only	Select this option to use the application or viewer as the default action for this file, and not for other files of this type.
   Don't include in the menu for file-type items	Select this option to exclude the application or viewer from the Open With submenu for this file type.

5. Click OK, then click Cancel to close the dialog.

You can also modify the actions that are associated with a file type in the File Types and Programs preference tool. To open the File Types and Programs preference tool, click on the Go There button.