MacOS – Replace Text Edit as the default text editor

launch-servicesmacostext-editor

I've seen questions like this which don't quite solve my problem.

I'd like to make Sublime Text 3 the default file viewer/editor for all files that currently use textedit.

Most of these files can be command+i'd, but the ones that have no extension cannot. They give all sorts of permissions errors such as the ones in this image not enough information is available

Is there any way to just never use textedit, and instead set sublime as the default editor for all files?

Best Answer

To set Sublime Text as the default handler for public.plain-text:

Mavericks (10.9) and earlier

defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices \
    LSHandlers -array-add \
    '{LSHandlerContentType=public.plain-text;LSHandlerRoleAll=com.sublimetext.3;}'

Yosemite (10.10) and later

Use com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.launchservices.secure.

defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.launchservices.secure \
    LSHandlers -array-add \
    '{LSHandlerContentType=public.plain-text;LSHandlerRoleAll=com.sublimetext.3;}'

Remember to restart to pick up the changes.

Related Solutions

Prevent TextEdit from opening for unknown file types that are plain text

I think this answer here is what you're looking for:

How does Mountain Lion set the default text editor for the "open -t" terminal command?

To change default text editor to e.g. textmate, execute this command in terminal then restart:

    defaults write com.apple.LaunchServices LSHandlers -array-add 
'{LSHandlerContentType=public.plain-text;LSHandlerRoleAll=com.macromates.textmate;}'

MacOS – How to setup a specific application to open all files with unknown extension

I don't think that's possible. OS's usually needs register how to handle each file first.

But it's not all lost: here is a situation that Automator can handle easily.

Here I'll show you, how to create a item menu in the right click context menu, that you can easily select to open your file, better than Open With option.

Steps:

Create a new Service with Automator.
Set files or folders in the first field and Finder.app in the second.
Add an action called ‘Open Finder Items’ and select your application.
For last, save it and name it as you wish.

Now, if you need open a file with unknown extension, just right click and select your newly created service.

‘Define application for files’ action does not work for file extension, is just for a particular file.