Python – How to Set IDLE as Default Editor for Python Scripts

11.10default-programsidle-pythonpython

I would like to set IDLE as the default editor for python scripts, but when I click on "open with application" and hit the dropdown to show more applications it isn't an option.

Here's exactly what I am doing…

  1. right-click on .py file on my desktop.
  2. Right click on properties.
  3. Click on the Open with tab.

There is no "Use a custom command" option. The same thing happens when I right click on the file and select "open with other application".

Do you of any way I could set this up?

Best Answer

You didn't mention which idle package you are using, let's assume "Idle". If using "Idle3" then use idle3.desktop below. If using "Idle(using Python-2.7)" then use idle-python2.7.desktop

There are 2 things preventing you from finding idle in the context menus -

First none of the idle .desktops have a MimeType= line in them, that's why Idle doesn't show in the r. click > open with ... menu

Additionally - only .desktops whose Exec= line ends with a %letter will show in the r. click > properties context menu, even if they show up in the above 'open with' menu

So in this case easiest to just do this - first add to the open with menu

gedit ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

In the [Added Associations] section look for this line

text/x-python=

If there then add this to the end

idle.desktop;

If not there then just add 

text/x-python=idle.desktop;

Idle should now be available in the open with menu, if not log out/in

While there, in the [Default Applications] section look for the same line & replace the .desktop as such, if not there just add the line ( no ; is used in the Defaults section

text/x-python=idle.desktop

If Idle doesn't show up as the default, even after a restart then you'll need to 'force' it. I'd prefer this way rather than messing with defaults.list

open the .desktop in a root editor

 gksudo gedit /usr/share/applications/idle.desktop

Add a %f to the end of the line, save - like

Exec=/usr/bin/idle -n %f

Then ck. again & see if Idle is now the default, do a log out/in if needed. Once it's added then you can reopen idle.desktop & remove the %f, it should stay as default. I'm not sure if %f is appropriate for idle, otherwise I'd say you could leave it

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