GChorn
GChorn

Reputation: 1317

.py files not opening in IDLE from OSX Finder?

I recently re-installed Python 2.7.3 from python.org on OSX 10.8.2, and now nothing (literally nothing I can see) happens when I double-click on .py files in Finder, or when I right-click/Open-With/IDLE(2.7.3). (Edit: IDLE is already set as the default program to open .py files; the "right-click" part was just to illustrate I couldn't open them either way.)

I have Tcl/Tk 8.5.13 installed (re-installed after I re-installed Python), and I can open IDLE itself just fine, so this isn't that issue where IDLE won't work without the right version of Tcl/Tk. I can also open .py files from the Terminal using idle -e file.py without a problem.

I did notice that the Python Launcher activates when I open files this way, and is absent when I double-click on .py files in Finder (although again, literally nothing happens when I do this--I have the IDLE icon in my dock and it doesn't start bouncing or anything). Could this be a Python Launcher problem? If not, does anyone know what's going on here?

Update: I tried opening IDLE first and then double-clicking on .py files, and that works. So it seems it's just an issue of IDLE not being opened when you try to open a .py file in the Finder.

I know that means I now have at least three other ways of opening my .py files in IDLE, but I really like just being able to navigate to a file in Finder and open it when IDLE itself is not yet open. So I'd still really like to solve this problem if possible (also I really hate when stuff that's just supposed to work doesn't).

Update: Per Ned Deily's suggestion I checked for errors using Console.app and found:

3/8/13 10:42:38.006 AM com.apple.launchd.peruser.501[276]: ([0x0-0x199199].org.python.IDLE[1975]) Exited with code: 1

pops up whenever I try to double-click a .py file in Finder.

Upvotes: 0

Views: 3399

Answers (1)

Ned Deily
Ned Deily

Reputation: 85125

Make sure you have set the intended instance of IDLE as the default application for all .py files. One way to do so is to select a .py file in a Finder window, then select the Finder -> File -> Get Info menu item (or Cmd-I). In the Open with: section, pull down the application menu item and select the desired IDLE; if you have multiple copies of IDLE installed, select the Other.. menu item at the bottom of the list and use the file chooser to select the right version of IDLE. Then, click the Change all... button to Use this application to open all documents like this one. You should now be able to launch a .py file in the desired IDLE by double-clicking. If this doesn't work, examine system.log to see if there are any error messages being logged. You can use the Console utility to examine logs (/Applications/Utilities/Console.app).

Upvotes: 1

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