Using LaunchCodes

There are two ways to use LaunchCodes.

The simplest and most common way is simply to double-click a file in the Finder. If the file has an extension that LaunchCodes has been configured to handle, LaunchCodes will try to open the file in its creator code application. If the file has no creator code, or its creator code application cannot be found, LaunchCodes will try to open the file in another application.

The second way to use LaunchCodes is to drag a file to the LaunchCodes application icon. LaunchCodes will try to open the file in its creator code application, even if LaunchCodes has not been configured to handle files of that type and even if the file does not have an extension.

If you drag the LaunchCodes application icon to your Dock, it will open files dragged to it. Because LaunchCodes is a small menu bar application and not a full-size application, the Dock will not show its status nor display a Quit menu item.

Troubleshooting

If LaunchCodes does not seem to work as you expect, the probable reason is that the file you want to open does not have a creator code. Some applications, such as TextEdit 1.6, do not provide creator code information. If a file lacks a creator code, LaunchCodes has no idea which application created it.

If the file does have a creator code, and you have enabled the preference “Only use LaunchCodes on files that I own,” it is possible that the file is owned by another user, causing LaunchCodes to ignore the file’s creator code.

You can get information about a file, including whether it has a creator code and whether you own it, by option-dragging the file (or a group of files) to the LaunchCodes application icon.

LaunchCodes will display the full path of the file, its creator code if it has one, its extension, whether you own the file, the application that LaunchCodes will use to open the file, and the reason why that application was chosen.