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Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
#27251 11/02/13 09:03 PM
Joined: Aug 2009
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The following Terminal command does work, but only for a short time. After a day or two, the duplicates return, even without any restarts.

TO REBUILD LAUNCH SERVICES:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain user;killall Finder;echo "Open With has been rebuilt, Finder will relaunch"

TUAW source:
http://www.tuaw.com/2013/03/25/how-to-spring-clean-open-with-duplicates/

I am wondering if the duplicates might get restored somehow because my Applications folder is not in my individual user folder; it's in my 'Macintosh HD' folder - perhaps because the apps were installed for "All Users?" I am very hesitant to move my apps from where they are.

My admin account is separate from my regular user account.

Thanks for any help.

I am on Mavericks on a MBP.

Hap

Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
HappyDog #27252 11/02/13 09:06 PM
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Sorry. I should add that this problem did not arrive with Mavericks. It's been around for quite some time.

Hap

Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
HappyDog #27256 11/03/13 02:52 AM
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Don't move your apps. If duplicates are coming back, you most likely have more than one copy of the application installed, possibly on another boot drive or backup.


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Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
Kevin M. Dean #27257 11/03/13 03:02 AM
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Thanks, Kevin -

The only app copies I have are on a SuperDuper backup drive, though I only plug that drive in and do backups occasionally.

Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
Kevin M. Dean #27304 11/06/13 08:56 PM
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Originally Posted By: Kevin M. Dean
...you most likely have more than one copy ... possibly on another boot drive or backup.


FWIW, I'm convinced these duplicate references are being picked up, at least in my case, from external clones / boot drives. I periodically run the Terminal deletion command; and then, after completing a subsequent, Superduper clone (to an existing, external drive clone that's either dismounted or disconnected when the deletion was done) these duplicates reappear.

I've since discontinued worrying about this visual bother as I know my internal drive does not have actual duplicates. ...What me worry. tongue


MacStudio M1max - 14.4.1, 64 GB Ram, 4TB SSD; Studio Display; iPhone 13mini; Watch 9; iPadPro (M2) 11" WiFi
Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
HappyDog #27308 11/07/13 02:08 AM
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Plugging in your backup drive occasionally is enough to make the Open With... menu pick up the copies on your backup drive! I use Carbon Copy Cloner to back up my computer, and, like you, I also see these duplicate entries.


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Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
tacit #27311 11/07/13 04:43 AM
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If you add the cloned/backup application folder to the Privacy tab in the Spotlight System Preference, it should keep it from re-appearing after a Launch Services rebuild unless the Application is directly launched from the cloned/backup location.


iMac 2.7 GHz Core i5, 12 GB RAM, OS X 10.9, Int SATA 1 TB, Ext Fire 2 TB / 1 TB / 1 TB / 500 GB / 300 GB
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Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
Kevin M. Dean #27312 11/07/13 05:00 AM
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Many thanks for the suggestion. Will give it a shot when I get my Mac back from the repair shop in a few days.

Thanks again.

Hap

Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
Kevin M. Dean #27318 11/07/13 05:07 PM
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Originally Posted By: Kevin M. Dean
...add the cloned/backup application folder to the Privacy tab in the Spotlight System Preference, it should keep it from re-appearing ... unless the Application is directly launched from the cloned/backup location.


Great recommend. Thanks. smile


MacStudio M1max - 14.4.1, 64 GB Ram, 4TB SSD; Studio Display; iPhone 13mini; Watch 9; iPadPro (M2) 11" WiFi
Re: Getting Rid of "Open With…" Duplicates
pbGuy #27602 12/03/13 12:21 AM
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So far, the problem seems to have been solved. Using the Privacy tab of Spotlight preferences, I excluded the entire SuperDuper backup drive, and a folder on my Mac called 'Developer-old' which was producing duplicates in the 'Open With' list.

Thanks for the help on this.


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