Protocols

Protocols, Protocols always Protocols

"RCDefaultApp 2.1 is a preference pane to set the default application used for various URL schemes, file extensions, file types, Uniform Type Identifiers (UTIs), and MIME types. Additionally, it allows setting the action when using certain types of digital cameras, FireWire webcams, CDs, and DVDs. MacOS X uses the extension and file type settings to choose the application when opening files, and Safari and other applications use the URL and MIME type information for content not related to a file." (from information pane for RCDefaultApp 2.1). It works with Snow Leopard.

This is a powerful freeware pref pane that can override some application settings. One of the most useful components allows you to see a list of all Mac file types for all installed applications and the associated auto-open application. If moor than one application recognises the file type it can be easily selected from a list. A similar arrangement is available for URLs, recognised file extensions and MIME Types.

I was unaware there were so many (registered?) URL types. Activating their use means that you could embed them in a web page (using a link something like

 evernote://<site>/<folder>/document.<extension> 

and have the appropriate application (in this case the Evernote application on your machine) automatically launch, using the target file. I was able to do this years ago with Netscape Navigator and an application called Stella but the setup was through Netscape Navigator, not using a system savvy application.

Many Microsoft Windows users are fond of doing this kind of thing (e.g. Word documents that auto open from Internet Explorer) using abstruse workarounds in the registry or by using Internet Explorer's settings. For Mac users RCDefaultApp appears to be a more straight forward and easier approach.

You should be very careful in using it and make sure you read the release notes- because some defaults cannot be reset.