Bridge 'open with' multiple options

[mia0203]

How do I add more than one 'open with' option to files on Adobe Bridge, for example I want to be able to open a tif file in both illustrator and photoshop?

[jbm007]

Currently Bridge is wired to PS. So no there is "no" way to open a file in Illustrator.

[mia0203]

Sorry - I meant when you are in bridge and have a file - either a Tif, PDF or PSD in previous versions of bridge I could right click the file go - 'open with' and it would offer multiple drop downs, for example photoshop and Illustrator however now It only offers one software, is it possible to add 2/ 3 options?

[jbm007]

NO.

Good idea and should be done to any app that is installed with Bridge.

[gary_sc]

Hi Mia,

Hmmm, when I right-click on a (in this case a tif) file in Bridge I do get many options:

But I cannot tell you what I've done to get that. As I recall, I've always had that ability.

When I look at the File Type Associations in Preferences, from there I can establish what my primary application is, not others (like Illustrator). So I know what you want and I have what you want but right now I'm not sure how to get your Bridge to do it. I'll check around.

Hopefully someone else will chime in here with how to do it.

[jbm007]

Gary

You are right................  but I just did a quick check in Bridge and found something very disturbing and annoying issues 

Bridge is all over the map.

As you know I mainly shot and use .nef files so Bridge defaults to PS 2020

just checked jpg and I get PS and Illustrator

Checked another .jpg file and just got PS 2020

Checked a pdf file and got Illustrator, PS.

Checked another pdf file and got open with got open with PS , AI, and Acrobat.

Checked a tiff file and got opened with PS 2020

Checked several other tiff files and got PS and AI 2020

And I never got a open with PS 2018 PS 2019, AI 2018, AI 2019  even though they are installed on my machine

No rhyme or reason.

Given what I just looked at and your comments. looks like MIA should trash her preferences.

But .....  the random file associations is very disturbing. 

[gary_sc]

Hey Jim,

I'll take your "weird" and raise you one. I looked at several tiffs, jpgs and even a gif & PNG. Every one of those gave me the same result as my screenshot above. The ONLY one that varied were my dng images as they gave me only PS (but all three: 18, 19, & 20)

Not a clue.

[TooFast]

hi @jbm007, that's not true.

HERE IS HOW TO SHOW OPTIONS:

Open Bridge/ Click on edit> preferences> file type associations>find the type of file you want to add "open with" options too (disregard the default program that is listed) & add the new program you would like to add as an option there by clicking on the dropdown menu on the right.

[AdobeAddict10]

I am running a second installation of the Adobe CC suite locally on my PC. I have been doing exactly what you suggested for the last two days and all I have is Photoshop is now the default option for pdfs and Acrobat Pro as the second "open with" option. When I try to add Illustrator that becomes the new default and the Photoshop option gets kicked to the curb. I miss 2019, I updated last week and all of my open with options have disappeared. On my PC in windows Explorer, all of the open with options are there showing numerous app but in Bridge they are missing. 

On the other hand, when I remote in to my work computer (a Mac - software is also adobe CC suite 2020) the Bridge works perfectly, multiple options for "Open With".

Adobe, if you are listening, please fix this fast. I move between numerous Adobe apps when working on projects and Bridge has been my preferred way of navigating on my computer. I fany outh there has a solution that works please share.

[jbm007]

Works justb fine here on my Windows 10 machine. All options appear correctly.

Try clearing your Bridge preferences.

https://helpx.adobe.com/bridge/kb/resetting-bridge-preferences-using-command.html

[hodonnel]

this is untrue. my bridge gives both options

[Guest]

Adobe Bridge 2021, Windows 10/2004 same issue with only one option in the "open with".  Resetting File Associations in Bridge preferences does no good other than forcing me to go back and redo at least the default apps.  What use is there in an "open with" if the only otion you have is the default value that you get with open.  I use Bridge as my media manager "central work hub" and the ability to chose different apps for a file type is a must!  Many times an image needs to be opened in a few apps before it is finalized.  This is something that needs to be fixed!

[Jojo Berry]

I absolutely agree. It is driving me nuts. Sometimes I want to open a jpeg in photoshop and sometimes Illustrater. It is set to Photoshop so everytime I want to open it in Illustrater I have to go through the app- file- open- and search for the file I want. Such a waste of very precious time. I don't know why it has changed. I used to have multiple options in 'open with' but I don't any more. Come on Adobe. Please sort this. 

[jbm007]

It works just fine.

What you people have been doing is installing apps in the wrong order.

You must install Bridge first

Then install PS second

Then install AI next.

If you cannot see the AI link in Bridge then reinstall AI

It works just fine

[Jojo Berry]

Thanks jbm007. I am only subscribed to Illustrater. My photoshop is from a Complete Suit package. However, I have only just gone to Illustrater only. I have had the complete cloud for the past 12 months and it didn't work then either. 

[jbm007]

If PS is from a older suite package it may not appear.

I tell people to delete everything and start over to get the correct sequence.

That sshould be noted somewhere on this site.

I suggest you reinstall AI to get it to link properly to Bridge.

[7davo7]

I agree this issue is nuts....the order of program installation should have no reference to how Bridge works.

It's very simple Adobe.....in the preferences add an entry point to list which programs will be included with "open with".....Then, in the program, place a drop down list to select program to Open when "Open With" is selected.  Why make it so complex.

[jbm007]

Nuts or not the sequence is important because Adobe installs scripts the appropriate script so it matches the capabilities of the Bridge host.

Its so complex, becuase it is.

And since you and I don't work for Adobe, it probably not going to happen.

[Guest]

Then why is it on a Mac, when I select open with, I get every availble, possible application that can open that particular file, i.e. a .jpg gives the options of all my photography apps (all six of them, Preview, Safari, Microsft Edge, Quicktime Player, ColorSyncUtility) without having to do anything special other than select a default app yet on Windows10, I get a choice of ONLY one!!!  It cannot be all that terribly difficult!!!

[jbm007]

Oh I don't know. ........ maybe you could ask Microsoft.

You can open 2 copies of applications at the same time on the Mac, you can't do that on windows either.

Trust me this issue has been around forever, and if it hasn't been fixed by now, it probably will not happen.

[Komoda]

This works.  I had AI as and option.  Bridge updated to new version and I lost it.  Reinstalled AI as suggested and it worked.  I had to restart Bridge.  Took 3 total minutes to fix.  Thanks for the help. 

[Jeffrey291658673n53]

Also, what if you want to open in a non-adobe program first, say an application to denoise? It should be easy to make a list of apps that can be used for each file type.

[Lumigraphics]

The Mac works much better than Windows for this. Applications can register with the operating system for what file types they handle, and Bridge can (could?) read those settings. On the Mac, you get a long list of apps but on Windows, its hugely restricted, not sure why. This could probably be scripted as a workaround but Adobe would need to rewrite it as a real fix.

[Teri5F9E]

Has anyone found a solution to only one option in the open with? Going into preferences constantly is a hassle. I have found many threads on this but no solution.