Multiple instances of same program in "Open with" contextual menu

[macosnoob]

It's a minor annoyance that I've had around for a long time. The "Open with" contextual menu shows several lines for the same program. Selecting an AIFF file, for example, brings up three QuickTimes (default + 2 others), three iTunes, two RealPlayers, etc. I don't have multiple versions of the same program on the computer. Restarting doesn't change the situation.

Is there a way to tidy up the menu so that I see only one entry for each program?

MBP, 10.4.9

[melon]

I get this problem from time to time and from what I can tell, it's something to do with my external hard drive which has a clone of my current Tiger install. Some where along the line something gets mixed up and I get duplicates in the Open With context menu.

I'm not sure if there are any other methods, but what I do is rebuild the Launchservices database: http://www.macosxhints.com/article.p...31215144430486

I have a quick Applescript app which I use I think it's from here:

Click here to open the script automatically in Script Editor Or open Script Editor and copy & paste the code below.

Then go to File > Save As and in the File Format, choose Application and save.

display dialog "The Finder must quit and will relaunch after the Launch Services rebuild is complete. The rebuild may take several minutes, during which time you should refrain from using any other apps." buttons {"Cancel", "Rebuild LS Database"} default button 2 with icon caution
ignoring application responses
     tell application "Finder"
          delay 2
          quit
     end tell
end ignoring
delay 5
tell application "System Events" to set running_applications_ to get name of every application process
if running_applications_ contains "Finder" then do shell script "killall Finder"
do shell script "/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user"
tell application "Finder"
     delay 2
     activate
end tell
tell me to activate
display dialog "The Launch Services rebuild is now complete." buttons {"OK"} default button 1 with icon note

[macosnoob]

Yes, that was the solution. Thank you, melon.

[melon]

Cool, just a small note, the only small problem with this method is that when you open a file afterwards it treats it as if it's the first time you've ever opened that specific kind of file and asks you if the default application is correct - if you get me.

Not a major problem, it only does it once for that specific file type.

[macosnoob]

Now you tell me? Just kidding. It's not a problem.

I'm also noticing that files created by Apple software open immediately, without the need to approve the default app the first time: so far, QuickTime, Preview, TextEdit, AppleWorks, iMovie, FinalCutPro, etc. So do some 3rd-party apps: files created with NeoOffice, MacLinkPlus, and BBEdit. Word and Excel files needed the first-time approval, as did a GraphicConverter file.