I can't open my .gramps files on a new mac

Help
1

I began using gramps a few months ago for a research and book project.

I recently updated to a new computer, Mac OS Sequoia and have installed Gramps 6.0. The application will not open my .gramps files.

I see some points online about changing the database path and I tried that but it’s not working.

Can anyone offer help?

2

Can you confirm you restored your back up from the old computer?

3

It is not typical to “open” .gramps (or .gpkg archives with media) files. These are the backup files and are imported into a new tree.

The working files are SQLite database files which are “loaded” using the Family Trees manager. These SQLite folders are located in the database path folder.

It is preferable to leave this “database path” in the default location unless there is a special need. (Such as: automated backup that requires folders to be in a paticular location; multiple users/workstations using a common network location.)

Copying the database folder on the old machine to the new computer would have moved the trees… but not the media objects.

However, you may be asking about “associating” an unknown filetype with a particular application on your new computer.

About setting filetypes to open with a particular macOS application

Perplexity summary of that process:

To open an unknown filetype with a specific application on macOS and set that application as the default for that filetype, follow these steps:

Opening an Unknown Filetype with a Specific Application

  • Right-click (or Control-click) the file in Finder.
  • Select “Open With” and choose your desired application from the list, or select “Other…” to pick an app not listed. If the app is greyed out, change the “Enable:” dropdown to “All Applications” to select any installed app[6][9].

Making the Application the Default for the Filetype

  • Right-click (or Control-click) the file and select “Get Info.”
  • In the Info window, find the “Open with:” section.
  • Choose your preferred application from the dropdown menu. If it’s not listed, select “Other…” and pick the app.
  • Click the “Change All…” button below the dropdown to set this application as the default for all files with the same extension.
  • Confirm when prompted[6][7][9].

Note: This process works for files with a specific extension. macOS does not provide a built-in way to set a default app for all unknown filetypes or all files without an extension; you must repeat the process for each unique extension[2][4][5].

If you frequently encounter many unknown extensions, consider using a third-party tool like RCDefaultApp (if compatible with your macOS version) to manage associations by MIME type or UTI, or create an Automator service to quickly open files with your chosen application[2][5].

Citations:
[1] macos - On Mac, how can I set a default program to open *all* unknown files? - Super User
[2] macos - How to setup a specific application to open all files with unknown extension - Ask Different
[3] Safely open apps on your Mac - Apple Support
[4] macos - mac default application for any unknown extension - Stack Overflow
[5] Reddit - The heart of the internet
[6] How to Change a File Type's Default App in macOS - MacRumors
[7] KB Parallels: Change the default application for a file type in macOS
[8] Can’t Open a Specific File in OS X? Search the Mac App Store Quickly to Find an App That Can
[9] How to set default apps on Mac | iMore
[10] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Y3UjqzCMk

Answer from Perplexity: https://www.perplexity.ai/search/as-an-expert-in-the-macos-gui-2nJLpt9aSHKh9pa5Wl5nsQ?utm_source=copy_output

4

This worked. Thank you very much. I was going in circles.

5

Thank you for the help on this, including explaining the vocabulary. I was able to restore the files. I’ll see if I need to reset the database path.

1 Like
6

Congratulations about restoring those backup files!

If you reset that database path AFTER having imported. You will need to move the files in the old path to the new path.