Fixing PDF (Manuals) Opening in GIMP

For those with little experience of Linux generally (like me) who have found, after installing LinuxCNC on Mint 19.1 etc., that the document files open in GIMP by default, here is a solution that may be of general benefit in other circumstances too.

Use the Software Manager to install a document (pdf) viewer like Evince (XViewer or Okular may already be installed).

Open the /usr/share/applications directory that can be accessed through File System in your File Manager - right click in the directory and Open as Root (for which you will need your root password).
Once you have elevated privileges right click again and create a new empty document name it mimeapps.list (include the .list extension).. This overrides the mimeinfo.cache file that resides in the same directory and stores the information on which applications were last used to open various types of file.
Double click to open mimeapps.list and insert the following two lines:

[Default Applications]
application/pdf=evinceApplication_pdf.desktop

Substitute your chosen viewer for evince.

Now try opening the documentation again and it should use you chosen viewer.

If I have put this thread in the wrong place please move it.

I'm pretty sure I solved this by installing Adobe Acrobat Reader. I'm not sure if this is how I did it but you can try www.fosslinux.com/1776/how-to-install-ad...u-and-linux-mint.htm
I worked with PDF's for years professionally and always try and stay with the Original PDF reader on any hardware...

BigJohnT wrote:

In most distros you can right click on the menu item and add to panel. Then you can right click on the launcher in the panel and select properties. Then just change the command /usr/bin/see to one for your distro.

JT

I've actually got a slightly different issue with PDFs on my Mint 18.1 machine, whereby if I launch the LinuxCNC documentation from the Start launcher button it opens with Gimp. Neither JTs suggestion or ytiuqibu's procedure has changed this.

Weirdly, double-clicking the PDF docs within a file browser window will correctly open them with Xreader. Using an Xreader command line to launch the docs also works. Copying this same exact command string into the properties field for the docs menu item doesn't, and it still wants to open with Gimp.

I spent a couple of hours last night trying to "de-Gimp" the docs and gave up in the end. I may just simply uninstall Gimp from my machine - it's not like I really need high-level graphics manipulation!

Fair comment Rod - I began to look for suitable alternatives as soon as Adobe dropped support for Linux and have always found the alternatives suited my purpose. But then I'm not in the habit of using signed pdfs or interactive forms.

Yep, and it still wants to open with Gimp.


I have that exact command string in the properties field of the Start Menu launcher for the documentation - no dice.

The only thing I haven't tried yet is creating a totally fresh shortcut on the desktop and pasting that command in. It's just perplexing that the Start Menu launcher wants to run Gimp, yet double-clicking the pdf in File Browser does the right thing and launches Xreader.

To be fair, I'm not highlighting this as a LinuxCNC problem. A quick scout around reveals that there's plenty of Mint users complaining of similar issues, with various different fixes proposed. Within those fixes some users claim it resolved their problem and others say it made no difference. I'm just one of the unlucky ones in the latter camp.There's plenty of other "Mintyness" quirks that I find more annoying - the mouse scrollwheel that you can't slow down is a fun one

I know this old, but on Mint 19.2

with root priveleges
open /usr/share/applications/gimp.desktop
on the MimeType line remove reference to "application/pdf;"
save
sudo update-mime

After that xreader or whatever your document reader will open pdfs, no longer will gimp open pdfs