Where can I set the default programs?

Question

Where can I set the default programs/applications on Ubuntu 11.10 in order to set VLC as the default video player (and not manually associate each file format with VLC)?

I'm on GNOME Shell.

Solution 1

Open up System Settings by searching for it in the Activities view, then go to "System Info" (in the bottom row).

Here you can select Default Applications and pick your favourites.

Solution 2

Unfortunately you can't change the standard for opening pdfs there.

For that you can right click on a pdf file, choose 'Properties -> Open With', and then 'Make default' (someting like that, I use other than english lang ;)).

Comments

[Knowledge Cube]

The asker said they are using GNOME Shell, but that is the application they are looking for.

[Knowledge Cube]

The asker said they are using GNOME Shell, not Unity. Still, same general idea.

[Scorchio]

+1. Not a really intuitive place to find for such a setting though...