# FileType is blank in the Debugger **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [April 29, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174 "2026-04-29T08:57:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 8:57am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/1 "2026-04-29T08:57:06Z")
Var csvType As New FileType followed by some filled properties, then a Break after the user selected a csv file. I only wanted to see what csvType properties are filled (by me / by Xojo / Tahoe): Once in the debugger I clicked in: ![image](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/optimized/3X/8/a/8a633b3d7cc0d4c22a9456601400c6db503cdf5a_2_690x41.png) and get: ![image](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/original/3X/3/8/38562ed70e54a4e95ad2fdfacd840fd4737761f3.jpeg) Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/ian_kennedy/32/6860_2.png) [@Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Ian_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 11:32am UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/2 "2026-04-29T11:32:26Z")
Define your FileType in the IDE using the FileType editor. Then use that when presenting the FileOpenDialog by assigning the FileType(s) to the dialog’s Filter property: ```auto oFileOpen = New OpenFileDialog oFileOpen.Filter = SomeFileTypeSet.SomeType oFItem = oFileOpen.ShowModal ``` ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 1:24pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/3 "2026-04-29T13:24:45Z")
and then how do I get the [FileType](https://documentation.xojo.com/api/files/filetype.html#filetype) Properties ? Say: .Extensions .Name .UTI [separation line to avoid mistakes between the two sets] .Name .Imported .MIMEType ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/ian_kennedy/32/6860_2.png) [@Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Ian_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 1:36pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/4 "2026-04-29T13:36:21Z")
The easiest way is to drop a file onto the File Type Set editor. Extensions is the extension you want to support. for example .csv Name is your name for what you want to call that file type. Choose the Type, Role and Rank based on your application. For example: If it is a common file type you want to be able to import into your application then Type will be File. Role will be Edit or View and Rank will be Alternate or Default. If you wanted to be able to drop an application on your app (or choose it via the FileOpenDialog) then Folder would be the right answer on a Mac. Role describes the nature of your program. ie If you can view, edit a file or even execute it. Rank gives the system your apps priority for the file type. If it is a common type you will likely be Alternate or Default. If it is for a file type that is specific to your application then you should choose Owner. You would then need to provide an icon for the file (and should tick the “file type is unique to my application” checkbox. ---
**Author:** ![Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/ian_kennedy/32/6860_2.png) [@Ian\_Kennedy](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Ian_Kennedy)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 5:59pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/6 "2026-04-29T17:59:46Z")
> [@Emile\_Schwarz](#): > > ISN’T IT CLEAR ENOUGH ? No, not at all. It isn’t at all clear. FileType isn’t a class, it doesn’t have properties or methods. It is more of a way of defining types of file. Frankly if that is your attitude then I will not try and help you… so long and good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@Emile\_Schwarz](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Emile_Schwarz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 9:19pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/7 "2026-04-29T21:19:13Z")
> [@Ian\_Kennedy](#): > > FileType isn’t a class FileType I simply go to the documentation and found it. If you do not know It, come on and look there. One thing is sure is that you tryed to help thinking File Type Group and this is not what I asked. Here’s the documentation entry for [FileType](https://documentation.xojo.com/api/files/filetype.html#filetype) Your statement “FileType isn’t a class” is completely wrong and now that you read the documentation you know. From the documentation: ![image](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/original/3X/4/6/46af7322d60df964d48faa637cc3e8b4504668a5.png) The Forum software says that: It looks like your link to **[documentation.xojo.com](http://documentation.xojo.com)** was already posted in the topic by **@emile_schwarz** in [a reply on Apr 29, 2026](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/3) – are you sure you want to post it again? And it seems you do not read the link. At a moment in a conversation,if the helper gave answers that goes to a totally different location (compared to the question), how people can answer ? Telling thank you means to stop asking questions and stay in the dark. What will you do in that case ? I do not want to be a Grinch, but what can I say ? You seems to know what I want and this is not the case. No ESP here. Please answer to the question if you can; stay tuned. ---
**Author:** ![Graham\_Busch](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/graham_busch/32/21827_2.png) [@Graham\_Busch](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Graham_Busch)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:15pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/8 "2026-04-29T22:15:41Z")
The reason you see nothing is because the FileType class only uses methods as the setters and getters, so they will never appear in the debugger. Documentation says they are properties, but not true properties. You can see this by adding a new class that subclasses FileType. Add a method and click the dropdown to overload a method. You can see all the methods and “properties” listed there. ![Screenshot 2026-04-29 at 3.15.21 PM](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/original/3X/c/5/c583590bbbf2c57c28d49a05ef2217297929e02a.png) ---
**Author:** ![Graham\_Busch](https://forum.xojo.com/user_avatar/forum.xojo.com/graham_busch/32/21827_2.png) [@Graham\_Busch](https://forum.xojo.com/u/Graham_Busch)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2026, 10:22pm UTC](https://forum.xojo.com/t/filetype-is-blank-in-the-debugger/88174/9 "2026-04-29T22:22:58Z")
If you need to see the values you could subclass the FileType and add your own computed properties that mirror the methods ![Screenshot 2026-04-29 at 3.22.06 PM](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/original/3X/6/5/6554a8c04246ef292347d55e11fb5d2ae8c0c723.jpeg) You will need to add the operators as well ![Screenshot 2026-04-29 at 3.22.41 PM](https://forum.xojo.com/uploads/default/original/3X/d/2/d262993a05ce2d76689bd1db00b536bec87751a5.png)