Cannot quicklook text files with .txt extensions

[erdaltsksn]

I try to add following code but it doesn't work.

<key>LSItemContentTypes</key>
<array>
    <string>public.data</string>
    <string>public.plain-text</string>
</array>

My OS: macOS High Sierra
Installation Method: Homebrew

Screenshots:

[SainteCelery]

I was having the same issue. For me, QLColorCode was the culprit.

In Terminal, try:

# Which plugins read this kind of file? (In this situation, the KIND variable would be text.)#

qlmanage -m plugins | grepKIND

&/OR:

# Which ql plugin reads this file? #

qlmanage -d4 -p'/path/to/file.extension'

Also, useful:

# What file types does this ql plugin see? #

qlmanage -debuglevel 4'/path/to/Library/Quicklook/plugin.qlgenerator'

[erdaltsksn]

└─[ ✓ ] λ qlmanage -m plugins | grep text
  net.multimarkdown.text -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLMarkdown.qlgenerator (1.3.3)
  com.foldingtext.foldingtext.document -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLMarkdown.qlgenerator (1.3.3)
  public.plain-text -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator (2.0.9 - loaded)
  public.text -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator (2.0.9 - loaded)
  public.comma-separated-values-text -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QuickLookCSV.qlgenerator (1.3)
  public.tab-separated-values-text -> /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QuickLookCSV.qlgenerator (1.3)
  org.oasis-open.opendocument.text -> /System/Library/QuickLook/Text.qlgenerator (743.7 - loaded)
  com.apple.finder.textclipping -> /System/Library/QuickLook/Clippings.qlgenerator (743.7)

└─[ ✓ ] λ qlmanage -d4 -p ~/Desktop/test.txt      
Testing Quick Look preview with files:
	/Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt
[DEBUG] Registering <QLGenerator Web.qlgenerator> for com.apple.webarchive
...
# Registering others
....
[DEBUG] Preview test for file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt. Content type UTI: public.plain-text
[DEBUG] Previewing file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt. Content type UTI: public.plain-text. Generator used: <QLGenerator /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator>
[DEBUG] Loading <QLGenerator /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator>
go4it:9: permission denied: /usr/local/opt/highlight/bin
go4it:9: permission denied: /usr/local/opt/highlight/bin
2017-12-10 17:56:53.005 qlmanage[7606:1105700] QLColorCode: colorize.sh failed with exit code 101.  Command was ('/Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator/Contents/Resources/colorize.sh' '/Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator/Contents/Resources' '/Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt' 0).
[DEBUG] Previewing file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt did not produce anything
[DEBUG] Thumbnailing file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt - type: public.plain-text - generator: <QLGenerator /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator> (try #1)
[DEBUG] Thumbnailing file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt. Content type UTI: public.plain-text. Generator used: <QLGenerator /Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator>
go4it:5: permission denied: /usr/local/opt/highlight/bin
go4it:5: permission denied: /usr/local/opt/highlight/bin
2017-12-10 17:56:53.123 qlmanage[7606:1105700] QLColorCode: colorize.sh failed with exit code 101.  Command was ('/Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator/Contents/Resources/colorize.sh' '/Users/erdtsksn/Library/QuickLook/QLColorCode.qlgenerator/Contents/Resources' '/Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt' 1).
[DEBUG] Thumbnailing file:///Users/erdtsksn/Desktop/test.txt did not produce anything
2017-12-10 17:56:53.164 qlmanage[7606:1105700] *** CFMessagePort: bootstrap_register(): failed 1100 (0x44c) 'Permission denied', port = 0x7503, name = 'com.apple.coredrag'
See /usr/include/servers/bootstrap_defs.h for the error codes.
2017-12-10 17:56:53.307 qlmanage[7606:1105700] *** CFMessagePort: bootstrap_register(): failed 1100 (0x44c) 'Permission denied', port = 0x13837, name = 'com.apple.tsm.portname'
See /usr/include/servers/bootstrap_defs.h for the error codes.

It looks like something is wrong with permission.

[SainteCelery]

Yeah, I still think it's QLColorCode causing the problem. Try removing QLColorCode from your Quicklook folder (either ~/Library/Quicklook or /Library/Quicklook) & then in Terminal:

# Refresh QuickLook
qlmanage -r

&

# Refresh QuickLook Cache
qlmanage -r cache

& then test one of your text files in Finder to see if text files are being handled correctly again by QL.

[sea200k]

I have the similar issue. Is there any alternative solutions? I don't want to remove QLColorCode, since is really of great use

[sea200k]

I found a solution in the QLColorCode issues:

At the command line type which highlight. Put the resulting path into the command defaults write org.n8gray.QLColorCode pathHL /path/to/your/highlight.

[chrise86]

I just uninstalled QLColorCode after reading @SainteCelery's comment above, which fixed the issue for me. Then read @sea200k's comment about setting the path to highlight, so reinstalled QLColorCode and some how it's just working on it's own without needing to do that ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[gtalarico]

I was having the same issue.
Removing and reinstalling QLColorCode fixed it for me,

I noticed in my mac bootstraping code, QLColorCode was being installed first first.
Could the order of installation affect it? (eg should installing QLStephen first)