Any way to expand Notepad.exe file types?

[Lee C.]

This is more an experiment, an educational pursuit, than a problem. The MS Notepad program has a window come up in the "Open" dialogue box that, by default, searches for .txt (''Text Documents (*.txt)''). It also has the option to show "All files (*.*)" in the folder it is currently using. I should like the program to default to showing all files, or, at least, perhaps expand the opening list to include text files with some other extensions (for instance, maybe my WordPerfect files (*.wp)).

I suspect perhaps this cannot be done, and that would explain part of the glut of Notepad replacement programs available at the usual suspect sites for freebie downloads. However, my suspicion is uneducated, so I thought I'd ask.

Can this be done? If so, how?

(If it can be done I may try my hand at getting more advance programs like maybe WordPad or WinWord to increase their default lists of recognized file types.)

 

[DennisLazo.com]

lee,

txt files will always be associated with notepad unless it has been changed.
by associating other files with notepad, they may no longer be opened by
default using their original software.

however, you can try doing it this way: open windows explorer, locate the
file you want to open. right click on the file, point to "open with" and
then click on notepad, wherever appropriate.

i hope this helps.

regards,
dennis
http://dennislazo.com/newswatcher


This is more an experiment, an educational pursuit, than a problem. The MS
Notepad program has a window come up in the "Open" dialogue box that, by
default, searches for .txt (''Text Documents (*.txt)''). It also has the
option to show "All files (*.*)" in the folder it is currently using. I
should like the program to default to showing all files, or, at least,
perhaps expand the opening list to include text files with some other
extensions (for instance, maybe my WordPerfect files (*.wp)).

I suspect perhaps this cannot be done, and that would explain part of the
glut of Notepad replacement programs available at the usual suspect sites
for freebie downloads. However, my suspicion is uneducated, so I thought
I'd ask.

Can this be done? If so, how?

(If it can be done I may try my hand at getting more advance programs like
maybe WordPad or WinWord to increase their default lists of recognized file
types.)

 

[psnc]

This is impossible to change as it is an integral part of
Notepad. I suggest you use a more advanced program to
open your files, and considering the fact that you've
mentioned Wordpad, why not use it? It can be opened in
much the same way as Notepad. (Start, All Programs,
Accessories, WordPad)

-----Original Message-----
This is more an experiment, an educational pursuit, than

a problem. The MS Notepad program has a window come up
in the "Open" dialogue box that, by default, searches
for .txt (''Text Documents (*.txt)''). It also has the
option to show "All files (*.*)" in the folder it is
currently using. I should like the program to default to
showing all files, or, at least, perhaps expand the
opening list to include text files with some other
extensions (for instance, maybe my WordPerfect files
(*.wp)).

I suspect perhaps this cannot be done, and that would

explain part of the glut of Notepad replacement programs
available at the usual suspect sites for freebie
downloads. However, my suspicion is uneducated, so I
thought I'd ask.

Can this be done? If so, how?

(If it can be done I may try my hand at getting more

advance programs like maybe WordPad or WinWord to
increase their default lists of recognized file types.)

 

[Lee C.]

... and considering the fact that you've
mentioned Wordpad, why not use it?

Several reasons; two of which are that I learn nothing by giving up on the original notion (except that it ain't possible), and more to the point, Wordpad opens by default to display only the .rtf files, and won't stay with a ''All Files (*.*)'' setting any more than Notepad will.

 

[Plato]

Lee C.

This is more an experiment, an educational pursuit, than a problem. The MS Notepad program has a window come up in the "Open" dialogue box that, by default, searches for .txt (''Text Documents (*.txt)''). It also has the option to show "All files (*.*)" in

Notepad is a text reader/editor. Yes, it can open ANY file but dont save
it afterwards as you will corrupt it.

 

[Rob Schneider]

Several reasons; two of which are that I learn nothing by giving up on the original notion (except that it ain't possible), and more to the point, Wordpad opens by default to display only the .rtf files, and won't stay with a ''All Files (*.*)'' setting any more than Notepad will.

I think it's just the way they programmed Notepad. Notepad hasn't
fundamentally changed since it was first introduced with Windows 1.0 in
1985? I think they just recompile it and add a few gizmo's with each
release.

While it may be interesting to explore the depths of Notepad, it isn't
very deep.

 

[Lee C.]

FWIW, just on a WAG, I opened up Notepad.exe and did a little judicious (or reckless, depends on your point of view I guess) editing with a hex editor.

Got it to default to open to all file types (*.*); although the caption still tells me it's still opening to *.txt files. I can edit that too it appears, but this is not the sort of thing that will translate very well to more complicated programs like WordPad or WinWord.

Oh well...

This is more an experiment, an educational pursuit, than a problem. The MS Notepad program has a window come up in the "Open" dialogue box that, by default, searches for .txt (''Text Documents (*.txt)''). It also has the option to show "All files (*.*)" in the folder it is currently using. I should like the program to default to showing all files, or, at least, perhaps expand the opening list to include text files with some other extensions (for instance, maybe my WordPerfect files (*.wp)).

I suspect perhaps this cannot be done, and that would explain part of the glut of Notepad replacement programs available at the usual suspect sites for freebie downloads. However, my suspicion is uneducated, so I thought I'd ask.

Can this be done? If so, how?

(If it can be done I may try my hand at getting more advance programs like maybe WordPad or WinWord to increase their default lists of recognized file types.)