Assigning file extensions?

[pmoore11]

Probably a dumb question, but how do I assign various file extensions (ie:
wav, mp3, wma, etc) to the different "player" programs in my XP computer?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Palmer

 

[Malke]

Probably a dumb question, but how do I assign various file extensions
(ie: wav, mp3, wma, etc) to the different "player" programs in my XP
computer?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Palmer

It's not a dumb question, but I'm not really sure what you're trying to
do here. Files are created in a particular format - .wav, .mp3., wma,
etc. Different programs can open files created in particular formats.
So I'm not sure what you mean by assign file extensions to the
different players. If you mean that you want a .wav to open in a
particular player - and you know that player supports .wav files - then
the easiest thing is to right-click a file and then Open with-Choose
Program. Then choose the program you want to use and check the box
"Always use this program...".

If that wasn't what you wanted to know, then post back with more
details.

Malke

 

[pmoore11]

Thanks for the reply, malke.. No, what I would like is when I click on hot
links in web sites that are actually going to download a music or video file
to my computer - somehow my computer automatically brings up a "player"
(like Real Time - which doesn't seem to want to continue playing when I go
back to the original web site).. So, I would like to make my system
automatically bring up Windows Media Player, instead, when I click on those
mp3 files ...

Thanks, again,

Palmer

 

[Malke]

Thanks for the reply, malke.. No, what I would like is when I click
on hot links in web sites that are actually going to download a music
or video file to my computer - somehow my computer automatically
brings up a "player" (like Real Time - which doesn't seem to want to
continue playing when I go
back to the original web site).. So, I would like to make my system
automatically bring up Windows Media Player, instead, when I click on
those mp3 files ...

Thanks, again,

Palmer

So what you want is when you download a media file (I'm not quite sure
what you mean by "hot links"), you want a player to automatically open
so you can immediately play the file? Or are you talking about
streaming media?

If the former, I must say that I'm not sure how this could work. After
all, how could a program on your hard drive know what you are
downloading?

To have WMP open when you click on an .mp3, just do as I suggested and
make WMP the default for opening those kind of files (assuming WMP
does .mp3's).

Malke

 

[pmoore11]

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one:

So what you want is when you download a media file (I'm not quite sure
what you mean by "hot links"),

Those highlighted "whatevers" in web sites that either "hot-link" us to some
other URL, OR automatically download good (and, bad files) to our
computers... At which time, (when it is an audio or video file) my
computer for some reason thinks it knows what application to automatically
start playing it with... It opts for Real Time Player when it's a MP3 file
- I would like to change it so that it brings up Windows Media Player,
instead...

Seems rather straight forward.... Windows sees the file extension - and,
somehow know which application to bring up.... I just gotta figure out how
to tell XP not to bring up Real Time Player...

Thanks, again,

Palmer

 

[BugzBunnie]

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one:


Those highlighted "whatevers" in web sites that either "hot-link" us to
some
other URL, OR automatically download good (and, bad files) to our
computers... At which time, (when it is an audio or video file) my
computer for some reason thinks it knows what application to
automatically
start playing it with... It opts for Real Time Player when it's a MP3
file
- I would like to change it so that it brings up Windows Media Player,
instead...

Seems rather straight forward.... Windows sees the file extension - and,
somehow know which application to bring up.... I just gotta figure out
how
to tell XP not to bring up Real Time Player...

Go to "Control Panel/Folder Options" and click on the "File Types" tab.
Scroll down the list until you find "MP3".
Click on the "Change" button and select "Windows Media Player"

That should sort it.

--

 

[Malke]

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this one:


Those highlighted "whatevers" in web sites that either "hot-link" us
to some other URL, OR automatically download good (and, bad files) to
our
computers... At which time, (when it is an audio or video file) my
computer for some reason thinks it knows what application to
automatically
start playing it with... It opts for Real Time Player when it's a
MP3 file - I would like to change it so that it brings up Windows
Media Player, instead...

Seems rather straight forward.... Windows sees the file extension -
and,
somehow know which application to bring up.... I just gotta figure
out how to tell XP not to bring up Real Time Player...

Real Player is popping up because those types of files are *associated*
with Real Player. Change the association like I suggested or go into
Real Player's preferences and change the associations there.

Malke

 

[pmoore11]

Go to "Control Panel/Folder Options" and click on the "File Types" tab.
Scroll down the list until you find "MP3".
Click on the "Change" button and select "Windows Media Player"

YEA, THAT'S WHAT I WAS LOOKING FOR.... Thanks.. However, it already was
pointing at WMP(???) And, I apologize - it's not Real Time that comes up
- it's Quick Time Player.

I double checked the "properties" of the audio file that is getting
downloaded and played - and, it is a .mp3 file... Hmm (??)

Is there some way that other information in the "file name" can direct an
operating system (XP) to play it with another program??? (I also noticed
that the name has a bunch of "%" signs in it - that I'm sure are not in the
original file name..)

Continued thanks,

Palmer

 

[pmoore11]

What - did you guys give up on me?? That's ok... I can understand - I guess
it was a dumb question in the first place.

However, even after I ensured that the Control Panel/Folders/File Types/mp3
setting was pointing at Windows Media Player (which it had been) - and, WMPs
"default" file types was set to include mp3 - and, that Quick Time was not
set to default to mp3... Quick Time would still automatically be selected
to play the mp3 file..... (???)

So, I removed Quick Time from my system... It don't play it anymore...
(lol) However, now when I point at that mp3 file on a website XP asks me
which app to use - suggesting WMP. However, when I point and click at that
same mp3 file on my hard drive - it comes up in WMP automatically....
(???)

I guess maybe it just wasn't meant to be understood... (lol)

Thanks, all, for your help,

Palmer

 

[Martin Foster]

What - did you guys give up on me??

Not yet

"Start Menu/Set Program Access and Defaults"

See if there's anything in there that could be causing it.

 

[Evolution54]

What - did you guys give up on me?? That's ok... I can understand - I
guess
it was a dumb question in the first place.

However, even after I ensured that the Control Panel/Folders/File
Types/mp3
setting was pointing at Windows Media Player (which it had been) - and,
WMPs
"default" file types was set to include mp3 - and, that Quick Time was
not
set to default to mp3... Quick Time would still automatically be
selected
to play the mp3 file..... (???)

So, I removed Quick Time from my system... It don't play it
anymore...
(lol) However, now when I point at that mp3 file on a website XP
asks me
which app to use - suggesting WMP. However, when I point and click at
that
same mp3 file on my hard drive - it comes up in WMP automatically....
(???)

I guess maybe it just wasn't meant to be understood... (lol)

Thanks, all, for your help,

Palmer

First of all, are you talking about files downloaded onto your desktop
or are you talking about streaming video and audio after you have
clicked on a link from the Internet? Sometimes the websites require
that you use either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Some even give
you to option to choose which player you would like to have it streamed
on.

 

[pmoore11]

I"m not sure I understand what that panel is all about. (Not totally unlike
my understanding of most panels in any Windows OS.. 8^) "Program
Configuration"??? "specifies default programs for certain activities" -
but, gets cloudy right after that... The Help screen suggests I log on as
an Administrator... I'm outta there... I'd have this thing displaying only
Arabic in four keystrokes... (lol)

Thanks,

Palmer

 

[pmoore11]

First of all, are you talking about files downloaded onto your desktop
or are you talking about streaming video and audio after you have
clicked on a link from the Internet?

Actually, it is an .mp3 file that is on my guitar club web site that I
created with FrontPage that is hosted out on a server (Bizland..) I
inserted a hot link to the file behind a "click here" statement.
(http://www.ofgc.net/images/JingleBellRock.mp3) I just don't know what
string of events that happens when somebody clicks on it... IE - ooops, ie:
- how much the browser does based on the file extension... or, how much XP
does with the file extension... or, whatever anything does with it.
SOMEBODY does something with it... 8^)

Now, that I have removed Quck Time from my computer - and, it no longer
automatically comes up... there appears to be a difference between the way
IE, Firefox and Netscape handles the click "event".. IE brings up WMP and
plays it immediately. Both, Firefox and Navigator bring up a decision box
to "play it on what" or "save it"..

Now, that I know that the browser has some sort of role in this process - I
think I'll download Quick Time again and see if it somehow overrides the
browsers role... (??)

Sometimes the websites require
that you use either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Some even give
you to option to choose which player you would like to have it streamed
on.

How can they do that?

Clueless in Columbus,

Palmer