Unusual situation in customizing right click open with context menu

[louise]

Win XP Pro, SP2.

I have been running Photoshop 7 for a few years and most of
my image files present Adobe Photoshop as an option in the
"open with" right click menu.

I have no installed Photoshop CS3 and now have both
Photoshop 7 and Photoshop CS3 available.

So, I now have TWO Adobe Photoshop programs and they have
different icons and different paths, but they have the same
name for their executable.

C:/program files/Adobe/Photoshop 7/photoshop.exe

C/rogram files/Adobe/Adobe Photoshop CS3/photoshop.exe

I have been unable to find a way to get the right "open
with" menu to (ideally), offer both versions of Photoshop,
or just to offer the newer version.

I have deleted the Open With photoshop from the file
association in the registry and then tried to open with the
newer version but it reverts to the older version no matter
what I do. I used:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\FileExts\.extension\OpenWithList for jpeg and jpg,
for example.

I am comfortable editing the registry but I don't know where
to go to handle this. It seems that there is an association
somewhere between photoshop.exe and Photoshop 7. So no
matter what I do, as soon as photoshop.exe is requested, it
defaults to the older version.

BTW, the jpgs all open by default with ACDsee so the problem
doesn't seem to be in the default opening settings and is
only an issue in the "open with" settings.

My ideal would be to have both versions available on the
"open with" list but I don't know how to make this happen.

I hope this was clear and I apologize for its length.

Thanks for all help and recommendations you can offer.

Louise

 

[JCO]

So does your "Open With" command also show "Configure OpenExpert" as an
option to configure it. I installed the OpenExpert utility which gave me my
"Open With" Command... that's why I ask.

 

[louise]

So does your "Open With" command also show "Configure OpenExpert" as an
option to configure it. I installed the OpenExpert utility which gave me my
"Open With" Command... that's why I ask.

No - if I remember correctly, I learned about some way to
create it through the registry and now I can't find how I
did it or how to edit it

Louise

 

[JCO]

Why don't you look at this link. It might be easier to install the proper
FREE utility that creates the Open With command instead of messing with the
Registry. If this does not help, let us know... we can try again.
http://www.baxbex.com/openexpert.html

 

[JCO]

Louise,
Any updates on this thread?

No - if I remember correctly, I learned about some way to create it
through the registry and now I can't find how I did it or how to edit it


Louise

 

[louise]

Louise,
Any updates on this thread?

I was able to find the registry entry that made Photoshop 7
the default for photoshop.exe and I was able to change it so
that now CS3 photoshop.exe is the default. However, I was
not able to get both Photoshops on the right click menu.

I looked at the Open Expert Utility and I bookmarked it.
But I am loathe to install extra utilities to do what I know
can be done through the registry. I like to conserve
resources and not have utilities that sooner or later don't
talk to each other, or conflict.

So, it's in abeyance until and unless I can find the way to
do this through the registry.

Louise

 

[JCO]

Okay but you are doing things the opposite way. The utility allows for the
Registry to be manipulated properly, if needed. This is a very small
utility and very VERY low resource user. Plus, when you select the
configure option, all you do is drag shortcuts into the window. Once you do
that, it is associated with the extension that is selected in the drop down
box. Very easy and highly recommended.

I do understand little tweaks here and there that the savvy Registry user
can do, but maybe you should give this a try.
Unless someone else wants chime in on this thread!!!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

However, I was not able to get both Photoshops on the right click menu.

There can be only one registration for an executable. If you want to add the other version of PhotoShop to the Open With menu, you may rename the executable to photoshop8.exe or something else. Then you may register photoshop8.exe using the following utility.

Registering programs with the "Open With" dialog:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/openwithadd.htm

You can mention a friendly name also, which will appear in the Open With menu and dialog.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Louise,
Any updates on this thread?

I was able to find the registry entry that made Photoshop 7
the default for photoshop.exe and I was able to change it so
that now CS3 photoshop.exe is the default. However, I was
not able to get both Photoshops on the right click menu.

I looked at the Open Expert Utility and I bookmarked it.
But I am loathe to install extra utilities to do what I know
can be done through the registry. I like to conserve
resources and not have utilities that sooner or later don't
talk to each other, or conflict.

So, it's in abeyance until and unless I can find the way to
do this through the registry.

Louise