Associate file type with program

[Guest]

I wish to change the program that opens pdf files.

I thought the way to do that would be to go to Windows Explorer > Tools menu

Folder Options > File Types, and then select the registered file type, in

this case pdf. In the window that appears, I click the change button, and in
the new window that appears, I click the browse button to navigate to the exe
file of the program I want to use, as it is not already in the list to be
selected.

The problem is it doesn't work, despite the text in the first window says:
"You have customized files with extension PDF."

The text continues: "To restore these files to their default type (name of
program) click Restore."

This indicates there is a default setting somewhere that cannot be changed
from here.


Questions: How can I change both the default and the selected association
of a file type (such as pdf) to a specific program?


Wilbour

 

[bud]

I wish to change the program that opens pdf files.

I thought the way to do that would be to go to Windows Explorer > Tools
menu
this case pdf. In the window that appears, I click the change button, and
in
the new window that appears, I click the browse button to navigate to the
exe
file of the program I want to use, as it is not already in the list to be
selected.

The problem is it doesn't work, despite the text in the first window says:
"You have customized files with extension PDF."

The text continues: "To restore these files to their default type (name of
program) click Restore."

This indicates there is a default setting somewhere that cannot be changed
from here.


Questions: How can I change both the default and the selected association
of a file type (such as pdf) to a specific program?


Wilbour

Right click on a .pdf file. Click on open with. Browse to the program you
want to use. Select it and check the box that says "always use the selected
program to open this type of file". Click ok. Try file.

 

[Jim]

I wish to change the program that opens pdf files.

I thought the way to do that would be to go to Windows Explorer > Tools
menu
this case pdf. In the window that appears, I click the change button, and
in
the new window that appears, I click the browse button to navigate to the
exe
file of the program I want to use, as it is not already in the list to be
selected.

The problem is it doesn't work, despite the text in the first window says:
"You have customized files with extension PDF."

The text continues: "To restore these files to their default type (name of
program) click Restore."

This indicates there is a default setting somewhere that cannot be changed
from here.

The default setting is in the registry.

Questions: How can I change both the default and the selected association
of a file type (such as pdf) to a specific program?

The only way to change the default program is through a change to the
registry. The Windows XP Resource Kit describes the method..
Jim

 

[Guest]

Thanks Bud,

Your advice helped. I had missed to check the box that says "always use the
selected program to open this type of file".

Although less important, do you also know how to change the default program
associated with a file type? That is still said to be the same.


Wilbour

 

[Guest]

Thanks Jim,

You don't happen to know the key tree where that is stored in the Registry?

Wilbour

 

[David Candy]

Change is Open With and supercedes file associations. Advanced is now Restore in that dialog. Click Restore, click Advanced and edit it correctly.

 

[Guest]

Hi David,

I did, as you suggested, click "Restore" and it did change to "Advanced". I
edited it by browsing to the program I wanted as the default associated
program. I changed the name and the icon and it looked fine.

While testing it by double-clicking a pdf-file, it first appeared to work
correctly, as the correct program opened, but then it went wrong. Instead of
opening the document I had double-clicked, a sign came up with the text:
"There was an error opening this document. The file does not exist."

The file does of course exist, and I can open it from inside the program.

Do you have a clue what went wrong and how to correct it?


Wilbour

 

[David Candy]

Did you include %1 in quotes.
"C:\Program Files\Adobe\Acrobat 5.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe" "%1"

 

[Guest]

Hi again David,

No, I did not. The quotes were missing. When I added them, it worked as it
should. I don't understand how I could have guessed that, but fortunately
you did and informed me.

Thank you very much for all your help.

Wilbour

 

[Guest]

Hi again David,

As I wrote in my previous message, your solution solved the problem to open
the desired program while double-clicking a pdf file in Windows Explorer.
Unfortunately, it did not solve the problem while opening a pdf file on a
website with Internet Explorer. There, it still opens the not desired
program.

Do you know how to fix that as well?

Best regards

Wilbour

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Wilbour,

What's the name of the undesired program?
How are you opening the PDF in Internet Explorer?
Is this happening for one particular site or for all the sites?

Meanwhile, download FileExtInfo.zip from the following page. Unzip the
program and run it. Select .PDF from the list, and generate a log. Post the
entire contents here.

http://www.winhelponline.com/utils/fileextinfo.zip

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Guest]

Hi Ramesh,

The "undesired" program is PDF Converter Pro 3. It is not a bad program for
manipulating pdf files, but it is slow to start, so I prefer an earlier
version of Adobe Acrobat Reader, such as 4 or 5. They load very fast. When
I installed PDF Converter Pro 3, it set itself up as the default program to
open pdf files. I guess I must have accepted that at the time, but found the
speed problem later and decided to switch back to a simpler and faster
program for just viewing pdf files. David and the others in this thread
helped me change back for viewing local pdf files, but pdf files viewed
through IE still show through PDF Converter Pro 3.


I tested on two different websites and single-clicked on the link to the pdf
document. In both cases PDF Converter Pro 3 started rather Acrobat Reader.

Thanks for your program extracting data from the registry. Please find
below the report contents.

Thanks Wilbour


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FileExtInfo v1.0 - Log file
2005-10-13 15:11:59

Complete File association information for ---> .PDF
Useful for troubleshooting File association and other problems
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"
"Content Type"="application/pdf"
"PrevApp"="AcroExch.Document"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF\AcroExch.Document]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF\AcroExch.Document\ShellNew]


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document]
@="Portable Document Format"
"EditFlags"=dword:00000000
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000008

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 4.0\\Reader\\Acrobat 4 AcroRd32.exe,1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 4.0\\Reader\\Acrobat 4 AcroRd32.exe\"
\"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell\open\ddeexec]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="PlusShell"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shell\open\ddeexec\Topic]
@="System"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shellex]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\ScanSoft PDF Converter 3.0]
@="{5EB5D616-DC17-4f5c-BB4F-73D99A0C7C32}"


[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PDF]
"oldApplication"="Acrobat 4 AcroRd32.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PDF\OpenWithList]
"a"="AcroRd32.exe"
"MRUList"="ebghdfac"
"b"="iexplore.exe"
"c"="Photoshp.exe"
"d"="Neuratron PhotoScore.exe"
"e"="Acrobat 4 AcroRd32.exe"
"f"="ACROBA~1.EXE"
"g"="ZDPlus.exe"
"h"="PlusShell.exe"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.PDF\OpenWithProgids]
"AcroExch.Document"=hex(0):
"pdf_auto_file"=hex(0):
"DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"=hex(0):

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Wilbour,

Assuming that you have Acrobat Reader 5 already installed, try this command
from Start, Run:

cmd /c assoc .pdf=AcroExch.Document

Then, export this registry key and post the contents here:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/pdf

*Internet Explorer uses the application/control mentioned in the above
location*

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Guest]

Sorry for my ignorance, Ramesh, but how can I see the result of trying the
command you suggested. It just flashes by in less than a second. I guess I
should know this, but unfortunately I seem to have forgotten...

Could you please advice how to make the result stay on the screen so I can
read it?



The Registry Key you requested is:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/pdf]
"Extension"=".pdf"
"CLSID"="{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640}"

Thanks for your help

Wilbour

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Wilbour,

Yes. The command flashes and that's normal.

Regarding the "application/pdf" setting, I'm unable to trace the CLSID
{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640} using Google search. This CLSID may
be related to PDF Converter Pro, I think. Let me install Adobe Reader 5.0
and note down the settings for you.

I'm now searching for the Acrobat Reader 5.x CD-ROM.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Guest]

Ramesh,

If you intend to take the trouble to check the number for Acrobat Reader, I
should warn that it is Acrobat 4, and not 5, I happen to have. I don't know
what different it make, but I guess it is important.

Regarding the command result flashing by, what was the purpose of that
exercise?


Thanks again for your help

Wilbour

Wilbour,

Yes. The command flashes and that's normal.

Regarding the "application/pdf" setting, I'm unable to trace the CLSID
{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640} using Google search. This CLSID may
be related to PDF Converter Pro, I think. Let me install Adobe Reader 5.0
and note down the settings for you.

I'm now searching for the Acrobat Reader 5.x CD-ROM.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Sorry for my ignorance, Ramesh, but how can I see the result of trying the
command you suggested. It just flashes by in less than a second. I guess
I
should know this, but unfortunately I seem to have forgotten...

Could you please advice how to make the result stay on the screen so I can
read it?



The Registry Key you requested is:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\MIME\Database\Content Type\application/pdf]
"Extension"=".pdf"
"CLSID"="{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640}"

Thanks for your help

Wilbour

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Wilbour,

That command is to change the file association.

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"
- - -

becomes

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="AcroExch.Document"
- - -

I assume the PDFs continue to open fine locally.

Thanks! will get v4 and test it.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Acrobat Reader 4 sets the CLSID to {CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

And creates this REG setting.

==============================
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Adobe\Acrobat\Exe]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 4.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe\""

==============================

If this setting does not help in your case, see if reinstalling Acrobat
Reader 4 (on top) helps. Before that do a complete backup of the registry.


[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe

[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt


--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Wilbour,

That command is to change the file association.

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"
- - -

becomes

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="AcroExch.Document"
- - -

I assume the PDFs continue to open fine locally.

Thanks! will get v4 and test it.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Ramesh,

If you intend to take the trouble to check the number for Acrobat Reader,
I
should warn that it is Acrobat 4, and not 5, I happen to have. I don't
know
what different it make, but I guess it is important.

Regarding the command result flashing by, what was the purpose of that
exercise?


Thanks again for your help

Wilbour

 

[Guest]

Thanks again Ramesh,

I will learn about ERUNT, do the backup, and the rest, but I may have to
continue tomorrow. I will of course report back to you.

After following you instructions in your previous message, local pdf files
were no longer linked to anything, so I was asked to select a program. I
chose Acrobat 4, and that seems to work fine now.


Wilbour

Acrobat Reader 4 sets the CLSID to {CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

And creates this REG setting.

==============================
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Adobe\Acrobat\Exe]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 4.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe\""

==============================

If this setting does not help in your case, see if reinstalling Acrobat
Reader 4 (on top) helps. Before that do a complete backup of the registry.


[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe

[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt


--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Wilbour,

That command is to change the file association.

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"
- - -

becomes

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="AcroExch.Document"
- - -

I assume the PDFs continue to open fine locally.

it is Acrobat 4, and not 5

Thanks! will get v4 and test it.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Ramesh,

If you intend to take the trouble to check the number for Acrobat Reader,
I
should warn that it is Acrobat 4, and not 5, I happen to have. I don't
know
what different it make, but I guess it is important.

Regarding the command result flashing by, what was the purpose of that
exercise?


Thanks again for your help

Wilbour


:

Wilbour,

Yes. The command flashes and that's normal.

Regarding the "application/pdf" setting, I'm unable to trace the CLSID
{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640} using Google search. This CLSID
may
be related to PDF Converter Pro, I think. Let me install Adobe Reader
5.0
and note down the settings for you.

I'm now searching for the Acrobat Reader 5.x CD-ROM.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

 

[Guest]

Hi again Ramesh,

Sorry for the delay. I did learn about ERUNT, and did the backup. It seems
to be a very good tool to have.

I changed the CLSID to {CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}, as I
understood you suggested. It resulted in that IE did not launch "PDF
Converter 3", and tried to open Acrobat 4, but failed. Instead I got two
error messages:

Could not launch Acrobat
An internal error has occurred

I then tried your alternative suggestion, and just re-installed Acrobat 4.
That solved the problem.

I had hoped our exercise would have taught me how to do it some other way,
but at least I learnt one way to do it. I of course also learnt about a few
other things like ERUNT.


Thank you for all your help


Wilbour

Acrobat Reader 4 sets the CLSID to {CA8A9780-280D-11CF-A24D-444553540000}

And creates this REG setting.

==============================
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Software\Adobe\Acrobat\Exe]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 4.0\\Reader\\AcroRd32.exe\""

==============================

If this setting does not help in your case, see if reinstalling Acrobat
Reader 4 (on top) helps. Before that do a complete backup of the registry.


[ERUNT] Registry Backup and Restore for Windows
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/

[ERUNT Download URLs]
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt.zip
http://www.aumha.org/downloads/erunt-setup.exe

[Installing & Using ERUNT]
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt


--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Wilbour,

That command is to change the file association.

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="DocuCom.PDFPlus.Document"
- - -

becomes

- - -
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.PDF]
@="AcroExch.Document"
- - -

I assume the PDFs continue to open fine locally.

it is Acrobat 4, and not 5

Thanks! will get v4 and test it.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com

Ramesh,

If you intend to take the trouble to check the number for Acrobat Reader,
I
should warn that it is Acrobat 4, and not 5, I happen to have. I don't
know
what different it make, but I guess it is important.

Regarding the command result flashing by, what was the purpose of that
exercise?


Thanks again for your help

Wilbour


:

Wilbour,

Yes. The command flashes and that's normal.

Regarding the "application/pdf" setting, I'm unable to trace the CLSID
{4E1A6CF4-2639-4B23-AF6B-1FAC5E823640} using Google search. This CLSID
may
be related to PDF Converter Pro, I think. Let me install Adobe Reader
5.0
and note down the settings for you.

I'm now searching for the Acrobat Reader 5.x CD-ROM.

--
Ramesh, Microsoft MVP
Windows XP Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com