Changing program associated with Context Menu Edit Option in XP

[Hupjack]

If you check out the screen capture at the link below, you'll see I've right
clicked a JPEG, and there is an edit option in the context menu. That
option currently opens the photo with mspaint. I'd like to set this to open
with ACDSEE FotoCanvas. However you can also see in the screen capture that
when I went to the Folder Options - File Types, for the relevant file
extension, there was no "edit" option there for which to associate a
different program.

http://images.ofoto.com/photos572/8/69/74/71/87/0/87717469805_0_ALB.jpg
You might have to paste that link directly in your browser rather than
launch from an external site.

So how is this "edit" option being added to the context menu, and how do I
change the associated program? Certainly I can add another context menu
edit option, I could probably name it "Edit with ACDSEE" But I'm also
curious as to what is going on here. I like my system nice and clean
without context menu options, that I don't use, cluttering things up.

I'm also curious as to how I might add an "Edit with FotoCanvas" option to
all picture types instead of adding it one by one to each picture file
extension. Heck, I'd have to add it in three different places just to get
all the JPEG, JPG, and JPE. Any tips on how to do this more efficiently?

Thanks in advance for any help I can get

 

[Yves Alarie]

Right click on a picture.
Click on Open with on the opening menu.
Click on Choose program on the opening list.
Click on ACDSEE on the opening list.
Check the box "Always open..."
Now, when you double click on a photo, it will open in ACDSEE.

 

[Hupjack]

thanks for the input.. Certainly that's a great way to quickly set the
default open behavior.

I was also specifically asking about the "edit" option, where it comes from,
and how to modify the program associated with it. Any takers out there?

 

[Yves Alarie]

You can do this by editing the registry and changing from Paint to the
software you want. I am not brave enough to make this recommendation. John
Inzer has made this. Just wait and check later, he is usually around and
will tell you how to do it.

 

[John Inzer]

The following instructions focus on Picture It! 9
but will work with any image editor...

How to open the selected image in PI9 when
clicking the Edit button on the Windows Picture
and Fax Viewer screen.

IMPORTANT: This message contains information
about modifying the registry. Before you modify the
registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that
you understand how to restore the registry if a problem
occurs. For information about how to back up, restore,
and edit the registry, click the following link to view the
article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Information About Editing the Registry
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=256986#Topic2

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

OK...go to...Start / Run and type in..."regedit" without the
quotes. Then click...OK...or press...Enter.

In the Registry Editor...drill down to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\shell\edit\command

In the Data column you should see the following string:

"%systemroot%\system32\mspaint.exe" "%1"

(where you see *mspaint* in the example....you will see
your current default)

Replace the string with the following path (including the quotes).

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Picture It! 9\pi.exe" "%1"

To replace the string...

Left click "default" to select it.

Go to...Edit / Modify...

In the "Edit String" field...

Copy/Paste the following:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Picture It! 9\pi.exe" "%1"

Left click...OK.

(this assumes your path is the same as mine)

Now, your images still open in the Picture and Fax viewer
but if you left click the Edit button...Picture It! 9 opens.

Good luck.

--

John Inzer
Picture It! MVP
return e-mail disabled

Picture It! Support Center
http://support.microsoft.com/?pr=pic