Open With list

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lindsay
  • Start date Start date
L

Lindsay

On the Open With dialog, the list is divided into 2 sections, Recommended
and Other. Where does it get the names for these apps in the Other list?

The reason I ask is I'm a programmer (C++). The app I've written shows in
the list but as it's exe name, i.e. "qe" instead of "Quick Edit". It looks
like the list uses the exe's file description, except for my app (which does
have a file description). Uninstalling the app and re-installing changes
nothing. Any way to fix this?
 
It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess (which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
I've checked the registry and my app is shown how you describe: "c:\program
files\quick edit\qe.exe" "%1" but shows as "qe" in the Open With dialog.
Another app I wrote, shows the file desciption "Wallpaper Gizmo" (I never
liked that name) but I've since changed it to "Wallpaper Changer"(I like
that one ;) ) but it stilll shows as "Wallpaper Gizmo". So what I'm
wondering, are these descriptions stored somewhere else for the list to
refer to?

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to
apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short
names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants
to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole
string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess
(which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used
for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or
current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
Or perhaps the is no VersionInfo's Description field in the app.

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Web Diary
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/12/thank_you_and_g.html#comments
=================================================
"David Candy" <.> wrote in message It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess (which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache
The names are stored here. This key can be nuked at will. It will automatically rebuild as soon as something is needed.
 
It didn't to begin with, but it does now. So why won't it update?

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
Or perhaps the is no VersionInfo's Description field in the app.

--
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodbye Web Diary
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/12/thank_you_and_g.html#comments
=================================================
"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to
apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short
names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants
to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole
string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess
(which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used
for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or
current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
That's it! Thanks a lot! Now I have an idea for another app. ;)

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache
The names are stored here. This key can be nuked at will. It will
automatically rebuild as soon as something is needed.
 
Alternately:

OpenWithAdd utility. (allows you to set a friendly name for the app)

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

--
Regards,

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


I've checked the registry and my app is shown how you describe: "c:\program
files\quick edit\qe.exe" "%1" but shows as "qe" in the Open With dialog.
Another app I wrote, shows the file desciption "Wallpaper Gizmo" (I never
liked that name) but I've since changed it to "Wallpaper Changer"(I like
that one ;) ) but it stilll shows as "Wallpaper Gizmo". So what I'm
wondering, are these descriptions stored somewhere else for the list to
refer to?

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to
apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short
names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants
to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole
string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess
(which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used
for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or
current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
Extending Shortcut Menus:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ell_basics/shell_basics_extending/context.asp

See the discussion about "FriendlyAppName" string in section "Registering an
Application to Handle Arbitrary File Classes"

Ramesh Srinivasan's Blog: Setting a friendly application name:
http://winonline.blogspot.com/2005/11/setting-friendly-application-name.html

--
Regards,

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


Alternately:

OpenWithAdd utility. (allows you to set a friendly name for the app)

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

--
Regards,

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


I've checked the registry and my app is shown how you describe: "c:\program
files\quick edit\qe.exe" "%1" but shows as "qe" in the Open With dialog.
Another app I wrote, shows the file desciption "Wallpaper Gizmo" (I never
liked that name) but I've since changed it to "Wallpaper Changer"(I like
that one ;) ) but it stilll shows as "Wallpaper Gizmo". So what I'm
wondering, are these descriptions stored somewhere else for the list to
refer to?

"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names passed to
apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With long/short
names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it wants
to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the whole
string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to CreateProcess
(which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).

So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.

The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be used
for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or
current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)

"c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
 
Hello Lindsay,

Thank you for using newsgroup!

I am glad to see our other peers have provided you with more useful
information here. At this moment, I'd like to thank for all kindly input
and suggestions.

If you have any other questions, please feel free to post here. We are glad
to be of assistance.

Thanks & Regards,

Ken Zhao

Microsoft Online Partner Support
Get Secure! - www.microsoft.com/security

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that others may learn and benefit from your issue.
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This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.





--------------------
| From: "Lindsay" <[email protected]>
| Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
| References: <[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
<[email protected]>
| Subject: Re: Open With list
| Date: Sat, 14 Jan 2006 23:55:29 -0000
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|
| That's it! Thanks a lot! Now I have an idea for another app. ;)
|
| "David Candy" <.> wrote in message
| | HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\ShellNoRoam\MUICache
| The names are stored here. This key can be nuked at will. It will
| automatically rebuild as soon as something is needed.
| --
|
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
| Goodbye Web Diary
|
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/12/thank_you_and_g.htm
l#comments
| =================================================
| | > I've checked the registry and my app is shown how you describe:
| > "c:\program
| > files\quick edit\qe.exe" "%1" but shows as "qe" in the Open With dialog.
| > Another app I wrote, shows the file desciption "Wallpaper Gizmo" (I
never
| > liked that name) but I've since changed it to "Wallpaper Changer"(I like
| > that one ;) ) but it stilll shows as "Wallpaper Gizmo". So what I'm
| > wondering, are these descriptions stored somewhere else for the list to
| > refer to?
| >
| > "David Candy" <.> wrote in message
| > | > It's the file description. As a guess (like with long/short names
passed
| > to
| > apps) it's because the program isn't correctly specified. With
long/short
| > names passed to apps explorer appears to be literal in it's search (it
| > wants
| > to know if the app is 16 or 32 bit) and if it can't find it passes the
| > whole
| > string (with short file names as the program's parameter) to
CreateProcess
| > (which searches in various ways for the app to find and execute it).
| >
| > So a improper program path can work but stops explorer doing some magic.
| >
| > The program's path must be in full and quoted. In XP SP2 paths MUST be
| > used
| > for programs outside of %systemroot% (no releying on path variables or
| > current directory to execute files outside of %systemroot%)
| >
| > "c:\somefolder\program.exe" "%1"
| >
| > --
| >
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
----------------------
| > Goodbye Web Diary
| >
http://margokingston.typepad.com/harry_version_2/2005/12/thank_you_and_g.htm
l#comments
| > =================================================
| > | >> On the Open With dialog, the list is divided into 2 sections,
Recommended
| >> and Other. Where does it get the names for these apps in the Other
list?
| >>
| >> The reason I ask is I'm a programmer (C++). The app I've written shows
in
| >> the list but as it's exe name, i.e. "qe" instead of "Quick Edit". It
| >> looks
| >> like the list uses the exe's file description, except for my app (which
| >> does
| >> have a file description). Uninstalling the app and re-installing
changes
| >> nothing. Any way to fix this?
| >>
| >>
| >
| >
|
|
|
 
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