Shelagh:
You've actually posted in a newsgroup for the Microsoft Access database
application, but don't worry, you are not the first to think 'access' means
something rather more generic. To answer your question here's what Vista
Help says about file associations:
"Change the program that opens a type of file
If you double-click a file in Windows and it opens in the wrong software
program, follow these steps to choose the program you would prefer that file
use. You can change this setting for an individual file, or you can tell
Windows to open all files of that same type in the software program you
choose.
Open the folder that contains the file you want to change.
Right-click the file that you want to change, and then, depending on the
type of file, either click Open With or point to Open With and then click
Choose Default Program.
Click the program that you want to use to open this file.
Do one of the following:
If you want all files of that type to open in the same software program,
select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check
box, and then click OK.
If you want only that file to open in the software program this one time,
clear the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check
box, and then click OK. "
In your case no program is associated with the file type, but the process is
similar. Browse to any file in 'Documents' which has the same file extension
as the attachment. If there aren't any then create a file with Word for
instance. It doesn't matter what's in the file. Then change the name of the
file so the extension is the same as the attachment, e.g. if the attachment
is an image file with an extension .jpg then change your Word file's name so
its extension is .jpg. Then right click on it and Select 'Open With' from
the shortcut menu.. Then select 'Choose Default Program'. You can then
select which file to open it with, e.g. Windows Photo Gallery and select the
'Always use the selected program to open this kind of file' check box to
associate files of this type with the program you selected. Click OK. If
you've created and renamed a Word file then it won't open it of course as its
not an image file, just masquerading as one, but the association will have
been made. You can then delete the renamed Word file.
You might be able to do it straight from the attachment to the email, but
that will probably depend on what email client you are using.
Ken Sheridan
Stafford, England
