start run configuration program question

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi All,

In the "Start", "Run" dialog box, can I configure
"Programs" to include other extensions? Extensions,
such as .rdp and .reg?

Many thanks,
-T

 

[Andrew McLaren]

In the "Start", "Run" dialog box, can I configure
"Programs" to include other extensions? Extensions,
such as .rdp and .reg?

Hi Todd,

You can supply the name of a data file in the Run field, and the shell will
launch the program associated via file extension. In this regard, Explorer's
Run field behaves much the same as the Command Prompt.

For example, if I enter "C:\Users\andrew\My Documents\test.txt" into the Run
field (including quotation marks) and hit OK, Notepad.exe will be launched,,
with test.txt open and ready for editing.

This will work for any data file with an associated extension. I'm pretty
sure REG and RDP files are already associated with Regedit and Mstsc.exe
(Remote Desktop) respectively.

The main "gotcha" is that Run will look in the current User's home directory
for the filename you supply. If the file is in a different location (very
likely), you'd need to enter the file's full pathname - as in my example
above. Relative paths don't seem to work. If the pathname contains spaces,
you'll need to enclose the full pathname in quotes; just the same as the
command processor.

Hope it helps,
Andrew

 

[ToddAndMargo]

Hi Todd,

You can supply the name of a data file in the Run field, and the shell
will launch the program associated via file extension. In this regard,
Explorer's Run field behaves much the same as the Command Prompt.

For example, if I enter "C:\Users\andrew\My Documents\test.txt" into the
Run field (including quotation marks) and hit OK, Notepad.exe will be
launched,, with test.txt open and ready for editing.

This will work for any data file with an associated extension. I'm
pretty sure REG and RDP files are already associated with Regedit and
Mstsc.exe (Remote Desktop) respectively.

The main "gotcha" is that Run will look in the current User's home
directory for the filename you supply. If the file is in a different
location (very likely), you'd need to enter the file's full pathname -
as in my example above. Relative paths don't seem to work. If the
pathname contains spaces, you'll need to enclose the full pathname in
quotes; just the same as the command processor.

Hope it helps,
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

I guess I am being a bit lazy here. I was looking for a way around
having to change to "all files". I just wanted to include more
extensions in the "program files" browse list.

Thank you for the info.

-T

 

[Andrew McLaren]

I guess I am being a bit lazy here. I was looking for a way around
having to change to "all files". I just wanted to include more

extensions in the "program files" browse list.

I think the BAT CMD EXE COM PIF list is hard-coded in the Shell.

The other location for this would be:

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Value: Programs
Type: REG_SZ
Default data: com exe bat pif cmd

.... but changing this value in the Registry appears to have no effect on
what Run, Browse shows.

So, you might have to live with it, the way it is

Cheers
Andrew

 

[ToddAndMargo]

I think the BAT CMD EXE COM PIF list is hard-coded in the Shell.

The other location for this would be:

Key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Windows
Value: Programs
Type: REG_SZ
Default data: com exe bat pif cmd

... but changing this value in the Registry appears to have no effect on
what Run, Browse shows.

So, you might have to live with it, the way it is

Cheers
Andrew

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for checking.

-T