Tools > Options > File Types (verbs)

[Arthur Dent]

Okay, im hoping someone out there can tell me how this can still be done in
Vista...

I am looking for a way to do what you UsED to be able to do in any explorer
window, using Tools > Options > File Types.
Then you could take, say txt file for example, and reassociated it to your
favourite editor, change the default verb to "Print", add new verbs, etc.

I see in Start > Default Programs, where you can change the program used
when double-clicking a file, but i want to edit the OTHER verbs of a file
type. For example, changing the editor used to "Edit" .cmd files. Now, i
know i can munge around in the registry, but that's obviously not the
preferred way to go for numerous reasons.

Please i hope someone can tell me where this can still be done in the gui.
Thanks in advance!
- Arthur Dent.

 

[dean-dean]

No, unfortunately, I don't think this functionality exists in Vista. There
is no user interface to add new verbs/actions with new commands, or make a
verb the default, or rename the type, or change the icon for a type, etc.,
short of editing the registry directly. In this regard, we're back to
Windows 3.1, without
3.1's simple registry.

 

[Paul Randall]

Okay, im hoping someone out there can tell me how this can still be done
in Vista...

I am looking for a way to do what you UsED to be able to do in any
explorer window, using Tools > Options > File Types.
Then you could take, say txt file for example, and reassociated it to your
favourite editor, change the default verb to "Print", add new verbs, etc.

I see in Start > Default Programs, where you can change the program used
when double-clicking a file, but i want to edit the OTHER verbs of a file
type. For example, changing the editor used to "Edit" .cmd files. Now, i
know i can munge around in the registry, but that's obviously not the
preferred way to go for numerous reasons.

Please i hope someone can tell me where this can still be done in the gui.
Thanks in advance!
- Arthur Dent.

I'm hoping someone gives you an answer. I'd like to be able to do this too.
Is it possible that you installed an add-on to IE that gave you this
feature?

-Paul Randall

 

[Arthur Dent]

Nah, in XP, i believe this was out-of-the-box functionality...
in fact, i believe it was even in Windows 2000,
(and maybe 95 and NT4? cant remember that long ago! )

 

[Charlie Tame]

I'm far too young to remember but think you are right anyway.

My guess would be that comes under the notion of a "Security" issue in
Vista, perhaps the different methods could leave to some confusion about
what security privileges the application has.

Charlie

 

[lforbes]

Hi,

This is one area where I Hate Vista over XP. MS has tried to make it easier
but in doing so has taken away functionality from those of us who actually
KNOW what we are doing. It is driving me crazy.

Eg. I program using VBScript. I have the VBS file type to EDIT instead of
OPEN as a default. That way if I double click on one I get Notepad but I
could still run it by right clicking and chosing Open. It worked great and
didn't let me inadvertently run a script until it was ready. Now with Vista
I can't do that anymore. Nor can I create my own File types - which I did
for software installed on a server and not locally.

I am playing around with ftype and assoc commands but it looks like I have
to go back to the registry hacking again. How annoying.

Cheers,
Lara

 

[William MacDonald]

Try power tools from Creative elements
http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/

Right click and choose Edit File Type
One UAC prompt and you are there.

Bill

 

[Arthur Dent]

Hmm.... maybe, just maybe, .... does anyone know if maybe it is possible to
open the old "File Types" dialog using a rundll command?

Like, you can lock the workstation with the commandline

%windir%\system32\rundll32.exe user32.dll,LockWorkStation

Maybe there is something similar that would bring up the old dialog???

 

[lforbes]

Thanks William,

This is great for home use but in a Domain like mine with 1000 machines and
ones that get imaged a lot it isn't a solution. I wish MS would stop taking
away features with new OS' instead of adding them. We shouldn't have to pay
for software to get back the functionality we had in XP.

Cheers,
Lara

 

[Guest]

It only allowed partial editing, didn't support two out of the three ways of
opening a file, and allowed virtually no editing of options.

It is beeter to use the registry direct to make changes.

 

[ThePro]

No, unfortunately, I don't think this functionality exists in Vista.
There
is no user interface to add new verbs/actions with new commands, or make a
verb the default, or rename the type, or change the icon for a type, etc.,
short of editing the registry directly. In this regard, we're back to
Windows 3.1, without
3.1's simple registry.

There was not a registry in 3.1. It began with 95.

 

[Guest]

Cause there was. It was for OLE registration.

There was not a registry in 3.1. It began with 95.

 

[dean-dean]

Yes, there was. The registry file was called Reg.dat, and was stored in the
C:\WINDOWS\ directory. The "Registration Editor" or "Registration Info
Editor" was a simple implementation of the current registry tool, and you
could easily deal with file associations. The Registration Editor was even
handily located in the shell Program Manager's Main > Control Panel.

See APPLIES TO at:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q82821/

Screenshot:
http://www.answers.com/topic/registration-editor-png

 

[Keith Miller MVP]

What are the three ways of opening a file?

 

[Guest]

Registry specified verbs with or without DDE, Drop Handlers (these are used
if present), Context Menu Handlers (they can make themselves the default
action), and OLE (if all else fails OLE is used to find an app if the file
has an unrecognised extension windows does sniffing for an OLE filetype).
That's actually 4.

What are the three ways of opening a file?


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

It only allowed partial editing, didn't support two out of the three ways
of opening a file, and allowed virtually no editing of options.

It is beeter to use the registry direct to make changes.

 

[Guest]

Context Menu Handlers If the Registry entry has Maychangedefaultmenu (like
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{00021401-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}\shellex\MayChangeDefaultMenu)
it also gets called on double click.

Registry specified verbs with or without DDE, Drop Handlers (these are
used if present), Context Menu Handlers (they can make themselves the
default action), and OLE (if all else fails OLE is used to find an app if
the file has an unrecognised extension windows does sniffing for an OLE
filetype). That's actually 4.

What are the three ways of opening a file?


--
Good Luck,

Keith
Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]

It only allowed partial editing, didn't support two out of the three
ways of opening a file, and allowed virtually no editing of options.

It is beeter to use the registry direct to make changes.
Thanks William,

This is great for home use but in a Domain like mine with 1000 machines
and ones that get imaged a lot it isn't a solution. I wish MS would
stop taking away features with new OS' instead of adding them. We
shouldn't have to pay for software to get back the functionality we had
in XP.

Cheers,
Lara

Try power tools from Creative elements
http://www.creativelement.com/powertools/

Right click and choose Edit File Type
One UAC prompt and you are there.

Bill

Okay, im hoping someone out there can tell me how this can still be
done in Vista...

I am looking for a way to do what you UsED to be able to do in any
explorer window, using Tools > Options > File Types.
Then you could take, say txt file for example, and reassociated it to
your favourite editor, change the default verb to "Print", add new
verbs, etc.

I see in Start > Default Programs, where you can change the program
used when double-clicking a file, but i want to edit the OTHER verbs
of a file type. For example, changing the editor used to "Edit" .cmd
files. Now, i know i can munge around in the registry, but that's
obviously not the preferred way to go for numerous reasons.

Please i hope someone can tell me where this can still be done in the
gui.
Thanks in advance!
- Arthur Dent.