Unable to associate extension

[Bill]

I'm trying to associate .png files with Macromedia Fireworks. However,
when I try, either in explorer or in Folder Options | File Types I am
unable to do so.

When I try to change the default program, Fireworks is not listed either
in the recommended or other program lists. If I browse to the correct
program and click on fireworks8.exe this is not reflected back in the
file types dialog box; Windows Picture & Fax Viewer is still highlighted
and Fireworks is nowhere to be seen.

I am able to open the files from within Fireworks, by browsing to the
correct folder and selecting file open, but this is the only way I can
do so.

Any ideas where the problem is?

Thanks

Bill

 

[Scooby]

I'm trying to associate .png files with Macromedia Fireworks. However,
when I try, either in explorer or in Folder Options | File Types I am
unable to do so.

When I can't associate an extension, I usually enter the program's full path
in the registry.

- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png and rename .png (e.g., rename .png to
..png-old)

- Create a new key (.png) under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

- Select .png and, in the right pane, double click "(Default)" and type
Fireworks' full path within quotation marks then type a space and type "%1".

- If you see a key named .png" (.png followed by a quotation mark) in the
left pane, delete it. It was created when you tried to associate the
extention with Fireworks in Windows Explorer.

 

[Bill]

When I can't associate an extension, I usually enter the program's full path
in the registry.

- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png and rename .png (e.g., rename .png to
.png-old)

- Create a new key (.png) under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

- Select .png and, in the right pane, double click "(Default)" and type
Fireworks' full path within quotation marks then type a space and type "%1".

- If you see a key named .png" (.png followed by a quotation mark) in the
left pane, delete it. It was created when you tried to associate the
extention with Fireworks in Windows Explorer.

Having tried your suggestion, everything is still the same.

In the new .png entry I created in the registry, I have entered the
following into Value Data of the Edit String dialog box (Value Name is
greyed out, with no value):

"C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Fireworks 8\Fireworks.exe" "%1"

When I go back to explorer, I still cannot open the file in Fireworks by
double-clicking, nor can I select Fireworks from the programs list (it
is not in the list).

Basically, nothing has changed.

 

[Scooby]

In the new .png entry I created in the registry, I have
entered the following into Value Data of the Edit String
dialog box (Value Name is greyed out, with no value):

"C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Fireworks 8\Fireworks.exe" "%1"

Basically, nothing has changed.

If the association can't be changed, add a shortcut to Fireworks to the
contextual menu (you'll have to right click .png files to open them).

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Scooby,

That's incorrect. The file type's (default) value should point to a file
class, which inturn contains the verbs/actions for that file type.

Example:

HKCR\.png ===> (default) is "pngfile"

Here is where the user needs to make the modifications:
HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command

--
Regards,

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

I'm trying to associate .png files with Macromedia Fireworks. However,
when I try, either in explorer or in Folder Options | File Types I am
unable to do so.

When I can't associate an extension, I usually enter the program's full path
in the registry.

- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png and rename .png (e.g., rename .png to
..png-old)

- Create a new key (.png) under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

- Select .png and, in the right pane, double click "(Default)" and type
Fireworks' full path within quotation marks then type a space and type "%1".

- If you see a key named .png" (.png followed by a quotation mark) in the
left pane, delete it. It was created when you tried to associate the
extention with Fireworks in Windows Explorer.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Bill,

See if re-registering "fireworks8.exe" helps.

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

When I can't associate an extension, I usually enter the program's full
path
in the registry.

- Go to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.png and rename .png (e.g., rename .png to
.png-old)

- Create a new key (.png) under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

- Select .png and, in the right pane, double click "(Default)" and type
Fireworks' full path within quotation marks then type a space and type
"%1".

- If you see a key named .png" (.png followed by a quotation mark) in the
left pane, delete it. It was created when you tried to associate the
extention with Fireworks in Windows Explorer.

Having tried your suggestion, everything is still the same.

In the new .png entry I created in the registry, I have entered the
following into Value Data of the Edit String dialog box (Value Name is
greyed out, with no value):

"C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Fireworks 8\Fireworks.exe" "%1"

When I go back to explorer, I still cannot open the file in Fireworks by
double-clicking, nor can I select Fireworks from the programs list (it
is not in the list).

Basically, nothing has changed.

 

[Bill]

Hi Scooby,

That's incorrect. The file type's (default) value should point to a file
class, which inturn contains the verbs/actions for that file type.

Example:

HKCR\.png ===> (default) is "pngfile"

Here is where the user needs to make the modifications:
HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command

Hi Ramesh,

The key "HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command" contains the following:

rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

what should I change it to?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Bill,

That alone is not enough. There are two more registry modifications that
need to be done, so that the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer does not take
over.

So the easier way would be to register fireworks8.exe again (see my other
post) so that it gets listed in the Open with dialog. Then associate .PNG
files with Macromedia Fireworks using that way.

--
Regards,

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

Hi Scooby,

That's incorrect. The file type's (default) value should point to a file
class, which inturn contains the verbs/actions for that file type.

Example:

HKCR\.png ===> (default) is "pngfile"

Here is where the user needs to make the modifications:
HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command

Hi Ramesh,

The key "HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command" contains the following:

rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen %1

what should I change it to?

Thanks,

Bill

 

[Scooby]

The file type's (default) value should point to a file
class, which inturn contains the verbs/actions for that file type.

Example:

HKCR\.png ===> (default) is "pngfile"

Here is where the user needs to make the modifications:
HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command

Unless you disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, Explorer doesn't seem to
take into account what you enter here.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Yes, I knew that Scooby. I was giving an example, for better clarity.
BTW, there are two more edits required so that WPFV doesn't interfere.

--
Regards,

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

The file type's (default) value should point to a file
class, which inturn contains the verbs/actions for that file type.

Example:

HKCR\.png ===> (default) is "pngfile"

Here is where the user needs to make the modifications:
HKCR\pngfile\shell\open\command

Unless you disable Windows Picture and Fax Viewer, Explorer doesn't seem to
take into account what you enter here.

 

[Bill]

Thanks Ramesh,

Your app OpenWithAdd worked just fine.

Incidentally, Fireworks previously did appear in the Open With list, if
I was trying to associate another file type (such as .gif).

Thanks again,

Bill

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome, Bill.

--
Regards,

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


Thanks Ramesh,

Your app OpenWithAdd worked just fine.

Incidentally, Fireworks previously did appear in the Open With list, if
I was trying to associate another file type (such as .gif).

Thanks again,

Bill