what is the general rule about which software is the default?

[Guest]

suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

 

[Richard Urban]

If, during the install, you do nothing to prevent it, the last program
installed will usually attempt to be the default program for a particular
file type.

You can change this in options/preferences for the programs involved. Tell
one you want it to be the default. Tell the other one you do not (usually by
removing the checks from the file types).

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

 

[Val]

Generally the last one installed sets itself as the default program for a
given file type.

You need to first see if the program you want as default has some options to
make it so. If there is none, then you would have to make the change
manually.
Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations

suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

 

[Guest]

don't mean to sound like a newbie, but i don't see the sequence that you
delineated: Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations.

 

[Val]

OK, in Control Panel (Vista style) the last item is named "Associate a file
type or protocol with a program". It shows up as 'Set Associations" in the
breadcrumbs.

In Control Panel (Classic View) select Default Programs | Associate.....


don't mean to sound like a newbie, but i don't see the sequence that you
delineated: Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

The most recently installed application will generally take over the
default file associations. You'd make a selection by right-clicking on
the target file, and selecting the application with which to open it.
On the same dialog box would be the option to make this choice permanent.


--

Bruce Chambers

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[Ken Blake, MVP]

suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

When you install a program, it normally sets up an "association"
between it and a particular file type or types. For example, if you
install Microsoft Word, it sets up an association with .doc files, so
that every time you click on a .doc file, it will open that file in
Microsoft Word.

The same with zip files. When you install a zip program, it creates an
association between itself and zip files. If you install more than one
such program, the association you end up with is that with the program
you installed *last*.

You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."

Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are meant
to be new superior way to handle file associations. It's the first time the
shell has easily allowed applications and users to easily edit the full
association chain. (Most previous methods required you to set the browser
associations separately.) =)

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are meant
to be new superior way to handle file associations.

Thanks for the addition.

Yes, that's another way to do the same thing, but I don't particularly
see that it's superior. What am I missing? What makes it better than
the old way, which I explained above?

 

[zachd [MSFT]]

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:57:55 -0700, "zachd [MSFT]"

Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are
meant
to be new superior way to handle file associations.

Thanks for the addition.

Yes, that's another way to do the same thing, but I don't particularly
see that it's superior. What am I missing? What makes it better than
the old way, which I explained above?

It'll probably take time for everybody to wire in (even the
code/registration is pretty simple), but Set your Program Defaults as
mentioned finally handles shell and browser associations (MIME database)
within one interface. There's no way at all to do that in XP. Open With
doesn't handle the browser associations, which can mean you get weird
results with IE or anything else that consumes the MIME database.

 

[Adam Albright]

Thanks for the addition.

Yes, that's another way to do the same thing, but I don't particularly
see that it's superior. What am I missing? What makes it better than
the old way, which I explained above?

Hardly superior. Like most Microsoft attempts, not bad in concept but
poor is design and implementation. Of course what would you expect
from Microsoft "designers" that gave us a START button to turn off the
computer.

I prefer this method:

Go to Default Programs, then open the Associate File Type or protocol
option. Wait for the full list to populate. Now go to a common file
type, example .AVI. If you've changed nothing you'll see crappy Media
Player as the default choice. On my system I had it changed so GOM
Player is associated with and opens this file type. Once you highlight
the .AVI line and double click a new window opens and you'll see a
list of recommended programs and also another fuller list of other
programs all of which are installed on your system that should be able
to open the selected file type. Change to what you like.

The advantage is instead of the hunt and peck method you end up doing
if you constantly right click on file types in Explorer depending on
what folder you're in by going to the master file association list you
can if you wanted walk you way down the entire list of file types
currently known on your system and by double clicking each line have
the ability to change as many file associations as you care to all
done easy enough from one place. A task to be sure if you look at them
all, but chances are you'll only want to change a handful and having a
master alphabetized list helps make sure you don't miss some.

Like with other column headings if you click on it that will cause a
sort on that column. So for example on my system if I click on the
current default column on the master file association list I quickly
see that Adobe Photoshop CS is set to open x number of file types,all
neatly listed one after another regardless what they're called. Ditto
for all my other applications. When done, a quick click on the name
column restores the list to sort by file type name.