When I right-click on a file, I am presented an option to choose which
program to use to open the file.
I can choose from an explicit list, or select any other program?

What determines which programs are in the explicit list?

I just uninstalled, then re-installed (to a different location) the same app
on 4 different Win 2000 on a multiboot system.

In only 1 case did the program get listed in the explicit list of programs
AND a shortcut to the program was automatically placed on the Open With menu
for the file type.

Why not for the other 3 Win 2000?

Can I hack the registry to fix this?

--
http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.

See if this helps.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_extending/fileassociations/fa_file_types.asp

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Howard Kaikow" wrote:
> When I right-click on a file, I am presented an option to choose which
> program to use to open the file.
> I can choose from an explicit list, or select any other program?
>
> What determines which programs are in the explicit list?
>
> I just uninstalled, then re-installed (to a different location) the same
> app
> on 4 different Win 2000 on a multiboot system.
>
> In only 1 case did the program get listed in the explicit list of programs
> AND a shortcut to the program was automatically placed on the Open With
> menu
> for the file type.
>
> Why not for the other 3 Win 2000?
>
> Can I hack the registry to fix this?
>
> --
> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>
>

I'm honestly not sure why it happened, but I can show you where to hack the
value for the recommended list.

It's in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software|CLASSES

Now choose the filetype that you want. If you've already chosen one or more
programs, you'll see a subfolder called "OpenWithList"
Create a new key with the name of the .exe file you want to use.

As for the Other Programs list:

THat's found here:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\Applications

You'll see keynames here that match executable names. Valid system available
executables that show up in this list aren't all that interesting. If you
WANT one to show up in this list that doesn't, you need to be able to launch
it from the command line or this won't work. Add the .exe as a key in the
list.
Then you'll need to add the sub keys Shell > Open > Command
In the Command key, see the default to be the path to your .exe and use %1
to pass in the filename. Look at some of the other sample keys in this group
to get the idea of how it works. I hope that's helpful.
-Kelly
"Howard Kaikow" wrote:

> When I right-click on a file, I am presented an option to choose which
> program to use to open the file.
> I can choose from an explicit list, or select any other program?
>
> What determines which programs are in the explicit list?
>
> I just uninstalled, then re-installed (to a different location) the same app
> on 4 different Win 2000 on a multiboot system.
>
> In only 1 case did the program get listed in the explicit list of programs
> AND a shortcut to the program was automatically placed on the Open With menu
> for the file type.
>
> Why not for the other 3 Win 2000?
>
> Can I hack the registry to fix this?
>
> --
> http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
>
>
>

Perfect Dave. Thanks. I guess I should have looked for an article instead of
reverse engineering things. :)

"Dave Patrick" wrote:

> See if this helps.
>
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/en-us/shellcc/platform/shell/programmersguide/shell_basics/shell_basics_extending/fileassociations/fa_file_types.asp
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
> Microsoft Certified Professional
> Microsoft MVP [Windows]
> http://www.microsoft.com/protect
>
> "Howard Kaikow" wrote:
> > When I right-click on a file, I am presented an option to choose which
> > program to use to open the file.
> > I can choose from an explicit list, or select any other program?
> >
> > What determines which programs are in the explicit list?
> >
> > I just uninstalled, then re-installed (to a different location) the same
> > app
> > on 4 different Win 2000 on a multiboot system.
> >
> > In only 1 case did the program get listed in the explicit list of programs
> > AND a shortcut to the program was automatically placed on the Open With
> > menu
> > for the file type.
> >
> > Why not for the other 3 Win 2000?
> >
> > Can I hack the registry to fix this?
> >
> > --
> > http://www.standards.com/; See Howard Kaikow's web site.
> >
> >
>
>
>

You're welcome.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"kelly_marshall" wrote:
> Perfect Dave. Thanks. I guess I should have looked for an article instead
> of
> reverse engineering things. :)

1. HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip\ShellNew lists ONLY Zip Central
for the zip extednsion, yet is the one that does NOT show up on the Open
With list in 3 of the 4 systems. On 1 system, Zip Central does show up in
the Open with list.

2. When I right click in Windows Explorer there are shotcuts to TUGZip and
ZIO Central on, as I recall, all 4 systems.

I guess the installations of the .zip programs are not playing nice with
each other.

Currently, I have Stuffit Expander 6, ZIP Central, and TUGZip installed.
Stuffit Expander is the default as I expand archives a lot more than I
create them.

Soon, I will be installing Stuffit Deluxe 9. I believe that comes with an
updated Stuffit Expander.
I'll see what happens after the Stuffit Deluxe 9 instalation

TUGZip seeems more desireable than ZIP CEntral and I believe that support
for ZIP Central stopped a few years ago, so the easiest thing may be to
uninstall ZIP Central.