Help with the "Open With Menu"

You can click the, "Other" button and browse to the program you wish to use...HOWEVER...be sure the box, "Always use this program to open this type of file" is NOT checked.  If it is, then the file association for that file type will be changed with undesirable consequences on some of the system files you mention.

IMHO, a better solution is to utilize the, "Send To" feature.  Just add the program you wish to the "Send To" menu...Notepad as example.  Then, just right click on a file and select, "Send To" to open with your desired program.  I use this for Notepad, several different graphics editors, different Media Players, etc. and it is far more convenient that the, "Open With" procedure (and minus the risks) with the same end result.

Thank you,i decided to use the "send to" option you gave me and it works perfect.
Thank you !

Hi,

The following is a registry hack that I used in Win98SE to add  "Open with..." to the Context Menu (right-click on filename).  Cut and paste and save with a .reg extension.  Click on the saved .reg file to save to your registry.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Openas]
@="Open with..."

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Openas\command]
@="rundll32.exe shell32.dll,OpenAs_RunDLL %1"

Jim McNamara

Message Edited by jimmymac_4 on 06-10-2004 11:58 AM

Hi,

Well I don't know how to accomplish exactly what you want, but if individual entries like Open with Notepad, Open with Wordpad, Open with Word, etc. would be an acceptable alternative, this can be accomplished via registry hacks.  Here are a few examples to get you started:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad]
@="Open with Notepad"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Notepad\command]
@="notepad.exe %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Wordpad]
@="Open with Wordpad"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Wordpad\command]
@="write.exe %1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Word]
@="Open with Word"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Word\command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\Winword.exe %1"

Hope that helps some.  If you ever find out how to do it the way you want, I'd like to know too.

Jim McNamara

 

Hi,

You thanked me too soon.  Look what I found.  Yep, I found exactly what you were looking for (OpenExpert) and it's free for personal use.  Go here:

www.baxbex.com/openexpert.html

Jim McNamara