Default Programs - Program Default Associations

How to Set Default Associations For a Program in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to automatically or manually set the default associations for a program listed in Default Programs in Vista. These associations are the file extension types and protocols that the selected program can open by default.

These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​

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2. Click on the Default Programs icon.​

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3. Click on the Set your default programs link. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: It may take a moment to load up.​

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4. Select a Program in the List​

A) Click on the program name in the list, that you want to set the default file extension associations for, to highlight it. (See screenshot below step 6A)​

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5. To Automatically Set All of the Selected Program's Default Associations to it​

NOTE: To set all the default file extension associations for the program to open by default.​

A) Click on Set this program as default. (See screenshot below step 6A)​

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B) Click on OK to apply and close window.​

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6. To Manually Set the Selected Program's Default Associations to it​

NOTE: To only set the default file extension associations that you choose for the program to open by default.​

A) Click on Choose defaults for this program to manually choose the associations for this program. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: It may take a moment to load up.​

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B) Check the file extension associations you want this program to open by default, and uncheck the ones you do not want this program to open. (See screenshot below)​

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C) Click on Save to apply.​

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D) Click on OK to close window. (See screenshot below step​

6A)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Associate a Individual File Extension Type With a Program in Vista
• How to Add Back and Set Windows Mail Default Associations
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista
• How to Add a Program to Open With in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove Internet Explorer from Default Programs
• Restore Default Vista File Extension Type Associations
• How to Remove a Listed Program in Default Programs for Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Change the Default Program of the "Edit" Context Menu in Windows

 

[Brink]

Thanks for your reply!

However, when I try to use Open With, the only options I get is Works Word processor, or Word Converter. And when I browse for programs Word does not show up as an option.

Thanks again

You would want to select the Works Word Processor to have open the .wps file.

 

[MilesAhead]

You would want to select the Works Word Processor to have open the .wps file.

Hmmmm, the problem I'm having is Vista does not seem to let the user set the default Edit program for a file type. I wrote a small script capture program. I use ShellExecute with the 'edit' verb because 'open' may cause the script to be launched and run. Could be an unpleasant surprise. Anyway, in XP it was simple to set the default edit program via the Open With mechanism.

On Vista, even though I have EditPad Lite as the default program to open .txt files, if I do ShellExecute("somefile.txt","","",'edit') I get notepad.exe coming up.

The only solution I've seen so far is to buy some Vista tweaker. That's not viable. Esp. since my program is free.

Even if it's a registry hack I need to know how to change the default editor for a file type?

 

[Brink]

Hi Miles,

I'm not sure what you mean by default editor. You can set the default program to open a individual file extention if it supports direct opening of that file type though. For example, you can can see if setting EditPad Lite as the default program to open .txt files.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

 

[MilesAhead]

Hi Miles,

I'm not sure what you mean by default editor. You can set the default program to open a individual file extention if it supports direct opening of that file type though. For example, you can can see if setting EditPad Lite as the default program to open .txt files.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

I found a solution. At least it's a freeware. It's called Types and sets file type associations. The difference is, if you set a default 'open' program for a file type, and say the file is an AutoHotKey script, .ahk, then the user of my source snapper
is expecting an editor to open and the code to be displayed. Instead, if the default 'open' program is AutoHotkey.exe, it will run the script!! Not a good idea!! In XP when you did OpenWith you could change the program to open a file type, and change the program to edit a file type. For some nebulous reason this isn't in Vista.

Here's a link to an article where I found the freeware:
Change the Default Editor for Batch Files in Vista :: the How-To Geek

Here's a direct link to the source forge program named Types:
SourceForge.net: Types: Files

(Not sure if you allow links to articles on other sites, but if not you can edit out the first link.)

 

[Brink]

Ah, I see what you mean now. Thank you for sharing this Miles.

 

[MilesAhead]

Ah, I see what you mean now. Thank you for sharing this Miles.

Sure thing. I think my source snatcher thingy is working pretty well so I'll add it to freeware list in a bit.

 

[craigr2317]

Hi this is a help page, but how do I set associations with a single program? I've tried through properties, but the 'set as default' box is checked and I can't uncheck it - it's greyed out.

Thanks, Craigr2317

 

[Brink]

Hello Craig, and welcome to Vista Forums.

You might see if you may be able to using one of the methods below instead.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn