Changing File Associations
A file association is an association between a file and a software program. Files on PCs have typically three letter file extensions like, .doc, .xls, .htm. These three letter extensions associate the file with a sofware program that is used to edit/open the file. For example, .doc files are associated with Microsoft Word, .xls files are associated with Excel, and by default, .gif and .jpeg files are associated with Internet Explorer. When you double click a file, it is the file association that determines what program will open the file for viewing or editing.
Sometimes when you install a new program the program changes the existing file associations (this happens a lot when you install graphic programs). I have found that graphic programs tend to take over file associations for jpeg and gif files. This can sometimes cause an issue when you’re trying to develop pages and you want to simply preview an image in your browser; you double click the image and Fireworks or another image editor opens.
If you want to change a file association:
- Open Windows Explorer – right click Start > Explorer
- Click Tools > Folder Options > View and uncheck Hide Files Extensions for Known Types – You want to be able to see the file extensions in Windows Explorer
- Find a file that you want to change the association
- Select the file, and right click the file (if you are using Windows 98 or earlier, hold down the Shift key when you right click). From the menu select Open With
- Find the program on the list that you want to use to open the file and select it, check Always use this program to open these files and click OK
The file association is changed.
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March 15th, 2005 at 3:30 pm
I have never understood why Windows works this way. Except for plain text files, all files contain a “signature” in the first few bytes identifying the MIME type.
There’s a program called Power Desk that I use. It identifies all files from this signature, so it can view ANY file, even if the file name extension is missing completely!
Sadly, Power Desk is no longer being maintained. So don’t mess with those last few characters in the file name, folks!