Filetype Associations

[themisfit610]

Hey All,

For the record, I'm on Vista Ultimate x64.

I recently did a large reorganization of my whole system - including my software archives folder. I use several programs that don't need to be installed, but can be run from an exe - like Media Player Classic, and several others (avsP for AviSynth scripting is a big one).

Now, I moved all these applications.

Windows can't seem to find them when I double-click on (for example) an AviSynth script.

Previously, I could double-click on a .avs file (AviSynth script), and Windows would automatically launch avsP, and load the script. Now, it comes up with the "open with" dialog.

When I "Browse" and find the new location of avsP, it won't show up on the list of programs in "open with" - so I can't change the association.

Manually opening the application and dropping the script works fine - so it's just a filetype association problem.

I had this problem before with XP - I'm pissed off Microsoft hasn't fixed it in Vista!

Help!

~MiSfir

 

[Nothinman]

I had this problem before with XP - I'm pissed off Microsoft hasn't fixed it in Vista!

It's not a problem with Windows, it's working as it should. When you first started up that app it registered itself as the handler for all of the extensions that you told it to and when it did it used it's current path. Now you've gone and moved it so Windows can't find it.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

I had this problem before with XP - I'm pissed off Microsoft hasn't fixed it in Vista!

It's not a problem with Windows, it's working as it should. When you first started up that app it registered itself as the handler for all of the extensions that you told it to and when it did it used it's current path. Now you've gone and moved it so Windows can't find it.

Aye, that's a PBKAC issue, not Windows.

Go to control panel | programs | default programs | set associations.

Find your filetype, double click. Browse for the new location where you have put the executable that should open the file.

 

[themisfit610]

:shrug: I guess it doesn't seem like I should have to do that..

What's an equivalent procedure for XP?

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: themisfit610
:shrug: I guess it doesn't seem like I should have to do that..

What's an equivalent procedure for XP?

You don't normally have to do that. You can't just willy nilly go moving program files around though without knowing what you're doing.

Not sure for XP, haven't used it in a couple years now.

 

[themisfit610]

OK, I don't think you're quite getting what I'm saying 🙂

This isnt' a giant application, with supporting DLLs, registry entries, etc... It's just a single EXE that doesn't need anything, and stores its settings in an INI file.

Anyway, I tried doing as you suggested, and it's functionally the same as what happens when I just double click an AVS file. It brings up the "Open With..." dialog - I browse to avsP, choose it, and blam - avsP doesn't show up anywhere in the list of programs. That's the thing I'm complaining about - not the fact that I have to change the filetype association.

Again, to be clear, I cannot successfully change the filetype association, because the "Open With" dialog refuses to accept my selection!

~MiSfit

 

[Nothinman]

This isnt' a giant application, with supporting DLLs, registry entries, etc... It's just a single EXE that doesn't need anything, and stores its settings in an INI file.

Actually it does have registry entries, the filetype association ones for the system that tell it where the executable is so it can open the files when you double-click on them.

Anyway, I tried doing as you suggested, and it's functionally the same as what happens when I just double click an AVS file. It brings up the "Open With..." dialog - I browse to avsP, choose it, and blam - avsP doesn't show up anywhere in the list of programs. That's the thing I'm complaining about - not the fact that I have to change the filetype association.

That should work, the only thing I can think of that might be problematic is UAC blocking you from updating the registry entry or something.

 

[Smilin]

Originally posted by: themisfit610
OK, I don't think you're quite getting what I'm saying 🙂

This isnt' a giant application, with supporting DLLs, registry entries, etc... It's just a single EXE that doesn't need anything, and stores its settings in an INI file.

Anyway, I tried doing as you suggested, and it's functionally the same as what happens when I just double click an AVS file. It brings up the "Open With..." dialog - I browse to avsP, choose it, and blam - avsP doesn't show up anywhere in the list of programs. That's the thing I'm complaining about - not the fact that I have to change the filetype association.

Again, to be clear, I cannot successfully change the filetype association, because the "Open With" dialog refuses to accept my selection!

~MiSfit

It does have registry entries...the broken ones we're trying to fix. Installers handle filetype association entries in the registry. If you uninstall an app then reinstall it in the new location this works fine. If you just drag the app in explorer then you are moving files but not updating the registry.

The "open with" dialog and the steps from above will not show your program in the list. It makes that list I believe by looking at the existing filetype associations in the registry as well as the list of installed programs. If you program has been moved then it's uninstall regkey will also be hosed. You're going to have to use that browse button and navigate to the executable.

This should work. If it does not then you have something more complicated happening than can be realistically troubleshot in a forum thread. I'd suggest the uninstall/reinstall to the new location. It's a hammer but it should fix the issue.

 

[themisfit610]

You're not getting it 🙂

There is no installer.

I have navigated to the executable.

I have selected it.

It does not show up in the list of applications after that!

Again, even using the browse button does not let me successfully make the change.

I've done this many times in the past, with no problems. If you want to change a filetype association - it's usually as simple as choosing from the list, or browsing to your application of choice. Said choice is usually accepted, and the association is updated.

In this case, my choice is not accepted!

~MiSfit

 

[Nothinman]

You could always just use regedit to change the path manually.

 

[themisfit610]

Where are said keys located?