Applications Using Common Dialogs Append Default Extension (125708)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0
This article was previously published under Q125708

SYMPTOMS

When you save a file in an application, you cannot give the file any extension other than that application's default extension. For example, when you specify the filename FILENAME.EXT for a file in Notepad, the file is saved as FILENAME.EXT.TXT.

CAUSE

This behavior is by design for any application that uses the common dialog boxes (such as the Save As dialog box). This behavior is generally desirable because it lets you see the appropriate files for the application you are using when you use the common Open dialog box to open files.

Note that if the extension you specify when you are saving a file is a registered file type in Windows, an application that uses the common dialog boxes will not append its default extension to the filename you specify. For example, you can specify an .INI extension for a file that you save in Notepad because files with an .INI extension are associated with the Notepad application.

RESOLUTION

To save a file with an extension that is not registered as a file type in Windows, place quotation marks around the filename. To save a file with the filename FILENAME.EXT, enter 
   "FILENAME.EXT" (with quotation marks)
in the Save As dialog box.

MORE INFORMATION

If you save files with a particular extension frequently, you may want to create a registered file type for that extension. To do so, follow these steps:
  1. Double-click My Computer.
  2. On the View menu, click Options.
  3. Click the File Types tab.
  4. Click the New Type button.
  5. Type a description and extension in the Description Of Type and Associated Extensions boxes.
  6. Click the New button.
  7. In the Action box, type the action to be performed by the application associated with the new file type. For example, type open in the Action box.
  8. In the Application Used To Perform Action box, type the complete path and filename of the application associated with the new file type.
  9. Click the OK button. In the Add New File Type dialog box, click OK. In the Options dialog box, click OK.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:8/8/2001
Keywords:kbAppCompatibility KB125708
©2002 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.