How to change file associations in Windows XP (307859)

SUMMARY

You can specify that files with certain file name extensions are always opened in the same program. You can also modify an existing file type to change its association with a program. You can work with file associations in Microsoft Windows Explorer or My Computer. This article describes how to change file associations in Microsoft Windows XP.

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How to change file associations

You may want to change the association of a file name extension from one program to another. For example, you may prefer to open text files (.txt) in your favorite word processor so that you can format the text. By default, text files are associated with Microsoft Notepad. By default, file name extensions for known file types are hidden.

To See All File Extensions

1. On the Tools menu in My Computer or Windows Explorer, click Folder Options.
2. Click the View tab.
3. Clear the Hide extensions for known file types check box.

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To change file associations

1. Right-click a file with the extension whose association you want to change, and then click Open With.
2. In the Open With dialog box, click the program where you want the file to open, or click Browse to locate the program that you want.
3. Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.

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How to create file associations for unassociated file types

You may want to create a file association for a file type that is not associated with a program in your computer. There are two common reasons for this action:

• A program such as a database produces file reports with extensions that are not registered in Windows XP.
• You receive e-mail message attachments that are created in a program that is not installed on your computer, but there is an installed program that can read these files.

To create file association:

1. Right-click a file with the extension that you want to change, and then click Open, or double-click the file.
2. Windows XP displays a dialog box that indicates that no program is associated with this file. The dialog box offers two choices for creating an association:
   • Use the Web service to find the appropriate program
   • Select the program from a list
   Unless you want to find and download software that opens this file type, the best choice is to select the program from a list.
   
   
3. Windows displays a dialog box that displays programs that are installed on the computer. If the program that you want to use for this file type is not listed, click Browse to locate the appropriate software. Select the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file check box.

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