Windows 7: How to add a file type to the default list?

I've tried to read all the messages that seem to touch on this but haven't found out yet how to add a file type to the list of "associate a file type or protocol with a program" in the control panel.

I have some old .doc files that were created by Word or Lotus Word Pro or Wordperfect Office 12. When I click on the documents I get the error message that no program is associated with that file type. In the "associate a file type" list in the control panel ".doc" is not one of the choices. The closest I see is ".docx" (whatever that is I don't know).

My problem is how can I add .doc to the list of file types?



Closely related is the question of adding a program to the list of default programs in the section: Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Default Programs?

Some of the programs I've installed such as Mediamonkey, Firefox, and Switch Sound File Converter are listed there, but most of the ones I've installed are not. I know that some of them set file associations when they are installed and that those associations can be changed from within the programs but that's also true of Mediamonkey and Firefox. How could I put WinACE or WinRAR or Wordperfect on the list of default programs? Thanks.

It sounds like you have Microsoft Office Word installed which has the new format for word files. docx. Now with that said if you open your MS Word program and go to the location where your doc files are you should be able to open them with Word. If not you will need to go back and look at association of docx which should be MS Word and add doc to that also.

Have you updated all your MS Office programs?

Hope this helps.

.doc is a Word 97-03 format. .docx is a Word 2007 format. If you have Office 2007, you should have both in your file associations. if you do not have Word, I suggest you install the free Word Viewer. Then you should be able to deal with these documents.

Well, I don't have Office Word, just Wordperfect. I was trying to open a doc file from an email attachment. After I saved the document to a folder then tried to open it I was able to use "locate program to open file" and Wordperfect came up. I left the "always use this program" checked. Now when I go to "file types to associate" .doc is on the list. Apparently that's how you add a file type to the list. Thanks to all for the feedback.

I have the same problem, but with a different filetype. I have Windows Live Mail installed and when I get a email message with a .eml file attached I can not open the attached file. In Control Panel | Default Programs | Set Your Default Programs, Windows Live Mail is not listed. Also, under Associate a File Type or Protocol with a Program the eml extentsion is not listed. If I save the attachment and right click and select Open With and choose Windows Live Mail and check the box to always use this progam it still does not open and the eml extentsion doesn't show in the Default Programs listing.

Any help appreciated

larryo

I think you need Outlook or Outlook express to open .eml files.

Yes, I have XP on another machine and if I copy the file there OE opens it with no problem.

That is why I want the file associated with WLM in Windows 7 so I don't have to save it to another machine to read it. I can save it to Windows 7 machine and use notepad to view it, but I should not have to do that.

Thanks
Larryo

Should not have to do what - if the program that can deal with this filetype (in this case Outlook) does not exist on your system, then there is nothing you can do. It is like trying to open a .pptx file if you do not have PowerPoint or the Viewer. But if Notepad can deal with it, then I would use that.

RESOLVED: I decided to quit trying to figure it out and restored a backup from two weeks ago. All is now as it should be. I can now click on an eml file attached to a email message in Windows Live Mail, and it opens and displays.

Good, I wonder what we were missing.