Windows 7: Change default program for .html

kenw232 · 05 Dec 2011

I need .html files when I click them in explorer to open in Firefox. Windows 7 64bit.

If I turn on "check to make sure firefox is default browser" it will check and ask and I can set it. Problem solved.

But I need to make firefox open with "-profile whatever" when I double click a .html file in explorer. How can I modify the firefox association/program/whatever to append the profile on the command line. I have no idea where to do this.

Thanks.

seavixen32 · 05 Dec 2011

Navigate to Start>Control Panel>Default Programs>Set Associations.

Default Programs - Associate a File Type or Protocol

Change default program for .html-assoc.jpg

kenw232 · 05 Dec 2011

yes, I see that. "Firefox" is there and I can select it. But I need to change Firefox to add a "-profile whatever" so when it runs it runs properly. Right now "Firefox" is just firefox.exe probably. How can I append a switch to it? I see no where I can actually change what "Firefox" is actually executing. I can only select it.

Ztruker · 05 Dec 2011

seavixen32, that won't allow him to specify which user to automatically connect with, no way to add -P profilename.

I don't know of any way to do this? I always get the Profile Manager screen with my default preselected but I still need to click OK for it to continue.

Edit: I wonder if you could select a batch file then have the batch file start Firefox with the -P info and the web site to open?

Edit#2: Nope, that doesn't work, just tried it.

kenw232 · 05 Dec 2011

I could probably do a batch file thing, but thats ugly. I can't believe I can't just add a switch to the program's command line. Anyone know where exactly in the registry this command line can be found for .html?

Ztruker · 05 Dec 2011

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.html but the info there point to a CSID, not a program name and there is no way to add a parameter.

kenw232 · 05 Dec 2011

I found where it is.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\command

But when I try to add -profile c:\users\whatever it doesn't like it. It only wants a path to an exe for some reason. I tried all kinds of various double quote attempts.

Corazon · 06 Dec 2011

You found the right registry key. On my system it looks like this:

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe\" -requestPending -osint -url \"%1\""

If you change the line at the end to read
-requestPending -osint -profile \"full path to your profile here\" -url \"%1\""
it should work correctly, once you save this as a .reg file and merge it in.

If you want to make the edit yourself using regedit, simply insert -profile "full path to your profile here" between the -osint and -url parameters.
Note that in this case, the quote marks do not have preceding backslashes.

EDIT: I just realized there are two occurrences of the FirefoxHTML key, one under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes and one under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. You can choose to edit both simultaneously, or try just one and see if it's the one that sticks.

kenw232 · 06 Dec 2011

I tried this, it didn't work. Can you copy/paste your REG_SZ value for HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\command ?

I didn't use regedit to import. I'm trying to edit the registry directly.

Ztruker · 06 Dec 2011

Won't this cause a problem if someone else is using the computer? They double click on a html file and your Firefox profile starts.

Windows 7: Change default program for .html

Change default program for .html problems?