breaking html association

alucardx · 01 Feb 2011

I try to explain this the best way I can. I save a lot of web pages on my computer. Sometimes I save them as "HTML with images". This is with the Opera browser. I believe Firefox and IE call it "webpage complete".

When you do this, your browser saves an HTML file and a folder that contains all of the graphics and scripts associated with that web page. If you click on either the HTML file or folder to delete it both items are deleted. Windows treats both the file and folder as one file.

If I decide to delete the folder part because I decided I did not need it but wanted to keep the HTML file I have to rename one or the other first. Windows gives a warning about this association first before allowing you to do anything.

In XP I knew how to disable this association so each part was treated as a separate item. How do you do it in Windows 7?

the jimmy · 01 Feb 2011

alucardx said:

If I decide to delete the folder part because I decided I did not need it but wanted to keep the HTML file I have to rename one or the other first. Windows gives a warning about this association first before allowing you to do anything.

In XP I knew how to disable this association so each part was treated as a separate item. How do you do it in Windows 7?

Are you saying you want to delete the folder but not it's contents? If so then the contents need to be moved or copied to another location before you delete the folder...
Or maybe you're asking something else?

alucardx · 02 Feb 2011

No. In Windows XP, in the folder options there is a setting called Managing pairs of Web pages and folders.

If I save this web page now it would be saved in two parts a HTML file:
Windows 7 Forums - Reply to Topic.htm

and a folder that contains all associated images, js, css, whatever. (lets call it the image folder)
Windows 7 Forums - Reply to Topic_files

If I decide to just keep the HTM file and DELETE the entire image folder I have to break this link between the two otherwise when I delete the image folder the HTML file also gets deleted automatically. Windows treats them as one file.

If I try moving the HTML file to another folder the image folder gets moved automatically as well. They are linked as one - I want to break that link.

In Windows XP, in the folder options there is a setting called Managing pairs of Web pages and folders.

I have it set at Show both parts and manage them individually. So if I delete the image folder the HTML file is not deleted automatically.

Bill2 · 02 Feb 2011

That option has been removed from Win7. I spotted a registry mod at Web Pages Handling Options Vanished (1st Response) - Toolbox for IT Groups but it doesnt work for me.

Dwarf · 02 Feb 2011

This does work (I have just tried it).

Firstly, open the registry editor by clicking

and typing regedit.exe into the search box. Next, either right click on the program and click Run as administrator or simply press Ctrl + Shift + Enter/Return. Provide administrative credentials when prompted. This is because the area of the registry that we are interested in is the HKLM branch, and to modify the contents of this area of the registry it needs to invoked with administrative privileges.

Download and save the following file to your computer. BreakHTMLassociation.reg You might need to unblock this file when downloaded by right-clicking on it, clicking Properties, clicking General (if the tab isn't already selected) and then clicking Unblock, finally clicking OK.

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Thickets]
"Text"="Managing pairs of Web pages and folders"
"HelpID"="TBD"
"Type"="group"
"Bitmap"="C:\\WINDOWS\\system32\\\\SHELL32.DLL,4"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Thickets\AUTO]
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000000
"Type"="radio"
"ValueName"="NoFileFolderConnection"
"HelpID"="TBD"
"Text"="Show and manage the pair as a single file"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Thickets\NOHIDE]
"ValueName"="NoFileFolderConnection"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000
"Text"="Show both parts but manage as a single file"
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"HelpID"="TBD"
"Type"="radio"
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000002
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced\Folder\Thickets\NONE]
"CheckedValue"=dword:00000001
"Type"="radio"
"HKeyRoot"=dword:80000001
"RegPath"="Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer"
"HelpID"="TBD"
"ValueName"="NoFileFolderConnection"
"DefaultValue"=dword:00000000
"Text"="Show both parts and manage them individually"

Now, back in the registry editor, click on File and then Import... Browse to the location of the file you just saved from above and click on it. The data will now be entered into your registry. You may now exit the registry editor. There is no need to restart, changes are effective immediately.

The following images show the Folder Options before and after modifying the registry. You will note that I have chosen the option Show both parts and manage them individually.

alucardx · 02 Feb 2011

Thanks Dwarf, that worked.

Dwarf · 02 Feb 2011

You're welcome, alucardx. :)

OvenMaster · 12 Jul 2013

I realize that this is a very old thread but it applies to me ever since I did 62MB worth of updates on Patch Tuesday, July 9.

I want to keep my two-part webpage HTML files association, not break it up. I added the Registry tweak above, after repeated manual resetting and even deleting of the Registry entry shown here
Managing the File System (Windows)
reappears when deleted or the original Registry entry reverts to 1 after every boot, breaking the file association.

How can I force Windows to remember the Registry setting in
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer NoFileFolderConnection (0) to keep my files associated and treated as one file?

OvenMaster · 12 Jul 2013

Nope, this is a fail.

Even after this Registry tweak, every time I boot up, my web page association always defaults/reverts to the second option, "Show both parts and manage them individually", and the Registry value defaults to "1".

I want it to default to either "0" or "2", to enable me to manage the pair of files together, not individually, like I used to be able to do before Patch Tuesday.

OvenMaster · 15 Jul 2013

Bump! Any help here? This is driving me nuts.

breaking html association

breaking html association

Sorry...No

Thanks Dwarf