Solved Unable to associate file with pinned icon

[Layback Bear]

Here is what I understand so far.
1. OP post #3
I right-clicked on the icon but the icon on the task bar does not have a Properties selection.
2. OP post #11
I haven't given up on this but am reluctant to let it reset all of my IE9 options and then have to try to remember what they wereto get them back.
3. OP post 15
Pinning the file has the same result as pinning the shortcut to the program & file.
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1/ A icon with no properties selection is not normal to me.
2/ Concern about reseting IE9
3/ I don't understand (program & file)
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1/Any time Windows 7 operation is in question sfc /scannow might help and won't hurt.
2/Any time someone has questions about I.E.9 a good place to start is default and updated.
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As far as I can tell we still don't know what this icon is for and how it was made. Was a registry tweak used?
As far as I can tell it only happens to this icon.
This is all confusing to me but I will wait and watch for someone to guide this poor OP on his quest.

 

[rainman875]

have you tried right clicking the exe to create a new shortcut to the file, then pin that to the taskbar?

 

[Slartybart]

@Layback Bear,

I'll try to translate:

1/ A icon with no properties selection is not normal to me.
---> If you right click on a taskbar shortcut, the alternate menu does not present a properties pick

2/ Concern about resetting IE9
---> Some folks change settings in IE, as I do, and don't want to have to remember the way they like it or the way it's working in their environment. Your right, there aren't too many settings to remember that are worth changing in the first place. I do think it's a valid concern when the OP is only trying to find a method to create a taskbar shortcut that opens a specific file with one click.

3/ I don't understand (program & file)
---> You got me there, I think Jim meant taskbar..... but only Jim could tell us that

1/Any time Windows 7 operation is in question sfc /scannow might help and won't hurt.
---> I agree

2/Any time someone has questions about I.E.9 a good place to start is default and updated.
---> I disagree - resetting IE to default is the last ditch attempt to fix it. The caution in IE says it all for me
---> "You should only use this if your browser is in an unusable state"

<edit--> I do agree about keeping things up-to-date thru WU. I missed that before
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​

Of course, I might have incorrectly interpreted the original issue. Words get in the way of communicating too often.
At any rate, we'll need Jim to see if the method I provided in post# 16 solves the problem he was trying to solve.

We're both in wait mode.

 

[Layback Bear]

Slartybart thanks for your time and explanation. Yes we are both in the wait mode. I'm curious if their/there has been some registry changes concerning this icon.

 

[jimtalbert]

Slartybart, you are correct in stating what I want to do. However, the desktop icon that brings up the app and the file already has the full path to the file in it.

 

[Slartybart]

<edit--> The application opens the file in the shortcut target because that application is associated with the filetype.
<edit--> Adding the application to the shortcut accomplishes the same thing, but it fools Windows enough so that you can pin it to the taskbar.

Right, that's why I said to create a shortcut to the file you want to open, then add the full path of the APPLICATION to the target field of the new shortcut.

<edit--> The target filed of the shortcut was filename
<edit--> - it becomes programname filename.

Slartybart, you are correct in stating what I want to do. However, the desktop icon that brings up the app and the file already has the full path to the file in it.

the good news is that you have a shortcut with the full path in it - keep that around for reference.

I just finished writing and testing a tutorial for this - you can be the first to try it. A rough draft, sure.

Follow the steps in my next post and let me know if you were able to complete it. It would be a big help if you see something that isn't clear or doesn't work.
Thanks - you'll want method 1 - because you stated a need for an icon. Plus I think it's the easier course to follow.

You can PM (top of the thread in quick links) me with difficulties or corrections regarding the "tutorial". We'll keep problem solving here on your thread. But I think your issue will be resolved after you follow the tut.

 

[Slartybart]

Taskbar shortcut - open one file

This is a very rough draft of
How to pin a single file to the taskbar

Method one
1. Create a shortcut to the file you want to open
- rename it to anything you prefer
-name it W74mTbLnk1

2. Modify the properties of the shortcut
- Right click on the new shortcut
- select properties from the menu
- add the application that will open the file to the target (before the file part of the target)
--> Note: The easiest way to provide the full path to the application is to find the shortcut on your Start Menu, Right Click the shortcut, select Properties. Select the entire string in the Target box (it should be highlighted when you opened the properties) and Ctrl-C to copy. You can paste the string you just copied into the Target box of shortcut you created for the Taskbar - make sure the program is before the file and that there is a space between the two parameters. It's safest to enclose both the program and the file each in quotes.
"Program" "File" - not "Program File"

- change the icon to suit your needs
--> there are a few dlls that supply standard Windows icons
---- you can enter a dll to browse the icons inside try browsing in %SystemRoot%\system32\SHELL32.dll, then select what you want on the taskbar
- click ok

For example:
- the file you want to open is %userprofile%\Documents\File2bOpened.txt
- the shortcut you created shows
--> target: "%userprofile%\Documents\File2bOpened.txt"
- Notepad is the application that will open the file
- add "%windir%\system32\notepad.exe" to the target in the shortcut
--> target: "%windir%\system32\notepad.exe" "%userprofile%\Documents\File2bOpened.txt"
- Make sure there is a space between the application and the file specifications.

3. Drag the shortcut to the taskbar and pin it.

Note: This method allows you to customize the icon
Warning: The link in this method does not follow the target file, so if you move the file, you have to create a new taskbar link.
That's it.



Method Two
1.Open Notepad or any other text editor

2.Create an empty file
- Filename: W74mTbLnk1
- Filetype: exe

- For example: W74mTbLnk1.exe
- depending on your text editor, you might have to change a drop down menu for Filetype to All files.
- Otherwise, you could end up with W74mTbLnk1.exe.txt
- you want a dummy executable because pinning only works with an executable, so this is a way to fool Windows.

3, Drag the dummy executable to the taskbar and pin it

4. Create a shortcut to the file you want to open
- Right click on the file
- select Create Shortcut

5. Rename the shortcut you just created to W74mTbLnk1
- Click on the filename of the shortcut
- Change it to the name you used in step 1 and hit enter - the two filenames must match
- Drag the shortcut to your Desktop

- Keeping with the example, the new shortcut name would be changed to: W74mTbLnk1 <Filetype:Shortcut>

6. Navigate to
%userprofile%\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Quick Launch\User Pinned\TaskBar

Hint: You can copy the entire line above and paste it into an explorer address window, then hit enter
Note: This is a hidden folder - to see it and files in it, you need to change your folder options to "show hidden files, folders and drives"

7. Delete the shortcut in this location that was created when you pinned the dummy executable to the taskbar.
- For example: select W74mTbLnk1 <Filetype:Shortcut> and delete it
- Drag the new shortcut from your Desktop to this location
- you should see the W74mTbLnk1 <Filetype:Shortcut> that you just dragged in this folder

Notes:
1) The icon on the taskbar will be the default icon for an executable. After a reboot, the icon should change to the application associated with that Filetype
- For example: if the file you wanted to open was a PDF, then the Adobe Acrobat icon should appear on that taskbar link.

2) The pinned shortcut follows the target file even if you move (drag 'n drop) it

 

[Slartybart]

Wait-a-minit.... You said (and I read too fast) that the existing shortcut already has the fully qualified file name in the target filed - right? i would expect that it does.

But does the target shortcut also have the fully qualified application in the target field?

Target = File.txt
or
Target = Notepad.exe File.txt

 

[Slartybart]

No problem Layback and thank you too.
It isn't easy solving problems from afar.

 

[jimtalbert]

Thanks so much to all who offered suggestions. I received instructions from the software author today and they worked! I think they were basically what some or all of you had suggested but his knowing my program and file names made his steps easier to follow. Just for the record, here is what he said (with slight modifications for privacy):
After pining the file, right-click on the icon, then right-click on the program name and select “Properties”. There you need to change “Target” field to actual file, in your case it could be something like this:
“C:\Users\...\Documents\folder name\filename”, it should correspond to actual file location.
After this change you can open your file just by clicking on the pinned icon.

 

[Layback Bear]

Wait-a-minit.... You said (and I read too fast) that the existing shortcut already has the fully qualified file name in the target filed - right? i would expect that it does.

But does the target shortcut also have the fully qualified application in the target field?

Target = File.txt
or
Target = Notepad.exe File.txt

Sometime I read to fast also; that's what confuses my slow brain.

 

[jimtalbert]

Sorry but I don't understand your question. I'm a bit confused on where all of the responses have disappeared to, including my last one. I think all I can offer in response is to recommend re-reading (slowly) the instructions I just posted from the program author. They were clear even to me with my limited knowledge of these things.

 

[Slartybart]

@jimtalbert: Yep that works too and is easier than what I posted. You are correct - knowing the filename and application makes it easier.

I wonder though how this works when you have other files of the same type opened - are they added ot the jumplist? I'll try it.

If you're satisfied that this issue is resolved, would you mind marking the thread solved (up top). thanks and good sleuthing.

@Layback: reading too fast crosses my eyes and dots my tees - lol

Bill

 

[Slartybart]

hmmm jim, your solution is still there - seems to have jumped though.

 

[Slartybart]

@jimtalbert: The solution you offered is by far the easiest and least intrusive. I decided to see how Windows handled multiple instances of the application.

When I launched a second instance of the application, the taskbar showed a second "layered" icon - just as a normal pinned taskbar application would behave. Very nice and clean solution. I think method two in my draft tutorial would do the same, but your solution is far less complicated. If I decide to create a tutorial, I will use your solution as method #1, giving you credit.

I also noticed that the file is pinned to the jumplist of the taskbar shortcut - I removed (unpinned) the file from the jumplist and the shortcut still launched the file.

Notes:

• I was unable to change the icon using your method, however. The icon is linked to the application. If that's important - you can try method#1 in my draft tut.
• I noticed is that if you click on the application in the taskbar shortcut, it launches the file - not just the application. Not a big deal because that is what you intended to do, just a notation.

Thanks again!
Bill
.