How to add a file type to the default list?

[larrydonline]

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.

 

[IggyAZ]

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.

 

[whs]

.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.

 

[larrydonline]

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.

 

[larryo]

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

 

[whs]

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

 

[larryo]

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 Win7 so I don't have to save it to another machine to read it. I can save it to Win7 machine and use notepad to view it, but I should not have to do that.

Thanks
Larryo

 

[whs]

but I should not have to do that.

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.

 

[larryo]

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.

 

[whs]

Good, I wonder what we were missing.

 

[infti]

If you don't have Word 1997 - 2003, you might consider Libre Office --- a free open source office suite which can create and manage .doc and .rtf files.

 

[infti]

I did not find an answer to the original qn on this thread: how to add a file extension or file type in Windows 7. Does anyone have an answer for this? It was trivial with XP. It seems impossible with 7.

 

[infti]

How to add a file extension or file type in Windows 7

I did not find an answer to the original qn on this thread: how to add a file extension or file type in Windows 7. Does anyone have an answer for this? It was trivial with XP. It seems impossible with 7.

Sorry for the duplicate post. I saw two places to reply and tried both.

 

[A Guy]

Generally the programs installer adds the file type to the list. Have you tried manually telling windows what program to associate to the file type? I can't say this will add the file type to the list, but you will already have your association.

Right click on the file> On the context menu choose Open with> On the next menu Choose default program> When the dialogue opens choose the Browse button> Navigate to the programs .exe file> Check the box for Always use the selected application to open this type of file

This site may well show you how to add a file type in it's instructions before adding that file type to the New menu

Great Registry Hacks: How do you make your own file extension n file type?

A Guy

 

[infti]

I found out how to add a file type in Windows 7. Windows 7 does not provide a straightforward way to do this, so what I describe below is a workaround --- essentially a way to defeat the idiosyncrasies of Windows 7.

If you have a file with an extension whose file type you want to add, right click the filename in "Computer" and choose "properties". Under "properties", choose "open with" and then select the program which you want to open files of this type. Be sure that the check box "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" is checked.

If you do not already have such a file, create one. For example, you can create a simple text file and "save as" using the extension name you want.

I'm not sure exactly what a context menu is, but this seems similar to what the previous contributor suggested.

 

[A Guy]

It is precisely what I suggested The context menu is the menu you get when you right click on a file. A Guy

 

[infti]

"This site may well show you how to add a file type in it's instructions before adding that file type to the New menu
Great Registry Hacks: How do you make your own file extension n file type?
A Guy"

Yes, this appears to be correct and is better than what I posted above. I have not tried it yet, since I just saw it for the first time. But as soon as I have time, I will try it on all my Windows 7 PCs.

Thanks!