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Associate File Extension with Shell OPEN command and Application

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22 Jun 2000 254.5K   5K   54   36
Registry entries and MFC class that associates a file extension with a program.
  • Download source files - 3 Kb
  • Download demo project - 17 Kb
  • Introduction

    This source contains a class CGCFileTypeAccess that can associate a file extension with a program.

    The association allows a new instance of the program to be activated when the icon is clicked upon in the Windows Explorer window. The full file path to the file will be sent to the program on the command line.

    The Open command also appears on the shell context menu for the file type. Selection of the open command from the context menu sends the file on the command line to a new instance of the program.

    An example of associating a file extension using the class would be done as follows, and can be found in the InitInstance of the demo program:

    CGCFileTypeAccess TheFTA;
    
    // get full file path to program executable file
    TCHAR	szProgPath[MAX_PATH * 2];
    ::GetModuleFileName(NULL, szProgPath, sizeof(szProgPath)/sizeof(TCHAR));
    
    CString csTempText;
    
    TheFTA.SetExtension("CGFILETYPETEST");
    
    // just pass file path in quotes on command line
    csTempText  = szProgPath;
    csTempText += " \"%1\"";
    TheFTA.SetShellOpenCommand(csTempText);
    TheFTA.SetDocumentShellOpenCommand(csTempText);
    
    TheFTA.SetDocumentClassName("CGFileType.Document");
    
    // use first icon in program
    csTempText  = szProgPath;
    csTempText += ",0";
    TheFTA.SetDocumentDefaultIcon(csTempText);
    
    // set the necessary registry entries	
    TheFTA.RegSetAllInfo();

    The relevant registry entries are all under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. The two primary root keys are .'FileExtension' and 'Document Class Name'. Keys and values underneath these two primary keys control the file association and the shell open command.

    The demo program will execute the file association code listed above. After it has been run at least once, each time you 'open' one of the associated file types, the program will display the file path from the command line in a message box.

    License

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    A list of licenses authors might use can be found here


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    Comments and Discussions

     
    QuestionError Access Denied? Pin
    bosfan10-Jul-13 0:27
    bosfan10-Jul-13 0:27 
    QuestionGet path of a file clicked upon in windows explorer. Pin
    Mahdi Nejadsahebi14-Nov-12 21:22
    Mahdi Nejadsahebi14-Nov-12 21:22 
    GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
    Mahdi Nejadsahebi14-Nov-12 21:09
    Mahdi Nejadsahebi14-Nov-12 21:09 
    Questionwin7 Pin
    lukegorman7-Dec-11 23:17
    lukegorman7-Dec-11 23:17 
    Hi, this works great for me on xp but the same code fails to add anyhting to the registry in windows 7. I have the correct access rights etc. Any Ideas?
    QuestionHow to change the default icon index Pin
    krishnakumartm27-Jun-11 0:22
    krishnakumartm27-Jun-11 0:22 
    GeneralDoesn't work Pin
    dpreznik12-May-11 4:01
    dpreznik12-May-11 4:01 
    GeneralDoes not work if the user has specified another default application Pin
    dragomir5-Mar-09 6:20
    dragomir5-Mar-09 6:20 
    QuestionOpen file error Pin
    Rui Frazao26-Dec-06 6:51
    Rui Frazao26-Dec-06 6:51 
    GeneralDelphi applications Pin
    Syhon23-Nov-06 21:12
    Syhon23-Nov-06 21:12 
    GeneralCool... now how do you receive the open command... Pin
    M i s t e r L i s t e r16-Oct-06 12:53
    M i s t e r L i s t e r16-Oct-06 12:53 
    GeneralRe: Cool... now how do you receive the open command... Pin
    BadJerry2-Sep-09 0:04
    BadJerry2-Sep-09 0:04 
    GeneralSimple C# version Pin
    Cristian Scutaru21-Jul-06 9:14
    Cristian Scutaru21-Jul-06 9:14 
    QuestionRe: Simple C# version Pin
    FrEaK_CH25-Sep-06 7:35
    FrEaK_CH25-Sep-06 7:35 
    AnswerRe: Simple C# version Pin
    Cristian Scutaru26-Sep-06 15:27
    Cristian Scutaru26-Sep-06 15:27 
    GeneralLong files names Pin
    Ketinla26-Jan-06 0:21
    Ketinla26-Jan-06 0:21 
    Questionhow to check... Pin
    creative0027-Nov-05 20:20
    creative0027-Nov-05 20:20 
    GeneralSetDocumentDefaultIcon Pin
    ehh15-Nov-05 7:49
    ehh15-Nov-05 7:49 
    GeneralRe: SetDocumentDefaultIcon Pin
    Blake V. Miller24-Nov-05 9:06
    Blake V. Miller24-Nov-05 9:06 
    GeneralThanks a lot... Pin
    Sreekanth Muralidharan13-Oct-05 19:07
    Sreekanth Muralidharan13-Oct-05 19:07 
    QuestionHow to tell the explorer refresh the icon? Pin
    Michael Leung24-Jul-05 1:36
    Michael Leung24-Jul-05 1:36 
    AnswerRe: How to tell the explorer refresh the icon? Pin
    po.coulet14-Sep-05 2:51
    po.coulet14-Sep-05 2:51 
    GeneralRe: How to tell the explorer refresh the icon? Pin
    Mandrago10-Jul-07 2:44
    Mandrago10-Jul-07 2:44 
    GeneralRe: How to tell the explorer refresh the icon? Pin
    vigylant18-Jan-09 7:46
    vigylant18-Jan-09 7:46 
    QuestionMultiple Files TOgether ??? Pin
    tot2ivn18-Feb-05 0:16
    tot2ivn18-Feb-05 0:16 
    AnswerRe: Multiple Files TOgether ??? Pin
    Blake V. Miller24-Feb-05 16:12
    Blake V. Miller24-Feb-05 16:12 

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