How do I control file associations? I used to be able to go to the Windows Explorer at Tools\Folder Options and specify what executable would run documents. Usually I did this in conjunction with copying Portable Apps to my work hard drive, but last night they erased everything, and now I can't set file associations: I can navigate through the Tools\Folder Options like before, but when I select a Portable App, my WinXP box acts like I never told it anything.
Is this an Administrator thing that I'm stuck with?
(I like to run the Portable Apps from the hard drive just for speed.)
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If I were you I'd try right clicking the file and choosing open with.
cowsay Moo
cowthink 'Dude, why are you staring at me.'
I did this, and I got to navigate to the location of the Portable App, but when I selected that application, it did not appear in the list of available applications. It flat out ignored me.
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William Tyndale: "[T]here is difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God, none at all."
The ones that appear in the "list of available applications" are those that are "installed". Since the PortableApps aren't "installed", they won't show up there. But if you select them (via Browse) that should establish the association. It won't make them installed, so they won't necessarily show up on the list, but it should make it the default app.
In my experience, though, it is too easy for other programs, or windows itself, to hijack your choices. I end up using OpenExpert, which lets me set up my own associations. I let Windows and the other apps fight over the default associations, I just use the ones I set up. (It's not open source, nor portable, alas.)
It is possible, and perhaps even likely, that the admins have made it hard for you to change the associations. Having different apps hijacking each other's associations can be confusing if not a security violation.
If they have made it hard to set up associations, I'd try using Send To. It's pretty easy to set up, just make a shortcut in the Send To directory. Then right click, choose Send To, and choose the one you want. I think RDtools is supposed to help with that.
MC
In beta. It's awesome!
Insert original signature here with Greasemonkey Script.
I'm running that now. I've already associated odt files with OOo, but I don't see any assigned icons for the documents in Explorer, and when I double click on the file, it knows what to bring up, but given that I already had OOo running, it started a totally new instance of OOo--that's maybe more stress for my PC than necessary. So it sorta works, but I still don't have the control I should.
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William Tyndale: "[T]here is difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God, none at all."
CAFE creates temporary associations and everything is internal to the app. It will not create icons for associations in explorer because that requires modifying the registry. CAFE is meant to be fully portable, so no registry modification is done.
The developer formerly known as ZGitRDun8705
I found the problem. I'm on my work PC, and I don't mind changing some stuff.
The problem started when IT deleted all the Portable Apps that I had dragged to My Documents. So I copied them to Program Files; maybe that won't bother them.
The PC was still looking for the applications in the old folder, so icons were screwed up, etc. But now I can fix it. I guess I'm changing the registry a bit, but that's probably OK.
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William Tyndale: "[T]here is difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God, none at all."
But CAFE is still a good extra if you tend to use your portable apps on different computers...
I sell ice in the winter
I sell fire in hell
I am a hustler baby, I sold water to a well...
Got it! Good idea.
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William Tyndale: "[T]here is difference betwixt washing of dishes and preaching of the word of God; but as touching to please God, none at all."
.. maybe they are trying to tell you, in a nice way, that you are not supposed
to use non-authorised software on the company network ?
Are you allowed to use or "install" software of your choice ?