File Extensions Identification

Every computer user will eventually encounter files that cannot be opened with the programs installed on the computer system. Experienced users might try to open those files in a basic text editor or perform a search on the Internet to find a program that can open files with those extensions.

Another possibility is the Open With desktop client which adds itself to the context menu of Windows Explorer after installation. A right-click on an unknown file type – or any file type actually – will display the “How Do I Open This” entry which will open a new window that contains a short description of the file type and software program suggestions to open those file extensions on the computer system.

Only free software programs have been listed during tests. Open With will link to the download page of those suggested programs or inform the user that the program is already installed on the computer system.

The display of the suggested software programs to open the file extensions was broken on the test system. Another aspect that many users will not like is that the program adds itself to the first position in the Windows Explorer context menu. To move the entry in Windows Explorer read Windows Explorer Context Menu Editor or Windows Explorer Menu Editor.

Lastly the program tries to install another application (PC Mighty Max 2009) during setup which is not needed for Open With to function properly. A quick check on the developer’s homepage revealed that it is a commercial software. It is not recommended to install that software.

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Tags: file extensions, file identification, file types, files, open files, open with, windows software, windows-explorer
Categories: Windows, software

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2 Responses to “File Extensions Identification”

1. Arun Shivaram says:

   March 28, 2009 at 2:19 pm

   As you have mentioned already, people will generally try to search on the internet rather than installing a software for this specific purpose.

   Reply
2. Paulus says:

   March 28, 2009 at 6:56 pm

   For the fery (fery) lazy user a godsend.

   Reply