The free software eXpresso offers a third option. The portable program acts as a proxy that can register file extensions with selected applications. This way it is possible to assign file extensions to portable applications or installed programs, provided that eXpresso is running in the background.

So how does it work? EXpresso taps right into the standard Windows file launching routine. It becomes active whenever a file is launched that has no association yet in the program’s database.

It is then possible to associate the file extension with another program. This opens a standard file browser to select a software from the computer system. The new program can be portable or installed. You need to make sure that the selected program supports the file extension. It is furthermore recommended to assign no new programs to executable files.

An alternative option is to associate file extensions with new programs in the program options. This speeds up the process as it is possible to add multiple file extensions in rapid succession.

EXpresso saves the information as relative paths in its program folder. The new file associations stay active for as long as the eXpresso program is running in the background. Once it is closed the old associations take over again.

Hotkeys are available to launch the selected file extension in an alternative application or the system’s default program. Holding down Shift launches the file in the default program, the Alt key on the other hand launches it in the second alternative program if one is configured in eXpresso.

The software has been specifically designed for computer users who make use of portable software. It is an ideal companion for an USB stick or a portable software collection.

The initial configuration takes some time, and it is suggested to configure the majority of file types in the program options and not via the program’s monitoring feature. There does not seem to be an option to pause the monitoring, which means that the window to associate a new file extension will come up frequently in the beginning.

The program offers several advanced features, from editing path information of previously configured applications over monitoring specific windows to the convey feature which allows you to send a file to “any app with the Send To context menu in Windows”.

The freeware eXpresso is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit versions and editions of the Windows operating system. This includes full compatibility with Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The software can be downloaded from the developer website over at gluxon.com.

The program will automatically scan the file types that are known by the system, and display them in the program interface. The scan may take a moment, considering that usually hundreds of file types need to be located and added.

Each file extension is displayed with its name and icon.

types

A double-click on a file extension opens the properties window of it. Here it is possible to change class specific information, including the linked class that is used to open the file type and the perceived type. Additional tabs lead to menu, icon and misc settings. In menu, all Windows Explorer context menu options are displayed. Icon can be used to change the file extension icon and other finally can be used to change the document title and extension visibility.

edit file extension

In Windows, it is possible to configure file extensions to be hidden, or always shown, and this is the preference to change the visibility of the selected extension.

It is furthermore possible to remove file extensions from the operating system in the main interface. This is done by selecting a class from the list of available ones. Now it is possible to right-click and select Delete, or use the red X icon in the top navigation to do the same.

Finally, a pulldown menu containing all classes is offered on the top as well, to quickly locate and selected one of the available classes.

Types is compatible with 32-bit and 64-bit editions of the Windows operating system. The program requires the Microsoft .net Framework 2.0, and can be downloaded from the homepage of the developer.

In this article I will show you how to change the default application for different files as well as change the preferred applications for the GNOME desktop (in another article I will illustrate the same task in KDE). And, naturally, this action is reversible.

Associated applications

Figure 1

The first step is to change the applications associated with different file types. Now before you do this know that you can selec the application to open a file by right clicking the folder and selecting the application from the “Open With” sub-menu (see Figure 1). You can also add applications to this menu (I’ll explain that in a moment).

But if that action is too many steps than changing the default application is what you will want. NOTE: Even if you change the default application, the “Open With” menu will see be there for you to use.

Figure 2

To change the default application right click the file type you want to associate with a different and click the Properties entry. When the Properties window opens click on the Open With tab (see Figure 2).

In this tab you can select a different application to associate with a file type. If the application is listed simply select that application and click close. If that application is not listed you will need to add the application. When you add an application to this list that application will also appear in the right click “Open With” sub-menu (see ealier).

When you click the Add button a list of installed applications will appear. Just select the application you want to use and click Add which will add the application and dismiss the new window.

With your new application added make sure the check box to the left of the application is selected. The application with the check box checked will be the application that opens when you double click that file type.

When you associated a default application to one file it associates itself to all files of that same type. NOTE: Just because you associate a new application with, say, a .png file does not mean it will associate will all image types. You will have to associate that application with .jpg, .tif, .gif, etc. files seperately.

Preferred applications

Figure 3

This is just as simple as changing the associated application for file types. If you click on the System menu and then on the Preferences sub-menu you will see the Preferred Applications entry. Click on that to open up a small window (see Figure 3) where you can change the preferred application for:

• Web Browser
• Mail Reader
• Multimedia player
• Terminal
• Accessibility (visual and Mobility)

Each of these are a simple selection via drop-down list. Some have options and some do not.

Final thoughts

This is just another way of making your desktop experience an even easier experience. I hope you find this configuration helpful. Next time we deal with default applications it will be in the KDE 4.x environment.

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.

Open Expert is a free software program that can be used to manage the Open With applications in the Windows operating system. It adds the option to Configure Applications to the Open With menu which can be used to add, remove or sort the Open With applications.

A right-click on any file type and the selection of Open With > Configure Applications will display all applications that are currently configured for that file type. The add button provides the option to add a new applications while remove will delete an existing one. The up and down arrows can be used to sort the Open With menu to place the most commonly used applications at the top of it.

Open Expert is a lightweight 650 Kilobyte application that can be run on any Microsoft operating system prior to Windows Vista (Windows 9x to Windows XP).

Types on the other hand is a lightweight portable Open-Source software that runs on Windows XP and Windows Vista that makes it a tad easier to change file associations in both operating systems. It comes with a window that can actually be changed in size which means that it is possible to display virtually all file extensions on the screen at the same time.

The default application can be changed easily. Other options include changing the icon of the file type and deleting obsolete ones from the system.

Update: Development of Types has continued in past years bringing Type’s version to 1.9.4 at the time of writing. The version history reveals information about the things that have been changed by the software’s developer. The majority of changes are related to bugs, but the software’s compatibility with Windows Vista and Windows 7 has been improved as well.

Third parties have localized the software into other languages. These language files can now be downloaded from the Types website as well. Users who want to change the program interface language need to download the language file of their choice and put it into the Types directory. They then need to press F1 with Types open to select that new language file.

File Types Manager from Nirsoft is an alternative that adds additional information, functions and a window that is resizable. The File Types Manager lists additional information like the default icon, the mime type and the modified time to the list of available information.

Default applications can be changed by pressing F4 or by right-clicking the file type and selecting replace file type for selected extension. A list of available applications will be displayed and the user simply selects on to change the default application.

Selecting a file type and pressing F2 makes it possible to edit the file type. It is possible to change the file description, the default icon, the mime type, the perceived type as well as several advanced options like to always show the file type, to not open the file type in a browser window or to open the file type immediately after download without confirmation.

This is another excellent software from Nirsoft, thanks to Donation Coder who discovered this gem.

WAssociate is a software that is able to change file type associations of all file types in Windows. The software requires a little bit of knowledge of how file types are assigned in Windows but is well worth that time. It displays all known file types and their associations by pulling the data from the Windows registry.

Once you have selected a specific file type you can make all sorts of modifications for it, from selecting the program that you want to associate with the file extension to adding parameters to the start up.

Read More:

How to fix broken file associations
WAssociate (thanks Roman for letting me know about this software)

Update: WAssociate is still available, but it is not compatible with Windows Vista or Windows 7. Windows XP users can still use the program to fix their file associations, wile users who are operating a newer version of Windows need to run a alternative instead.

Here are two programs that work under Vista and newer versions of Windows:

Types: A lightweight portable open source application that lets you easily change file associations. Just browse the selection of classes and pick the one you are interested in. You can then modify icons and actions directly in the program window.

File Association Fixer: This one fixes file types that are no longer associated with the correct application. It does not offer to do that for all file extensions though, only for core system files.