gHacks technology news » open files http://www.ghacks.net A technology blog covering software, mobile phones, gadgets, security, the Internet and other relevant areas. Mon, 23 Nov 2009 22:22:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 en hourly 1 File Extensions Identification http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/28/file-extensions-identification/ http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/28/file-extensions-identification/#comments Sat, 28 Mar 2009 10:18:58 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/28/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.

file extensions

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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]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2009/03/28/file-extensions-identification/feed/ 2 Copy Locked And Open Files In Windows http://www.ghacks.net/2009/01/19/copy-locked-and-open-files-in-windows/ http://www.ghacks.net/2009/01/19/copy-locked-and-open-files-in-windows/#comments Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:56:21 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/?p=9989 Locked or open files are not only problematic when trying to delete them on the computer system. They can also be problematic when a user tries to move a folder with files or single files to a different location. One extreme example would be moving the Windows folder to another hard drive to replace the old one. Windows would not allow some files to be copied to the new destination.

Shadow Copy has to be installed on the computer system but can be run afterwards from the command prompt or by opening the graphical user interface. Running the tool from the command line will still open the interface after sending the command but it will require no user interaction unless errors occur.

Shadow Copy makes use of the Microsoft’s Volume Shadow service which means that this service has to be running to work with Shadow Copy. Microsoft renamed the feature in Windows Vista to Previous Versions. The service provides the means to copy any accessible file without having to worry about if the file is locked or open.

copy locked files

It is possible to copy the Windows folder to another location using the Shadow Copy software. Shadow Copy is compatible with Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows Vista. The software is portable as the installed files can be executed independently from the installation. (Tested after uninstalling the software)

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]]> http://www.ghacks.net/2009/01/19/copy-locked-and-open-files-in-windows/feed/ 3 Open Files Patcher http://www.ghacks.net/2008/08/12/open-files-patcher/ http://www.ghacks.net/2008/08/12/open-files-patcher/#comments Tue, 12 Aug 2008 12:23:51 +0000 Martin http://www.ghacks.net/?p=6089 If you open files in Windows XP you notice that the default open files dialog always resets to a rather tiny menu. Even if your resize the Open Files menu you will notice that it defaults to the tiny size again after closing the application or restarting the operating system.

The File Open Patcher software patches the Windows Open Files dialog in Comdlg32.dll with a new custom height that the user can select when executing the patch. The application recommends a new height and lists minimum and maximum height for the Open Files dialog by analysing the computer monitor.

The patch will be applied immediately but the changes will become apparent after the next reboot of the computer system. It is also necessary to apply the patch again after making updates to several core Windows components but it’s easy to notice because the Open Files dialog box should be smaller again.

open files

One thing that I should have mentioned earlier is that the Open Files Patcher is not only affecting the Open but also the Save dialogs for most applications.

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