jsgreiner
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How do I get Outlook Express to recognize a file association for pdf attachment files?
When I try to ope a pdf attachment directly from outlook express, it says there is no filea association for that file type and then will not open the file. When I go into windows explorer and look at the File Types tab of the Folder Options dialog, I see that Adobe Reader 9 is associated with the PDF file type. Indeed if I try to open a PDF file from a folder in windows explorer, it works fine. It i just wen trying to open an attachment directly from an email. It used to work fine. How to I get it to work again?
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On opening an email in Outlook Express, a new *.tmp file will be created in a sub-folder of your Temporary Internet Files folder, eg.
C:\Documents and Settings\<YourNameHere>\Lo
The *.tmp file name is made of random characters assigned as it is created freshly each time. The sub-folders created in the Content.IE5 folder are also made from random characters as they are created.
On opening the PDF attachment from within the email, the *.pdf file that is attached should be extracted from the email to that same folder with its full name and extension. The associated program should then open that file for viewing from that location.
In fact, Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to use the File menu > Properties to see where the open file is located, and that becomes a link which opens Windows Explorer to the containing folder.
When you close the application, the file stays in that Temporary Internet Files folder. It is only deleted from there when you close the email that has it attached.
The "wbk1A4.tmp" file is only deleted when you close Outlook Express.
You will not normally be able to open Windows Explorer and see any of the sub-folders of the C:\Documents and Settings\<YourNameHere>\Lo
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e,%homepath%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
So, I suggest that you check to see whether or not the attached file is actually being extracted to one of the Temporary Internet Files sub-folders when you double-click on it.
In all probability the PDF file IS being extracted, but I am wondering if your version of Acrobat Reader doesn't like opening files from a temporary folder.
What you might be able to try is this:
1. Clear out your Temporary Internet Files folder using the buttons in Control Panel > Internet Options.
2. Open your email and double-click on the PDF File attachment
3. When you get the message about no associated file type, close any message dialogs and close the Acrobat Reader empty frame if it shows. Leave the Outlook Express message open.
4. Execute the batch file I have attached as a *.txt file and see if Acrobat Reader is able to open it from the Temporary Internet Files folder.
*** Note: ***
BEFORE renaming the downloaded "Open_Temp_PDF.txt" file to "Open_Temp_PDF.CMD", you should first open it in Notepad and verify that the following line accurately reflects the path to the Acrobat Reader executable:
set READER=C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
Change it if needed. I based it on the path for Acrobat Reader 8.0 and changed it to 9.0, but my guess may not be correct.
If Acrobat Reader DOES find a *.pdf file and open it, use the File > Properties to check if it was opened from a sub-folder of the "Content.IE5" folder. When you close Acrobat Reader, the batch file should find the next one and open it, etc, etc, for as many PDF files as it finds. That's the reason for clearing Temporary Internet Files first.
There are a couple of things that you may like to first check out on your system though. Open REGEDIT (Start Menu > Run > and type REGEDIT > click OK).
In the left pane, expand the Keys out to, and select:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pdf]
In the Right pane you should see a value named "Content Type". he value set against this should be "application/pdf". If it is anything other than that, then this could be the problem.
There will also be a value named [Default], and the value set against that will most likely read "AcroExch.Document". If that is the value, then go back to the left pane of Regedit and scroll down to the key:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AcroExc
In the Right pane of regedit when that key is selected, you should see a value named "BrowseInPlace" showing a value of "1". This dictates whether the Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin will show a PDF file within Internet Explorer rather than always prompting to Save the file when you click on a link with a target as a *.pdf file. A value of 1 means Yes, and a value of 0 means no. Try changing it from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0, Close Regedit, and test the email again. I know that this setting really concerns Internet Explorer, but Outlook Express uses many IE components.
You can report back with your findings on this and we can make further suggestions dependent on the results.
Open-Temp-PDF.txt
C:\Documents and Settings\<YourNameHere>\Lo
The *.tmp file name is made of random characters assigned as it is created freshly each time. The sub-folders created in the Content.IE5 folder are also made from random characters as they are created.
On opening the PDF attachment from within the email, the *.pdf file that is attached should be extracted from the email to that same folder with its full name and extension. The associated program should then open that file for viewing from that location.
In fact, Adobe Acrobat Reader allows you to use the File menu > Properties to see where the open file is located, and that becomes a link which opens Windows Explorer to the containing folder.
When you close the application, the file stays in that Temporary Internet Files folder. It is only deleted from there when you close the email that has it attached.
The "wbk1A4.tmp" file is only deleted when you close Outlook Express.
You will not normally be able to open Windows Explorer and see any of the sub-folders of the C:\Documents and Settings\<YourNameHere>\Lo
%SystemRoot%\explorer.exe /n, /e,%homepath%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5
So, I suggest that you check to see whether or not the attached file is actually being extracted to one of the Temporary Internet Files sub-folders when you double-click on it.
In all probability the PDF file IS being extracted, but I am wondering if your version of Acrobat Reader doesn't like opening files from a temporary folder.
What you might be able to try is this:
1. Clear out your Temporary Internet Files folder using the buttons in Control Panel > Internet Options.
2. Open your email and double-click on the PDF File attachment
3. When you get the message about no associated file type, close any message dialogs and close the Acrobat Reader empty frame if it shows. Leave the Outlook Express message open.
4. Execute the batch file I have attached as a *.txt file and see if Acrobat Reader is able to open it from the Temporary Internet Files folder.
*** Note: ***
BEFORE renaming the downloaded "Open_Temp_PDF.txt" file to "Open_Temp_PDF.CMD", you should first open it in Notepad and verify that the following line accurately reflects the path to the Acrobat Reader executable:
set READER=C:\Program Files\Adobe\Reader 9.0\Reader\AcroRd32.exe
Change it if needed. I based it on the path for Acrobat Reader 8.0 and changed it to 9.0, but my guess may not be correct.
If Acrobat Reader DOES find a *.pdf file and open it, use the File > Properties to check if it was opened from a sub-folder of the "Content.IE5" folder. When you close Acrobat Reader, the batch file should find the next one and open it, etc, etc, for as many PDF files as it finds. That's the reason for clearing Temporary Internet Files first.
There are a couple of things that you may like to first check out on your system though. Open REGEDIT (Start Menu > Run > and type REGEDIT > click OK).
In the left pane, expand the Keys out to, and select:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.pdf]
In the Right pane you should see a value named "Content Type". he value set against this should be "application/pdf". If it is anything other than that, then this could be the problem.
There will also be a value named [Default], and the value set against that will most likely read "AcroExch.Document". If that is the value, then go back to the left pane of Regedit and scroll down to the key:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\AcroExc
In the Right pane of regedit when that key is selected, you should see a value named "BrowseInPlace" showing a value of "1". This dictates whether the Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin will show a PDF file within Internet Explorer rather than always prompting to Save the file when you click on a link with a target as a *.pdf file. A value of 1 means Yes, and a value of 0 means no. Try changing it from 0 to 1 or 1 to 0, Close Regedit, and test the email again. I know that this setting really concerns Internet Explorer, but Outlook Express uses many IE components.
You can report back with your findings on this and we can make further suggestions dependent on the results.
Open-Temp-PDF.txt
ASKER
Uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe reader solved the problem. thanks! Sorry it took a few days to try it. and thanks to the other experts who also gave some good suggestions!
Reposting the author's comments which he wrote while accepting my answer (such comments are only posted privately, visible only to the author and the expert whose answer was accepted, and in this case they were really intended for all):
"Uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe reader solved the problem. thanks! Sorry it took a few days to try it. and thanks to the other experts who also gave some good suggestions!"
"Uninstalling and reinstalling Adobe reader solved the problem. thanks! Sorry it took a few days to try it. and thanks to the other experts who also gave some good suggestions!"
In OE, go to Tools > Options > Security tab. Uncheck "Do not allow attachment to be saved or opened..." Click OK. Restart OE
If already unchecked, make sure a security program is not blocking attachment. Temporarily disable antivirus, antispyware, and firewall and other security program one at time and test.
Hope this helps!
war1