asked on

Associating files programatically

Hi all.

I have a small program which I use when I have to restore some file association silently modified by a new program installed. For instance I have recently installed VideoPad and it has associated many video files with itself without prompting for this. The code (working perfectly some time ago) is something like:

Extension := '.avi';
Prog := 'C:\Program files\VideoLAN\VLC\vlc.exe';

procedure writeAssociation(Extension, Prog: string);
var
  reg: TRegistry;
  Log: string;
begin
  Log := '';
  reg := TRegistry.Create;
  try
    try
      reg.RootKey := HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT;
      reg.LazyWrite := false;
      reg.OpenKey(Extension + '\shell\open\command', true);
      reg.WriteString('', Prog + ' %1');
      reg.CloseKey;
      reg.OpenKey(Extension + '\DefaultIcon', true);
      reg.WriteString('', Prog + ',0');
      reg.CloseKey;
      Log := 'File type ' + Extension + ' is now associated with ' + Prog;
    except
      Log := 'Association failed for file type ' + Extension;
    end;
  finally
    reg.free;
  end;
  mmo1.Lines.Add(Log);
end;

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Now this code changes the registry values correctly, but avi files are still opened by VideoPad when I double-click on them and the icon is not vlc icon but VideoPad one.

Now, my problem is not to reassociate the avi extension with vlc: I can do it manually. My problem is how to write a program which set the files associations in the registry and makes these associations be respected by Windows. That is, I have to understand why the registry values set by my code above are ignored by Windows.

Hope to have been clear.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Cheers
Marco

accountsworlds

1) I wanted the option to "open with" from all file types so i added

  reg := TRegistry.Create;
  reg.RootKey := HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT;
  reg.LazyWrite := false;
  reg.OpenKey('*\OpenWithList\EncryptionSystem', true);
  reg.WriteString('','C:\Program Files\EncryptionSystem\EncryptionSystem.exe "%1"');
  reg.CloseKey;
  reg.free;

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If I look in the registry using regedit it's sure there as it should seem to be but when I right click on a file and select Open With it's not there...

So I then added this

 reg.OpenKey('*\shell\Encrypt\command', true);
  reg.WriteString('','C:\Program Files\EncryptionSystem\EncryptionSystem.exe "%1"');
  reg.CloseKey;

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Source: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/590892/windows-registry-file-association-menu

Marco Gasi

ASKER

Sorry, but i really don't see a solution in the source you posted.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Sinisa Vuk

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Marco Gasi

ASKER

Hi sinisav, ho do you do? :-)

Yes your code works: I didn't test it yet, but I know beacause I understood that I can simply empty the data of the default value to make the new association work.

Many thanks: you're becoming my personal expert ;-)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Marco Gasi

ASKER

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Sinisa Vuk

Merry Christmas and successful New Year to you, your family and to all who comes to experts-exchange to expand their knowledge or share it as well.