Seamless Link Management: Your Essential File Association Hub

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Registration
• Using Advanced Installer
  • GUI
  • Working with Projects
  • Installer Project
    * Product Information
    * Resources
    * Files and Folders
    * Tiles
    * Java Products
    * Registry
    * File Associations
    * Default Programs
    * Context Menu Properties
    * ProgID Properties
    * Extension Properties
    * Verb Properties
    * Assemblies
    * Drivers
    * Services
    * Package Definition
    * Requirements
    * User Interface
    * System Changes
    * Server
    * Custom Behavior
  • Patch Project
  • Merge Module Project
  • Updates Configuration Project
  • Windows Store App Project
  • Modification Package Project
  • Optional Package Project
  • Windows Mobile CAB Projects
  • Visual Studio Extension Project
  • Software Installer Wizards - Advanced Installer
  • Visual Studio integration
  • Alternative to AdminStudio/Wise
  • Replace Wise
  • Migrating from Visual Studio Installer
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Shell Integration
  • Command Line
  • Advanced Installer PowerShell Automation Interfaces
• Features and Functionality
• Tutorials
• Samples
• How-tos
• FAQs
• Windows Installer
• Deployment Technologies
• IT Pro
• MSIX
• Video Tutorials
• Advanced Installer Blog
• Table of Contents

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File Associations Page

You can associate a file extension with an application from your package so that the selected program can perform certain operations (verbs) on the files with the specified extension. You can create file associations in this page. First, a ProgID is defined, which can have any number of extensions associated and each extension can define any number of verbs.

The information presented in this article can be applied in a similar fashion toFile Associations Page from Merge Module Project .

The left-side pane contains a tree with all the ProgIDs you defined on the first level. Under each ProgID you will see all the associated extensions containing all the verbs defined for it. In the right-side pane will appear the properties of a ProgID, extension or verb, depending on your selection in the left-side pane.

Creating a new file association using a wizard

Use the [New File Association Wizard ] toolbar button, to quickly and easily set up a new file association, following step-by-step directions.

Creating new ProgIDs

Use the [New ProgID ] toolbar button, the “New ProgID” tree context menu item or press the * key while the “ProgID, Extensions and Verbs” panel is focused. This action will create a ProgID that can be associated with either an extension or a COM in the COM page . This field is of PseudoFormatted Type .

A ProgID will not be created at install time unless it is associated with an extension or a COM.

Only one extension should be associated with each ProgID.

Creating new extensions

Use the [New Extension ] toolbar button, the “New Extension” tree context menu item or press the Insert key while the “ProgID, Extensions and Verbs” panel is focused. This action will also create a ProgID and an extension with default properties. To create an extension under an existing ProgID make sure the ProgID (or one of its children) is selected before doing a[New Extension ].

Creating new verbs

Use the [New Verb ] toolbar button, the “New Verb” tree context menu item or press the + key while the “ProgID, Extensions and Verbs” panel is focused. This action will create a verb with default properties for the selected extension.

Creating new default programs

Use the [New Default Program ] toolbar button, the “New Default Program” tree context menu item or press the - key while the “ProgID, Extensions, Verbs and Default Programs” panel is focused. This action will create a default program with default properties for the selected extension.

Click here

Creating new shell context menu

Use the [New Shell Context Menu ] toolbar button, the “New Shell Context Menu” tree context menu item. Then select which type of context menu you want to create : Files Context Menu, Directory Context Menu, Background Context Menu, Drive Context Menu or a subentry for the currently selected shell context menu.

The Drive Context Menu option is not supported by the new Windows 11 Context Menu.

Click here

Renaming ProgIDs, extensions,verbs, default programs and context menus

Use the “Rename” tree context menu item or press theF2 key while an element from the left-side panel is selected.

Locating the attached component for an extension

Use the “Go To Component” tree context menu item or press theF8 key while an element from the “ProgID, Extensions and Verbs” panel is selected. This command will activate the Organization page with the appropriate component selected in the left tree control.

Removing ProgIDs, extensions, verbs, default programs and context menus

Use the [Delete ] toolbar button, the “Delete” tree context menu item or press the Delete key while an element from the “ProgID, Extensions and Verbs” panel is selected.

See Also

For more in-depth information please see Create new file extensions and make file associations article.

Topics

• Default Programs
  Specify the default programs for a file type.
• Context Menu Properties
  Configure Windows Explorer context menu items for your packaged application.
• ProgID Properties
  Setting a ProgID’s properties in Advanced Installer.
• Extension Properties
  Setting an Extension’s properties in Advanced Installer.
• Verb Properties
  Setting a Verb’s properties in Advanced Installer.

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