what is the general rule about which software is the default?

suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

If, during the install, you do nothing to prevent it, the last program
installed will usually attempt to be the default program for a particular
file type.

You can change this in options/preferences for the programs involved. Tell
one you want it to be the default. Tell the other one you do not (usually by
removing the checks from the file types).

--


Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)

"nweissma" <> wrote in message
news:9B938AFF-25DA-4FD1-B600-...
> suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
> decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
> will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

Generally the last one installed sets itself as the default program for a
given file type.

You need to first see if the program you want as default has some options to
make it so. If there is none, then you would have to make the change
manually.
Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations

"nweissma" <> wrote in message
news:9B938AFF-25DA-4FD1-B600-...
suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?

don't mean to sound like a newbie, but i don't see the sequence that you
delineated: Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations.




"Val" wrote:

> Generally the last one installed sets itself as the default program for a
> given file type.
>
> You need to first see if the program you want as default has some options to
> make it so. If there is none, then you would have to make the change
> manually.
> Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations
>
> "nweissma" <> wrote in message
> news:9B938AFF-25DA-4FD1-B600-...
> suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
> decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
> will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?
>
>
>

OK, in Control Panel (Vista style) the last item is named "Associate a file
type or protocol with a program". It shows up as 'Set Associations" in the
breadcrumbs.

In Control Panel (Classic View) select Default Programs | Associate.....


"nweissma" <> wrote in message
news5B8751D-A8A4-4CF1-8FFF-...
don't mean to sound like a newbie, but i don't see the sequence that you
delineated: Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations.




"Val" wrote:

> Generally the last one installed sets itself as the default program for a
> given file type.
>
> You need to first see if the program you want as default has some options
> to
> make it so. If there is none, then you would have to make the change
> manually.
> Control Panel | Programs | Default Programms | Set Associations
>
> "nweissma" <> wrote in message
> news:9B938AFF-25DA-4FD1-B600-...
> suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
> decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
> will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?
>
>
>

nweissma wrote:
> suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
> decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
> will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?


The most recently installed application will generally take over the
default file associations. You'd make a selection by right-clicking on
the target file, and selecting the application with which to open it.
On the same dialog box would be the option to make this choice permanent.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:
http://dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
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safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. -Benjamin Franklin

Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. -Bertrand Russell

On Thu, 16 Aug 2007 19:51:37 -0700, nweissma
<> wrote:

> suppose i install 2 programs having the same purview. which does the os
> decide which to use? to be specific, if i install winrar and winzip, which
> will vista use to unzip (or zip) a file? how can i select?



When you install a program, it normally sets up an "association"
between it and a particular file type or types. For example, if you
install Microsoft Word, it sets up an association with .doc files, so
that every time you click on a .doc file, it will open that file in
Microsoft Word.

The same with zip files. When you install a zip program, it creates an
association between itself and zip files. If you install more than one
such program, the association you end up with is that with the program
you installed *last*.

You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news:...
> You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
> any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
> to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."

Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are meant
to be new superior way to handle file associations. It's the first time the
shell has easily allowed applications and users to easily edit the full
association chain. (Most previous methods required you to set the browser
associations separately.) =)

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.

On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:57:55 -0700, "zachd [MSFT]"
<> wrote:

>
> "Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
> news:...
> > You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
> > any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
> > to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."
>
> Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are meant
> to be new superior way to handle file associations.


Thanks for the addition.

Yes, that's another way to do the same thing, but I don't particularly
see that it's superior. What am I missing? What makes it better than
the old way, which I explained above?



> It's the first time the
> shell has easily allowed applications and users to easily edit the full
> association chain. (Most previous methods required you to set the browser
> associations separately.) =)
>
> --
> Speaking for myself only.
> See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sat, 18 Aug 2007 13:57:55 -0700, "zachd [MSFT]"
> <> wrote:

>> "Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>> > You can change the association for any file type by right-clicking on
>> > any file of that type and choosing "Open with." If you want the change
>> > to be permanent, check the box "Always use this program..."

>> Also, the Default Programs tools (available from the Start Menu) are
>> meant
>> to be new superior way to handle file associations.

> Thanks for the addition.

> Yes, that's another way to do the same thing, but I don't particularly
> see that it's superior. What am I missing? What makes it better than
> the old way, which I explained above?

It'll probably take time for everybody to wire in (even the
code/registration is pretty simple), but Set your Program Defaults as
mentioned finally handles shell and browser associations (MIME database)
within one interface. There's no way at all to do that in XP. Open With
doesn't handle the browser associations, which can mean you get weird
results with IE or anything else that consumes the MIME database.

--
Speaking for myself only.
See http://zachd.com/pss/pss.html for some helpful WMP info.
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.