Computer Tips From A Computer Guy

Manage Windows File Types Using FileTypesMan

Posted: 01 Dec 2009 03:18 AM PST

Statistically speaking, if you are a Windows user, you have run into this matter before. You receive a file from someone, either through email, on a compact disc, or otherwise; and Windows cannot open it. At this point, Windows asks you to choose a program from a list to open the file, or search the Web in an attempt to find a program.

As an example, if you receive an LZH (compressed file, akin to ZIP) file from someone, and try to open it, Windows may not be able to open the file. Unless you have a program that recognizes LZH files, such as TugZip or WinZip, Windows will not be able to open the file. Additionally, if you attempt to use something like Notepad, you will just get garbage on your screen, if anything at all.

The saving grace of choosing to select a program on your computer, is that Windows may have program recommendations. If one of these recommended programs does open the file in question, the you have the option to allow that program to open that file type from now on. Selecting the checkbox “Always use the selected program to open this type of file” will active this option.

In the grand scheme of things, provided you have the right type of programs on your computer, this is not too big an issue. However, you may not want to do this every time you have a new type of file to open. As an alternative, you can always set up the file types in the Folder Options menu. To get to this area, click on Tools, then Folder Options, from within a standard folder view. After you are inside the Folder Options menu, click on the File Types tab.

Here you can create a New file type, or Edit an existing one. This method is not too difficult to accomplish, but you do not have a largely viewable interface to work with. If you are bouncing between a few different file type additions and edits, make sure to keep track of where you are at in the process.

For those of us who prefer more a getter graphical interface and more detailed control, we know there are programs out on the Internet that cover this type of function. One such program is FileTypesMan (found here). This free utility, while not necessarily designed for the casual Windows user, gives more insight into the management of file types and extensions compared to the Windows Folder Options menu. It comes packaged as a stand alone executable file and does not require installation.

When you run the FileTypesMan program, it will scan your computer for file type associations and build a list for you to look over. The initial view of the program will show you quite a bit of information including, but not limited to, Extension, Type Name, MIME Type, Default Icon, and related Company Name. You will notice that the interface windows is split into a top and bottom section.

The top area of FileTypesMan contains the file extension and the associated data. The lower portion of the screen will show the related actions of the extension, if any. The screen shot below illustrates the actions surrounding the .CSV extension. Notice that Microsoft Excel is already associated with the CSV extension, as denoted be the green X icon.

Currently there are two actions registered with the CSV file type and Excel: Open and Print. If you drag the lower scroll bar to the right you can view additional information. Within this lower section is a column entitled “Command-Line”. This represents the actual command line function called when the Open or Print actions, with a CSV extension file, occur.

Should you need to edit the file type, you can double-click on the CSV entry in the upper portion of the main screen. Doing so will open up a window with editable details about the chosen file extension. Here you may alter the description, the default icon, MIME type, and Perceived Type. There are also extra options to choose from, if you want to, say, restrict this type of file from ever showing up in the Recent Document list.

Perhaps the file extension type is fine with its current associated program, but you would rather change the actions surrounding it. You can double-click on one of the actions in the lower section of FileTypesMan; in this instance, the Open action for the CSV type. Here you may change the command line action as well as modify DDE (Dynamic Data Exchange) information. While you may not play around with the DDE area much, there are times when troubleshooting a file type issue, editing DDE comes into play.

While the detailed layouts of the user interface are better looking than the cramped view of Folder Options, there is an obvious advantage FileTypesMan has over the built-in Windows tool. Within FileTypesMan, there is an paper and magnifying glass icon in the main window, that when clicked, allows you to search through all of the present file types. This is faster than scrolling down a long list of file type looking for particular entry. From within the search box, type in an extension, or other data, and click Find Next.

To reiterate a point, this software is not intended for the average Windows user. It’s audience is more the computer professional, or those that work with file types on a more frequent basis. While FileTypesMan gives a better view of file extensions on your computer, it may prove to be more that what you need. But for what it can do, combined with the fact that it is a free offering, could have more people looking at what file extension is tied to what program within a Windows system.