Computer Hope

Software => Computer software => Topic started by: truenorth on July 24, 2008, 04:28:11 PM

Title: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 24, 2008, 04:28:11 PM
The file extension is .wmv. The utility i want to associate it with is VLC (a video/audio player). I have VLC on my computer.Using O/S Winxp pro. The file to be opened was sent as an attachment in outlook express ver.6. The file type wmv is listed in the file types of "folder options".According to a search VLC is a program that can open those file types. However you cannot right click on the file as it appears once you access it within outlook express and bring up the option to change the file association. Is there some way i can get wmv files to associate themselves with VLC? thank you,truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 24, 2008, 04:43:29 PM
Is this what you're looking for?

http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,60472.0.html
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 24, 2008, 06:47:36 PM
Carbon,'fraid not " However you cannot right click on the file as it appears once you access it within outlook express and bring up the option to change the file association"Quote truenorth. truenorth
P.S. From what i understand your link will only work if you CAN access the filefrom within windows explorer or browse.As i stated it is in an outlook express e-mail attachment.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 24, 2008, 09:41:09 PM
But, is it a file like this: dirtymovie.wmv? I use Tbird so I'm fuzzy on OE, but, can't you 'detach' the file from OE and save it to a location of your choice?

Then just open VLC, browse to the file and open it. Do your right-click, open with drill, too, if you want.

But, why do you want VLC to open *.wmv files; WMP ought to do okay with them. I know you need VLC for the files that WMP can't/won't open, but, I let WMP handle the file type that it can.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 24, 2008, 10:02:32 PM
Save the file to your hard drive, first.
Then, right click on it, and change association.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 24, 2008, 10:58:16 PM
Save the file to your hard drive, first.
Then, right click on it, and change association.
Yeah, it should then open with the selected program, even in the attachment.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 24, 2008, 11:18:32 PM
Save the file to your hard drive, first.
Then, right click on it, and change association.
Yeah, it should then open with the selected program, even in the attachment.

For some reason, he couldn't get the right-click to work while the file was in OE.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 24, 2008, 11:21:18 PM
Save the file to your hard drive, first.
Then, right click on it, and change association.
Yeah, it should then open with the selected program, even in the attachment.

For some reason, he couldn't get the right-click to work while the file was in OE.
That's why you download it first and then change the association.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 25, 2008, 12:28:45 AM
That's why I told him to 'detach' it (Tbird terminology), save it and open it! :)

We all agree - let's see how Truenorth does!
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 25, 2008, 06:35:10 AM
Hey Guys,Thanks for all the comments.Just got up so still a bit groggy.However i will try the various ideas and will report results.I do also have WMP but for whatever the reason this WMV file does not associate itself with either. Apparently some WMV files will only open with WMP ver.8 or higher (if there is a higher) i haven't checked to see what my WMP ver.is. Thanks all,truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 25, 2008, 09:07:46 AM
Ok Guys here is what i did and what the results were.
1.i  opened O/E.
2.I right clicked on the message and did a "save as'.
3.I located the saved file and right clicked on it.
4.The option to "open with" window appeared.
5.Many choices were available. I used both WMP and VLC successfully to play the file.
It mystifies me as to why when obviously both WMP and VLC are able to associate themselves with the file extension that neither will do so from O/E.Any way many thanks for the guidance and as a token of my apprecaition please enjoy the file that i was working with. Your in for a treat.Enjoy.truenorth 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0te6OEF9hJE
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 25, 2008, 09:34:43 AM
Glad that you got to see it! I agree that it's puzzling that the file didn't open with the default association when you tried to open it in OE. All's well that ends well!
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 25, 2008, 03:21:23 PM
Interesting Youtube Video....
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 25, 2008, 03:44:37 PM
Nice video, but this is still my favorite!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sn8sXphXjeE
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 25, 2008, 04:01:43 PM
Woah. Nice.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 25, 2008, 04:11:46 PM
She went on to win the competition.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 25, 2008, 04:45:37 PM
Carbon, I do agree awsome--however my personal taste runs to something less frentic--but there is no doubt about her ability and talent. I had only been to the utube site once before and had forgotten all about it. I imagine it is a difficult site to leave once you start watching what there is there. ain't technology wonderful?truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 25, 2008, 04:47:25 PM
Indeed it is ;)
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 25, 2008, 05:48:55 PM
Quote
4.The option to "open with" window appeared.
5.[...] I used both WMP and VLC successfully to play the file.
Did you actually associate .wmv file with ONE of those programs, by putting a checkmark in "Always open...." box?
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 25, 2008, 05:52:18 PM
Quote
4.The option to "open with" window appeared.
5.[...] I used both WMP and VLC successfully to play the file.
Did you actually associate .wmv file with ONE of those programs, by putting a checkmark in "Always open...." box?

Do we HAVE to go back on topic? ;D
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 25, 2008, 08:13:37 PM
Well, that part is unclear...
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Carbon Dudeoxide on July 25, 2008, 08:15:57 PM
Indeed it isn't ;)
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 26, 2008, 06:10:09 AM
Broni,Thanks for bringing us back to topic.The answer to your question is no i did not. I know that the result of not doing so will likely cause me to have to go through the process i did again until i do mandate an association. However my reasoning was now that i do know how to do it  i am leaving my options open to chose the player i want in each instance. I understand that i could have made a selection and changed it at some future instance if i so desired. I may yet do that. As stated earlier it does mystify me as to why no association takes place in O/E. truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 26, 2008, 06:13:11 PM
Quote
why no association takes place in O/E
You should establish association, first, and then, maybe, OE will open those attachments.
I don't use OE, so I'm not talking as experienced user.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 26, 2008, 08:16:04 PM
Broni,Given your suggestion and your earlier assistance i just went back to the location i had saved the WMV file (my documents) and decided to take your advise and chose a program (WMP) to be the "always open with..." .The option is not available to select an association with anything as while the choice is there (with a check already in the box) it is not executable as the option is greyed out. Also it does not matter which of the available choices i choose (VLC,etc.) the option always remains greyed out. Indeed a puzzlement. truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 26, 2008, 08:23:32 PM
Interesting...
Try this:
1.  Start a registry editor (e.g., regedit.exe).
2. Navigate to the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\policies\Explorer
registry subkey to configure the computer for all users or navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies
registry subkey to configure the computer for the current user. If either subkey
doesn't exist, open the Edit menu and select New, Key to create it.
3. From the Edit menu, select New, DWORD Value.
4. Enter the name NoFileAssociate.
5. Set the value to 1 to disable the user's ability to change file associations (this
setting doesn't affect Power Users and Administrators); a value of 0 or a missing
value enables the user's ability to change file associations.
6. Click OK.
7. Close the registry editor.
8. Restart the computer for the changes to take effect.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 26, 2008, 08:27:33 PM
Automatic fix: http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm - #314
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 28, 2008, 07:05:10 AM
Broni,Thank you for the "fix".However just to make certain that you would still reccommend it i want to make sure that you understand the "problem". The failure to associate with an opening program was unique to those 2 file i mentioned at the outset.It may well be that it was because they shared a common origin (from 2 different e-mail buddies however) in that they were both from U-tube.Normally i don't experience any problem with opening attachments in my O/E. So just in case you thought that i had a general overall problem with file associations in O/E --i don't. Given this do you still reccommend the "fix"? If so i will try the link method. thank you,truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: drmsucks on July 28, 2008, 09:30:50 AM
Truenorth - Take a look at: http://www.computerhope.com/forum/index.php/topic,62390.0.html another OE file association problem.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 28, 2008, 11:00:25 AM
drmsucks,Most interesting.While the error message during the time of attempted access in o/e 6 (which i am also using) is identical the file extension causing the problem is not a .pps it is a .wmv. I too was having a problem opening .pps files but it was caused by not having a Power Point Viewer (which now i do). Additionally when trying to create a permanent association file type/always open with association the presence of the option there but greyed out is very mystifying. I am awaiting Broni's further comment re my immediate past posting before proceeding further. However if the results of the member's attempts and result with the .pps file is indicative i don't hold out much hope.i may just have to use the option of accessing those particular files via the "save as" route. Which of course is not the end of the world and very minor given the myriad of problems that computers can generate.Thanks for the input. truenorth
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: Broni on July 28, 2008, 10:09:40 PM
Quote
The failure to associate with an opening program was unique to those 2 file i mentioned at the outset
In that case, I'd do nothing.
Title: Re: changing/applying a file extension
Post by: truenorth on July 29, 2008, 06:18:33 AM
Broni,Thank you.Will comply.truenorth