Open With from a command line

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

with" option.

 

Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

 

I'm thinking of something like this ...

 

some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

 

.... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

 

Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

options?

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest MEB]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

 

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message

news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com...

| In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

| holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

| with" option.

|

| Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

|

| I'm thinking of something like this ...

|

| some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

|

| ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

|

| Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

| options?

|

| - Franc Zabkar

| --

| Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

 

Well, couldn't that be accomplished by creating your specialty handling as

a Send To Item with "whatever your intended handler" and "options" would be?

It would seem to be rather difficult to attend to all the specific

variables that might be involved pursuant each "handler", though I suppose

you could make sub-context choices for each...

 

The registry COULD be modified to contain certain aspects related to each

particular file type, but gees that seems like a long way around just to

avoid a little typing... unless I'm missing something you're attempting to

address in this discussion.

 

--

MEB

http://peoplescounsel.org

a Peoples' counsel

_ _

~~

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:21:20 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

put finger to keyboard and composed:

>

>"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message

>news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com...

>| In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

>| holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

>| with" option.

>|

>| Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

>|

>| I'm thinking of something like this ...

>|

>| some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

>|

>| ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

>|

>| Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

>| options?

>|

>| - Franc Zabkar

>

> Well, couldn't that be accomplished by creating your specialty handling as

>a Send To Item with "whatever your intended handler" and "options" would be?

> It would seem to be rather difficult to attend to all the specific

>variables that might be involved pursuant each "handler", though I suppose

>you could make sub-context choices for each...

>

> The registry COULD be modified to contain certain aspects related to each

>particular file type, but gees that seems like a long way around just to

>avoid a little typing... unless I'm missing something you're attempting to

>address in this discussion.

 

What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL to

one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent, when I

click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera. To send

the link to a different browser, I need to launch that browser and

then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This is tedious.

 

What I want to do is to make the above command line my default

application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect the

URL to any browser I choose.

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Jeff Richards]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

Why not just write a little VB application? It's only a few lines of code.

--

Jeff Richards

MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message

news:tte0f4p5egs9la2qplb2nlbkp3bceegni7@4ax.com...

> On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:21:20 -0400, "MEB" <meb@not here@hotmail.com>

> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>

>>

>>"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message

>>news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com...

>>| In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

>>| holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

>>| with" option.

>>|

>>| Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

>>|

>>| I'm thinking of something like this ...

>>|

>>| some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

>>|

>>| ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

>>|

>>| Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

>>| options?

>>|

>>| - Franc Zabkar

>>

>> Well, couldn't that be accomplished by creating your specialty handling

>> as

>>a Send To Item with "whatever your intended handler" and "options" would

>>be?

>> It would seem to be rather difficult to attend to all the specific

>>variables that might be involved pursuant each "handler", though I suppose

>>you could make sub-context choices for each...

>>

>> The registry COULD be modified to contain certain aspects related to each

>>particular file type, but gees that seems like a long way around just to

>>avoid a little typing... unless I'm missing something you're attempting to

>>address in this discussion.

>

> What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL to

> one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent, when I

> click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera. To send

> the link to a different browser, I need to launch that browser and

> then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This is tedious.

>

> What I want to do is to make the above command line my default

> application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect the

> URL to any browser I choose.

>

> - Franc Zabkar

> --

> Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.

[Guest Alan Edwards]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

Jeff may have the best idea.

I haven't used such an old version of Agent as yours for a while, so I

doubt it has an Option to use more than one program to open HTML

files. I don't even see my Agent has that option.

 

....Alan

--

Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer

http://dts-l.com/index.htm

 

 

 

 

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 16:42:06 +1100, in

microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion, Franc Zabkar

<fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote:

 

>What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL to

>one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent, when I

>click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera. To send

>the link to a different browser, I need to launch that browser and

>then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This is tedious.

>

>What I want to do is to make the above command line my default

>application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect the

>URL to any browser I choose.

>

>- Franc Zabkar

[Guest dadiOH]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

Franc Zabkar wrote:

> What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL to

> one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent, when I

> click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera. To send

> the link to a different browser, I need to launch that browser and

> then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This is tedious.

>

> What I want to do is to make the above command line my default

> application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect the

> URL to any browser I choose.

>

> - Franc Zabkar

 

Maybe not what you want but you could use FastExplorer to create a context

menu for htm, .html, .url, etc. and put whatever apps you wish on that

context menu. If you didn't want to keep FE, an examination of what it did

in creating the menu/associations might lead you to your solution. Also,

the author - Alex Yakovlev - has always been helpful and responsive to

me...perhaps he can help you.

 

http://thesoftpro.tripod.com/downloads/index.htm

 

--

 

dadiOH

____________________________

 

dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

....a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Guest Jeff Richards]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

If I understand the problem, a context menu won't help as the connection is

occurring within the application (Agent, in this case) and unless that

application recognises and handles context menu items, no amount of fiddling

with the registry is going to accomplish what OP wants. Agent is simply

requesting the OS to do the equivalent of a double-click in Explorer. To

allow a selection it would have to request the OS to do the equivalent of a

right-click, and that would require an internal change within Agent (if it

can be done at all).

--

Jeff Richards

MS MVP (Windows - Shell/User)

"dadiOH" <dadiOH@invalid.com> wrote in message

news:OpjSji4KJHA.5436@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Franc Zabkar wrote:

>

>> What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL to

>> one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent, when I

>> click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera. To send

>> the link to a different browser, I need to launch that browser and

>> then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This is tedious.

>>

>> What I want to do is to make the above command line my default

>> application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect the

>> URL to any browser I choose.

>>

>> - Franc Zabkar

>

> Maybe not what you want but you could use FastExplorer to create a context

> menu for htm, .html, .url, etc. and put whatever apps you wish on that

> context menu. If you didn't want to keep FE, an examination of what it

> did in creating the menu/associations might lead you to your solution.

> Also, the author - Alex Yakovlev - has always been helpful and responsive

> to me...perhaps he can help you.

>

> http://thesoftpro.tripod.com/downloads/index.htm

>

> --

>

> dadiOH

> ____________________________

>

> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

>

>

>

[Guest Bill Blanton]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com...

> In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

> holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

> with" option.

>

> Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

>

> I'm thinking of something like this ...

>

> some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

>

> ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

>

> Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

> options?

 

This works.

rundll32.exe shell32,OpenAs_RunDLL c:\config.sys

 

I haven't tried, but I assume this would work to pass the variable;

rundll32.exe shell32,OpenAs_RunDLL %L

 

%L attempts to pass the long name, %1 is the short 8.3 name.

[Guest dadiOH]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

I can't say about Agent but in OE I get a context menu when I right click a

link. One would think that one would be spewed forth with Agent too :)

 

dadiOH

 

 

Jeff Richards wrote:

> If I understand the problem, a context menu won't help as the

> connection is occurring within the application (Agent, in this case)

> and unless that application recognises and handles context menu

> items, no amount of fiddling with the registry is going to accomplish

> what OP wants. Agent is simply requesting the OS to do the

> equivalent of a double-click in Explorer. To allow a selection it

> would have to request the OS to do the equivalent of a right-click,

> and that would require an internal change within Agent (if it can be

> done at all).

>> Franc Zabkar wrote:

>>

>>> What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL

>>> to one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent,

>>> when I click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera.

>>> To send the link to a different browser, I need to launch that

>>> browser and then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This

>>> is tedious. What I want to do is to make the above command line my

>>> default

>>> application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect

>>> the URL to any browser I choose.

>>>

>>> - Franc Zabkar

>>

>> Maybe not what you want but you could use FastExplorer to create a

>> context menu for htm, .html, .url, etc. and put whatever apps you

>> wish on that context menu. If you didn't want to keep FE, an

>> examination of what it did in creating the menu/associations might

>> lead you to your solution. Also, the author - Alex Yakovlev - has

>> always been helpful and responsive to me...perhaps he can help you.

>>

>> http://thesoftpro.tripod.com/downloads/index.htm

>>

>> --

>>

>> dadiOH

>> ____________________________

>>

>> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

>> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

>> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

>> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

[Guest Alan Edwards]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

One does get a context menu in Agent but I see no way of configuring

it as Franc wants, though the Agent newsgroup would be a better place

to ask.

Newsgroup: alt.usenet.offline-reader.forte-agent

 

....Alan

--

Alan Edwards, MS MVP Windows - Internet Explorer

http://dts-l.com/index.htm

 

 

 

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 09:00:47 -0400, in

microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion, "dadiOH" <dadiOH@invalid.com>

wrote:

>I can't say about Agent but in OE I get a context menu when I right click a

>link. One would think that one would be spewed forth with Agent too :)

>

>dadiOH

>

>

>Jeff Richards wrote:

>> If I understand the problem, a context menu won't help as the

>> connection is occurring within the application (Agent, in this case)

>> and unless that application recognises and handles context menu

>> items, no amount of fiddling with the registry is going to accomplish

>> what OP wants. Agent is simply requesting the OS to do the

>> equivalent of a double-click in Explorer. To allow a selection it

>> would have to request the OS to do the equivalent of a right-click,

>> and that would require an internal change within Agent (if it can be

>> done at all).

>>> Franc Zabkar wrote:

>>>

>>>> What I'm trying to do is to give myself the option of sending a URL

>>>> to one of several browsers. For example, in my newsreader, Agent,

>>>> when I click on a HTTP link, it launches my default browser, Opera.

>>>> To send the link to a different browser, I need to launch that

>>>> browser and then cut and paste the URL into its address bar. This

>>>> is tedious. What I want to do is to make the above command line my

>>>> default

>>>> application for handling .HTML URLs. Then I can use it to redirect

>>>> the URL to any browser I choose.

>>>>

>>>> - Franc Zabkar

>>>

>>> Maybe not what you want but you could use FastExplorer to create a

>>> context menu for htm, .html, .url, etc. and put whatever apps you

>>> wish on that context menu. If you didn't want to keep FE, an

>>> examination of what it did in creating the menu/associations might

>>> lead you to your solution. Also, the author - Alex Yakovlev - has

>>> always been helpful and responsive to me...perhaps he can help you.

>>>

>>> http://thesoftpro.tripod.com/downloads/index.htm

>>>

>>> --

>>>

>>> dadiOH

>>> ____________________________

>>>

>>> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...

>>> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from

>>> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.

>>> Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico

>

>

[Guest thanatoid]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

Franc Zabkar <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in

news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com:

> In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking

> it while holding down the Shift key brings up a context

> menu with an "Open with" option.

>

> Is there any way I can automate this via a single command

> line?

>

> I'm thinking of something like this ...

>

> some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

>

> ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

>

> Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command

> line options?

>

> - Franc Zabkar

 

Hi Franc

 

I might be missing something here, but I /think/ the following

free utility could be configured to "send" things (in this case

URL's) to specific programs, in this case browsers.

 

http://www.moonsoftware.com/files/legacy/FileTargets_141.exe

 

As a possible alternative, I also highly recommend URL Organizer

2 by Edward Leigh, which allows you to choose the browser you

will be opening the URL with, in addition to its other wonderful

options and features.

 

http://www.osolis.com/program.cgi?P2

 

Regards

t.

 

 

--

Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the

votes decide everything.

- Josef Stalin

[Guest Franc Zabkar]

Re: Open With from a command line

 

On Sat, 11 Oct 2008 08:50:27 -0400, "Bill Blanton"

<bblanton@REMOVEmagicnet.net> put finger to keyboard and composed:

>"Franc Zabkar" <fzabkar@iinternode.on.net> wrote in message news:a650f4h3ihfqji301uqhao0t4lpk18mpdv@4ax.com...

>> In Explorer, highlighting a particular file and r-clicking it while

>> holding down the Shift key brings up a context menu with an "Open

>> with" option.

>>

>> Is there any way I can automate this via a single command line?

>>

>> I'm thinking of something like this ...

>>

>> some_command.exe /option_1 ... /option_n %1

>>

>> ... where %1 is the file I wish to open.

>>

>> Would rundll32.exe or explorer.exe have appropriate command line

>> options?

>

>This works.

>rundll32.exe shell32,OpenAs_RunDLL c:\config.sys

>

>I haven't tried, but I assume this would work to pass the variable;

>rundll32.exe shell32,OpenAs_RunDLL %L

>

>%L attempts to pass the long name, %1 is the short 8.3 name.

 

Brilliant! It works well. I eventually received the same solution at

the Agent newsgroup, although I see this as a universal solution which

can be applied to other applications, eg my email client, Eudora.

 

BTW I had already noticed that when Explorer's Open With dialogue box

was open, typing Ctrl_Alt_Del showed that a task named "Open With" was

running, and Wintop showed rundll32.exe in its task list. Closing the

dialogue box terminated both tasks.

 

So it was clear that rundll32.exe could provide the solution, but I

had no idea how to proceed.

 

To answer the other questions in respect of a context menu, I have

already added "open with Opera", "open with Firefox", and open with

OffByOne" to Explorer's context menu for HTM and HTML file types, but

that's not what I was asking for. BTW, you don't need any third party

application to do this.

 

Just launch Explorer, go to View -> Folder Options -> File Types ->

type "H" and look for a HTML/HTM file type, highlight it, select Edit

-> New. Give the Action a name, eg ...

 

open local file with My_Browser

 

.... and type the command line for the "application used to perform

action".

 

For example, I use this for OffByOne:

 

"C:\Program Files\OffByOne\OB1.exe" "file://localhost/%1"

 

Leave "use DDE" unchecked.

 

BTW, Opera and Firefox don't require the "file://localhost/" prefix.

 

Thanks to all for your help.

 

- Franc Zabkar

--

Please remove one 'i' from my address when replying by email.