Computing Tidbits

After changing in the default application for text files to another application, text files opened normally with a double-click, but the icon didn’t change to that of the associated text application. In fact, no matter what was tried, including several changes in the default text  file program through various methods and some registry hacks, the icon stayed the same. Furthermore, sometime during this process, the context menu entry for “New ->Text Document” disappeared entirely.

The problem was easily fixed by merging a .reg file into the registry to restore the default association for text file extensions. The .reg file was available from DougKnox.com. In fact, the same page provides .reg files to restore 30 other file extension defaults for Windows® XP, so it’s a good resource to know about.

Another excellent resource is a TechBuzz article, How to Restore Default File Extension Type Associations? The article explains file associations, how to change them, and how and where to get resources to restore the default associations for WinXP, Vista, and Win7.

Finally, for a change in XP’s registry to take effect, the machine usually must be rebooted. However, a freeware  program, Explorestart v1.00, allows you to make a change in the registry and check the effect of the change without rebooting. Explorestart V1.00 works for Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows 2000, and Windows XP.

File association Freeware Programs:

Default Programs Editor is a freeware utility that works in XP/Vista/7+ with the following features:

• Add, edit, and remove context menu items
• Edit file type icon and description
• Change the ‘Open with…’ programs list
• Change context menu item icons
• Change an extension’s associated file type
• Add, edit, and remove autoplay handler programs
• Change the default autoplay handler
• Change autoplay options for any media type
• Optional install to the Control Panel
• Export changes to .reg files
• Remove unchangable default associations
• Disable “Search web for unknown extension” dialog

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Akelpad ver 4.5.5 is able to use ASpell (Win32 version) to spell check documents. You may receive the error: “ASpell core not found” after selecting Plugins ->Spell Check ->Check Document. Even although ASpell may be installed in Program Files, Akelpad searches for it in its default location of “C:\Program Files\AkelPad\AkelFiles\Plugs\SpellCheck” regardless of the core path setting under Plugins ->Spell Check ->Settings. In fact, if a path to ASpell is entered into the ASpell core path setting, the program may crash. These issues appear to be a bug in the program, but there is a workaround:

• Open Plugins ->Spell Check ->Setting (1st screenshot)
• Make sure no path is specified in the ASpell core path setting (2nd screenshot) and hit “OK”
• Copy the ASpell folders of data, bin, and dict to the Akelpad “\Plugs\SpellCheck” directory (3rd screenshot)
• Restart Akelpad. Spell checking should now work

Also see detailed instructions by JMV at Google Groups.

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