While searching for some simple C# code to set the program and icon associated with a file type in Windows I ran across these beautiful functions that illustrate how to accomplish this by using the registry.
All credit goes to cristiscu (source).
Here’s the code:
using Microsoft.Win32; using System.Runtime.InteropServices; public class FileAssociation { // Associate file extension with progID, description, icon and application public static void Associate(string extension, string progID, string description, string icon, string application) { Registry.ClassesRoot.CreateSubKey(extension).SetValue("", progID); if (progID != null && progID.Length > 0) using (RegistryKey key = Registry.ClassesRoot.CreateSubKey(progID)) { if (description != null) key.SetValue("", description); if (icon != null) key.CreateSubKey("DefaultIcon").SetValue("", ToShortPathName(icon)); if (application != null) key.CreateSubKey(@"Shell\Open\Command").SetValue("", ToShortPathName(application) + " \"%1\""); } } // Return true if extension already associated in registry public static bool IsAssociated(string extension) { return (Registry.ClassesRoot.OpenSubKey(extension, false) != null); } [DllImport("Kernel32.dll")] private static extern uint GetShortPathName(string lpszLongPath, [Out] StringBuilder lpszShortPath, uint cchBuffer); // Return short path format of a file name private static string ToShortPathName(string longName) { StringBuilder s = new StringBuilder(1000); uint iSize = (uint)s.Capacity; uint iRet = GetShortPathName(longName, s, iSize); return s.ToString(); } } |
And here’s how you’d use it:
if (!FileAssociation.IsAssociated(".ext")) Associate(".ext", "ClassID.ProgID", "ext File", "YourIcon.ico", "YourApplication.exe"); |
A couple caveats to this code that I’ve noticed:
- The second parameter passed to Associate() can be any string you’d like to use to represent your program in the registry, just make sure you’re consistent with it.
- ToShortPathName() will return an empty string if the file path you pass it doesn’t exist, i.e. if you pass it a path to an icon file that doesn’t exist it won’t work.
- IsAssociated() will return true if the file extension is associated with any program, not just yours. If you want to be specific about it checking whether it’s associated with your program, then just check whether it’s default key is set to your programs ProgID.
OK I found the origin of my problem, I had to delete the key HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.log\UserChoice which was overwriting the change made in registry.
Hi, thanks for the code. I tried it but it doesn’t work for me. I’m trying to open “.log” files with my application by default, but they are still opened with Notepad after modifying the registry.
I tried to modify the ProgId from “txtfile” to my ProgId in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.log or HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.log keys.
When I choose my application as default program by right-clicking on a log file it works but these registry keys are not modified I don’t understand…
Thanks! This is the only thing I could find that worked after a lot of searches. One thing though, the icon wont show until you refresh the folder (if your folder is already open). This code refreshes the open windows:
When I try to use this, I get this error:
The name ‘Associate’ does not exist in the current context.
Any thoughts? Very new to C#. Thanks.
Hy Dave,
Maybe You didn’t have copied all this code into your code. This code isn’t bulit in in the Framework so you must add this code to be able to use it.
Best regard,
Dule
the icon does not show for the file association.
Almost everything work, except icon being displayed.
I gave a path for the icon, but it doesn’t work anyway.
I tried using:
Application.StartupPath + @”\icon.exe”;
but it didn’t work, also I tried:
Application.ExecutablePath //(and added ,1 after it (in associate function)), but it also didn’t work.
Anyone know how to fix icon problem? :F
Dang I meant icon.ico -.-
it is muh easy and fast to get the path if you use Application.StartUpPath(); function. that is the better way instead of using the DllImport attribute
非常好。
Promising, but… when I have my file type associated, how do I open it within my code, I mean, how does my app know that there is a file waiting to be opened?
Hey Darth,
If you’d like you’re application to handle files when it’s opened, such as if the user double-clicks on a file that you’ve associated with your program, you need to check for the path of the file in your program’s command-line arguments. Like so:
If you’d like to loop through all the files that might be sent to your program you can do it like this:
If you are using ClickOnce:
use AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetupInformation.ActivationArguments.ActivationData
(null if no arguments)
instead of
Mey Michael, thanks for the tip!
kool