Choose Program

All Shell Extensions Add To Send To Add To Templates Archive Contents Batch Rename Browse Media Cascade On Start Menu Change Date & Time Change Extension Choose Program Command Prompt

Convert Audio Files Convert Images Copy/Move To Folder Copy Path Create Virtual Drive Delete On Reboot Duplicate File Encrypt/Decrypt File Explore Rooted Extended Delete Extended Search & Replace

Find Folder Folder Color Folder Contents Folder Size Go To Folder Image Size Junction Point Target Mask By Type MD5/CRC32/SHA1 Media Info New File Here

New Folder Here New From Template Open In Notepad Play Media Album Portfolio Preview Print Folder Listing Recent Files Resize Images Run With Parameters Select By Type

Set Attributes Shortcut Target Shred File Shut Down Split File Synchronize Folder Up One Level View Icons Zip Files Zip Folder

 

The Open With feature in Windows is a hit-and-miss affair. Even in Windows XP, where it's always available on the menu, you have no control over it, and programs seem to appear and disappear from it without reason. The Choose Program shell extension lets you build your own list of programs for each file extension: just right-click a file, select Choose Program from the shortcut menu and double-click the program you want to use. (You can even create a Choose Program list for folders.)

Adding a program to the list for a particular type of file just involves selecting it from a standard file dialog. You can also copy entire program lists for one file type to another, as the screenshot to the right shows. For instance, if you've created a list of programs for .JPG files, you can make the same list available for .GIF files with a couple of clicks.

You can also view all your listed programs and add one to the list for another file type with a double-click, instead of hunting it down in a file dialog.

If you uninstall a listed program, it's removed from the Choose Program lists automatically, saving you the need to remove it by hand.