Opening html files with my text editor

How to configure the right-click menu in Windows to do this?

[Robert Charlton]

How do I configure the right-click menu in Windows to open html files with my text editor? I have all sorts of programs that I don't want which show up when I right click... How do I add my text editor (in this case, NoteTab Pro) to the list?

[keyplyr]

One way is to rename NotePad to something like NotePad2, then move NoteTab Pro to that directory, and rename it NotePad so that when you right click and choose "source" your new program will open the html page. I did this with EditPad. Works great until you try and open an html page that was actually created (or saved) with NotePad, then IE will default back to NotePad.

[tedster]

Here's a reference for customizing the right click menu [jfitz.com] - requires editing the registry.

[Robert Charlton]

You guys are fast... my modem had hardly cooled off.

>>requires editing the registry<<

I was afraid of that... but that "customizing the right click menu" is one of the clearest articles I've seen about anything on the Web. Thanks....

keyplyr - NoteTab Pro has a built-in option to replace NotePad, so I'm already viewing the source with it... but I've wanted that right-click option for a while.

[tedster]

Yeah, that's some really nice technical writing. Makes using regedit a little less anxiety filled!

Having various HTML editors available on the right click menu has been a BIG timesaver for me. I highly recommend it. Think I might add TopStyle to the .css file extension as well.

[MikeFoster]

Thanks for that link tedster, I've needed to know how to do that thru the registry.

Robert, run Windows Explorer, click the "Tools" menu, select "Folder Options", and click the "File Types" tab. Now click in the "Registered file types" list box and search for (type the first letter of) the name registered for .html files - mine is "HTML Documents" but yours may be different. When you find it, select it and click the "Edit" button.

There is an "Actions" list box. These items are commands in the context menu for .html files. You can edit the "Edit" action and specify your own text editor.

As you look at the "Edit File Type" dialog box you can see how much control you have over the context menus.

[txbakers]

TextPad (www.textpad.com) has an option that will insert itself on the context menu. Virtually any file that you right click on can be opened in TextPad - a plain text editor. (I hate to call it a barebones editor because it does so dang much!)

[msr986]

In Win98/ME this can be accomplished through the folder options menu.

First open any local folder, such as "my documents".

Go To >View then >Folder Options.

Select "File Types" tab.

Select the type of document you wish to modify. In this case, select "HTML Document"

Click on "Edit"

You may now add an "action" for this file type by clicking on "New". You will be promted for an action name (which will show on the right click menu), and the application file name.

You may also delete unused right click items from here!

<added>
See, just like MikeFoster said above (and was *much* quicker to mention)
</added>

[Robert Charlton]

Mike/msr - Thanks for the tips. I figured it out.... Less scary than going into the registry. It's nice to know how to do it both ways.

[Rhys]

Hi-
There is an easy low-tech ways to do this..
Method : Put a shortcut to your favourite text editor in the C:/windows/send to folder. Then to invoke it, R/click on the file and choose "send to/your editor".
P.S. you can put anything in there that you want. Like, I keep a shortcut to PhotoShop there so that I have the option of opening any type of picture files with it.

[tedster]

Now that's a sweet tip, Rhys. Thanks

I just set up my "send to"menu for Photoshop, Fireworks and GifAnimator. Nice to have those choices easily at hand.

[bruhaha]

"Send to" is a good option for your most commonly used applications, but if you use this approach very much, the drop down list can get rather long and cumbersome.

Better approach --to customize the "Open With" menu for each filetype. You can, of course, edit the registry directly. OR you might use a neat little freeware program called "Open Expert" baxbex.com/openexpert.html

(edited by: rcjordan at 3:55 am (utc) on April 6, 2002)