How do I associate my program name so that it can be started from the
Start>Run menu. I know that I can add the path to the exe to the system
path, but is there a way to do it without changing the path?

Dan Clash wrote:
> How do I associate my program name so that it can be started from the
> Start>Run menu. I know that I can add the path to the exe to the system
> path, but is there a way to do it without changing the path?

It needs to be on the system path. Go to Control Panel
>System>Advanced>Environmental Variables. Under System Variables, edit
the PATH so that the folder of the program is appended (!!!not
replacing) what is there already. Be VERY careful with this. In
particular, do not put the path anywhere but at the end of the current
string unless you are fully aware of the consequences.

Help Windows Find Programs and Documents
Programs and documents can be added to the registry so typing their name without their path in the Start - Run dialog box or shortcut enables Windows to find them.

This is a generic reg file. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and save it as anyname.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents.


In paths use \\ to seperate folder names in key paths as regedit uses a single \ to seperate it's key names. All reg files start with REGEDIT4. A semicolon turns a line into a comment. The @ symbol means to assign the value to the key rather than a named value.

The file doesn't have to exist. This can be used to set Word.exe to open Winword.exe. Use the exe extension to avoid having to type the extension. EG. Set the name to type to ie.exe then you only need to type ie in Start Run. If you set it to ie.txt you need to type ie.txt to execute the command.

This sample add IE.Txt (from IE5) to the registry so typing IE.Txt will open it. I think the file is called IE4.txt in IE4.

REGEDIT4
;The bolded name below is the name of the document or program, <filename>.<file extension>

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths\IE.txt]

;The @ means the path to the file is assigned to the default value for the key.
;The whole path in enclosed in a quotation mark ".

@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\IE.txt\""

;Optional Parameters. The semicolon means don't process the line. Remove it if you want to put it in the registry

;Informs the shell that the program accepts URLs.

;"useURL"="1"

;Sets the path that a program will use as its' default directory. This is commented out.

;"Path"="C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft Office\\Office\\"

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"Dan Clash" <DanClash@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:9A0AD538-16D3-4CA1-BCC0-E55E276625E4@microsoft.com...
> How do I associate my program name so that it can be started from the
> Start>Run menu. I know that I can add the path to the exe to the system
> path, but is there a way to do it without changing the path?

Dan,

See also:

Section "Application Registration" / App Paths here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/de...ived_types.asp

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Dan Clash" <DanClash@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:9A0AD538-16D3-4CA1-BCC0-E55E276625E4@microsoft.com...
How do I associate my program name so that it can be started from the
Start>Run menu. I know that I can add the path to the exe to the system
path, but is there a way to do it without changing the path?

Good information, except it's worth pointing out the first line with REGEDIT4 in it won't work with XP, it's "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00."

eg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths\Acrobat.exe]
"Path"="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat"
@="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat\\Acrobat.exe"
"David Candy" <.> wrote in message news:eSB7a38FGHA.2912@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
Help Windows Find Programs and Documents
Programs and documents can be added to the registry so typing their name without their path in the Start - Run dialog box or shortcut enables Windows to find them.

This is a generic reg file. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and save it as anyname.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents.


In paths use \\ to seperate folder names in key paths as regedit uses a single \ to seperate it's key names. All reg files start with REGEDIT4.

It will quite happily work. Regedit supports old registry script files. It can even save as them. But I don't think you can do environmental variables with Regedit4 (ie Reg_Expand_SZ).

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"Box134" <box134@wooky.invalid> wrote in message news:eOBHjC%23FGHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
Good information, except it's worth pointing out the first line with REGEDIT4 in it won't work with XP, it's "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00."

eg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths\Acrobat.exe]
"Path"="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat"
@="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat\\Acrobat.exe"
"David Candy" <.> wrote in message news:eSB7a38FGHA.2912@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
Help Windows Find Programs and Documents
Programs and documents can be added to the registry so typing their name without their path in the Start - Run dialog box or shortcut enables Windows to find them.

This is a generic reg file. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and save it as anyname.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents.


In paths use \\ to seperate folder names in key paths as regedit uses a single \ to seperate it's key names. All reg files start with REGEDIT4.

REGEDIT4 works fine in Windows XP.

How to add, modify, or delete registry subkeys and values by using a
registration entries (.reg) file:
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310516

"RegistryEditorVersion is either "Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00" for
Windows 2000, Windows XP, and Windows Server 2003, or "REGEDIT4" for Windows
98 and Windows NT 4.0. The "REGEDIT4" header also works on Windows
2000-based, Windows XP-based, and Windows Server 2003-based computers."

JSI Tip 8615. Understanding Regedit.exe .reg files.:
http://www.jsifaq.com/subR/tip8600/rh8615.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Box134" <box134@wooky.invalid> wrote in message
news:eOBHjC%23FGHA.524@TK2MSFTNGP09.phx.gbl...
Good information, except it's worth pointing out the first line with
REGEDIT4 in it won't work with XP, it's "Windows Registry Editor Version
5.00."

eg:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App Paths]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\Curr entVersion\App
Paths\Acrobat.exe]
"Path"="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat"
@="D:\\Program Files\\Adobe\\Acrobat 5.0\\Acrobat\\Acrobat.exe"
"David Candy" <.> wrote in message
news:eSB7a38FGHA.2912@tk2msftngp13.phx.gbl...
Help Windows Find Programs and Documents
Programs and documents can be added to the registry so typing their name
without their path in the Start - Run dialog box or shortcut enables Windows
to find them.
This is a generic reg file. Copy the lines below to a new Text Document and
save it as anyname.reg. Edit it with your programs or documents.
In paths use \\ to seperate folder names in key paths as regedit uses a
single \ to seperate it's key names. All reg files start with REGEDIT4.

Well, I stand corrected. I was sure I'd tried merging Regedit4 files long
ago and it wouldn't work.

Thanks.

"Ramesh, MS-MVP" <ramesh@XOX.mvps.org> wrote in message
news:%23ukriK%23FGHA.3836@TK2MSFTNGP10.phx.gbl...
> REGEDIT4 works fine in Windows XP.
>