Registering Verbs for File Name Extensions

The association of a file name extension with an application generally has a preferred action that occurs when a user double-clicks a file. This preferred action is linked to a verb, for example open, that corresponds to the action.

You can register verbs that are associated with a programmatic identifier (ProgID) for an extension by using the Shell key located at HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\progid\shell. For more information, see Creating a File Association.

Registering Standard Verbs

The operating system recognizes the following standard verbs:

• Open

• Edit

• Play

• Print

• Preview

Whenever possible, register a standard verb. The most common choice is the Open verb. Use the Edit verb only if there is a clear difference between opening the file and editing the file. For example, opening an .htm file displays it in the browser, whereas editing an .htm file starts an HTML editor. Standard verbs are localized with the operating system locale.

Project files should be registered to start a new instance of Visual Studio when a user opens the file. The following example illustrates a standard verb registration for a Visual C# project.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.csproj]
@="VisualStudio.csproj.8.0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.csproj\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.csproj\OpenWithList\VSLauncher.exe]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.csproj\OpenWithProgids]
"VisualStudio.csproj.8.0"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\VSLauncher.exe]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\VSLauncher.exe\Shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\VSLauncher.exe\Shell\Open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\VSLauncher.exe\Shell\Open\Command]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\MSEnv\\VSLauncher.exe \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.csproj.8.0]
@="C# Project file"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.csproj.8.0\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\VisualStudioPath\\VC#\\VCSPackages\\csproj.dll,0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.csproj.8.0\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.csproj.8.0\shell\Open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.csproj.8.0\shell\Open\Command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Common Files\\Microsoft Shared\\MSEnv\\VSLauncher.exe\" \"%1\""

To open a file in an existing instance of Visual Studio, register a DDEEXEC key. The following example illustrates a standard verb registration for a Visual C# .cs file.

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cs]
@="VisualStudio.cs.8.0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cs\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cs\OpenWithList\devenv.exe]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.cs\OpenWithProgids]
"VisualStudio.cs.8.0"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0]
@="C# Source file"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\VisualStudioPath\\VC#\\VCSPackages\\csproj.dll,1"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell\Open]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell\Open\Command]
@="\"C:\\VisualStudioPath\\Common7\\IDE\\devenv.exe\" /dde \"%1\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell\Open\ddeexec]
@="Open(\"%1\")"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell\Open\ddeexec\Application]
@="VisualStudio.8.0"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\VisualStudio.cs.8.0\shell\Open\ddeexec\Topic]
@="system"

Setting the Default Verb

The default verb is the action that is executed when a user double-clicks a file in Windows Explorer. The default verb is the verb specified as the default value for the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\progid\Shell key. If no value is specified, the default verb is the first verb specified in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\progid\Shell key list.

See Also

Reference

Creating a File Association

Concepts

Managing Side-by-Side File Associations