I often use Notepad to open plain text files. If the extension of file is of unknown type then I have to browse a list of applications to open that file which is quite painful. Here is a small registry tweak which adds "Open with Notepad" to right click context menu for all file types.
Manual Registry Tweak
Go to start menu and in search or run box type regedit and press enter to open registry editor. Now browse to following registry key:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
Right-click on "shell" and choose to create a new key "Open with Notepad". Create a new key below that one called "command". Double-click on the (Default) value in the right-hand pane and enter in the following:
notepad.exe %1
The change will take place instantaneously and you could see Open with Notepad option in right click context menu.
Disclaimer: Modifying the registry can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. I cannot guarantee that problems resulting from modifications to the registry can be solved. Use the information provided at your own risk.
Comments (2)
I like this in principle because I too like the option of seeing many kinds of text files in a text editor. But you've got to have a better text editor than Notepad. Here's one: Notepad++, available from http://notepad-plus.sourceforge.net/uk/site.htm. When you install Notepad++, it automatically adds an "Open with Notepad++" to your context menus.
Posted by John Flack | February 20, 2009 7:15 PM
Posted on February 20, 2009 19:15
Really helpful. Have always wanted to do this myself but could not find a way out.
Thanks for explaining the method so lucidly.
Posted by Rohit | March 22, 2009 12:36 AM
Posted on March 22, 2009 00:36