PC Training & Consulting Weblog

Determine Which Programs Open Your Code Files

April 12, 2004

Q: When I use Microsoft Internet Explorer's (MSIE) command to ''View Source'', the result does not open in Notepad (as is normal) but in a different program. How can I change this option back to Notepad?

MSIE has an option to determine which program is your HTML editor (also usually Notepad), email, etc. In MSIE, use Tools, Internet Options, Programs.

Unfortunately, that won't fix this particular problem. The source viewer is a different option. You have at least two choices:

Edit the registry

Start, Run, regedit. Follow this path:
HKEY LOCAL MACHINE\software\microsoft\internet explorer\view source editor\editor name
replace the program there with c:\windows\system32\notepad.exe

Get TweakUI (free from Microsoft)

PC Training & Consulting Weblog: Microsoft PowerToys for Windows XP

Q: When I click an external JavaScript file (.js) to open it, it opens in Macromedia Dreamweaver. I want to use Notepad instead. How can I select Notepad as the default editor for JavaScript (or HTML and others)?

Here's one easy way (there are others). Locate the icon for a .js file. Click the right mouse button over that icon and look for an ''Open with'' command (not just ''Open'', but ''Open with''). This will bring up a list of programs which should include Notepad.exe (or you may have to browse). Select the program you want to use and check the checkbox that says ''always use this program''.

If ''Open with'' doesn't appear on the context menu (with a right mouse button click), hold down the shift key as you right mouse click. mjh