Is there a way to always trigger the "open with" dialogue?

Hello!

During my everyday computer use i not only view, but actually edit content. Having a file type associated by default with a viewer/player application is very counter productive for me at times, because i have to use the right click menu every single time if i want to open a file for editing.

So, is there a way to always trigger the "open with" dialogue for certain extensions? I tried removing file association defaults for .jpg files to see if that produces the effect i was looking for, but i can't, i can only change the default association, but not remove it, which is not what i am looking for.

I use Open with now and then and can change the program a particular file type will open in.
On this image note the two red arrows, the right is for finding a different program than in the top list and the left is checked to change the default to that program, without doing both the top list will not change.

Yes, this is the window i want to trigger every time i double click a file (the Windows 8 version of it to be more exact).

I do not want to change associations, i want to be given this window every time i want to open a file.

In order for this to work, i would have to clear all program defaults of the particular file type i want to open this way, but i can not clear defaults, only reassign.

Hello Asagrim,

You might see if using OPTION ONE in the tutorial below to unassociate the file types you want may help with this. You'll need to make sure to leave the "Use this app for all xxx files" unchecked each time to avoid having it always open with the selected app.

File Extension Type - Unassociate - Windows 7 Help Forums

One draw back is that when file types are unassociated, they will only have the default blank white icon.

I'm not sure that using "Open with" like this with unassociated files will save you any time though. You will still have to uncheck the box, click on "More Options", then select the app you want to open the file with.

Normally, you would just right click on the file, click on Open with, and select an app to temporarily open it with for just that time. This way, you can still have a default app, and the file types will use the icon of the default app.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7811-open-change-default-program-windows-8-a.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Brink said:

I'm not sure that using "Open with" like this with unassociated files will save you any time though. You will still have to uncheck the box, click on "More Options", then select the app you want to open the file with.

Click to expand...

Oh well, if that's the case, it doesn't save me any time indeed, as of now i have been using the "Open with" submenu of the right click menu. (And i do not want to populate my already way too long right click menu with another entry.)

I also tried pinning these editors to my taskbar, and drag the files i want to edit on these pinned icons, but the default action for drag&drop is not open, but another pin to the jumplist (how about that?) ...



It drives me mad, that android seems to be more productive in this regard, where - if you don't have program defaults -, every time you open a file, you get to choose what app to open it with!

I haven't tried this below in Windows 8.1 yet, but you might see if it may help to keep your "Open with" menu cleaned up when needed.

Open with - Clean Up and Remove Programs - Windows 7 Help Forums