Otherwise,
Windows just takes its best guess. You can, of course, change the default by
setting the (Default) value to the name of any action key shown here.
Figure 3-15. The Set Associations window??”accessed through Control Panel ??? Default
Programs ??? Associate a file type or protocol with a program??”just plain sucks
134 | Chapter 3: The Registry
Inside each action key is a subkey named command (and perhaps another
named ddeexec). Inside the command key is a (Default) value that specifies the
full path and filename of the program to run. Right-click an .xlsx file and
The Evils of UserChoice
This is a new addition to Windows Vista, and a nasty one at that. If you rightclick
a file, select Open With, and then select a default application (or if you use
Vista??™s own File Types tool, discussed later in this chapter), Windows doesn??™t
actually change the file type. Instead, Vista creates a new key for the filename
extension in HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\
CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\, and then in that key, a UserChoice key
with the full path of the program you??™ve chosen, like this:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
FileExts\.wav\UserChoice
The point of the UserChoice key is to prevent applications from changing your
defaults without your permission; as long as that UserChoice key exists, Windows
ignores all the actions defined in the ordinary file type key.
Like so many other patchwork features in Windows, the UserChoice system
just doesn??™t work that well.
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