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Q87176: Associating .EXE, .COM, or .BAT Files with MS-DOS Shell

Article: Q87176
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:4.x,5.0,5.0a,6.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 17-DEC-2000

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 4.0, 4.01, 5.0, 5.0a, 6.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

If you are creating batch programs, you might find it useful to associate the
.BAT extension with a text editor (for example, MS-DOS Editor). So when you
double-click on a .BAT file in an MS-DOS Shell file list, Editor will run and
load that batch file.

However, if you associate a program with an .EXE, .COM, or .BAT extension, you
will be unable to run program files that have the associated extension by
double-clicking on the file in Shell's file list or by selecting the file and
choosing Open from the File menu.

To run a program file that has an associated extension, create a program item to
start the program file. If you are using MS-DOS version 5.0 or 6.0, you can also
use the Run command from the File menu.

MORE INFORMATION
================

MS-DOS 4.x
----------

MS-DOS 4.x Shell allows you to associate the .BAT extension with a program. You
cannot associate .COM or .EXE extensions.

If you associate a program with a .BAT extension, you will be unable to run a
batch file by double-clicking on it in the file list or by selecting the file
and choosing Open from the File menu. To run a program file with a .BAT
extension, create a program item for the program.

MS-DOS 5.0, 5.0a, and 6.0
-------------------------

MS-DOS 5.0 or 6.0 Shell allows you to associate a .EXE, .COM, or .BAT extension
with a program.

If you associate a program with an .EXE, .COM, or .BAT extension, you will be
unable to run program files that have the associated extension by
double-clicking on the file in the file list or by selecting the file and
choosing Open from the File menu. To run a program file that has an associated
extension, use the Run option from the File menu or create a program item for
the program.

REFERENCES
==========

"Microsoft MS-DOS User's Guide and Reference," versions 5.0 and 5.0a, pages
58-60

For more information on the Associate command in MS-DOS 4.0, 4.01, and 4.01a,
see:

"Microsoft MS-DOS Shell User's Guide," versions 1, page 77-79

Additional query words: 4.00 4.00a 4.01 4.01a 5.00 5.00a 6.00 dosshell

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Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS400 kbMSDOS600 kbMSDOS500 kbMSDOS401 kbMSDOS500a
Version           : MS-DOS:4.x,5.0,5.0a,6.0

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