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Q184082: How to Use the Assoc Command to Change File Associations

Article: Q184082
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): WINNT:4.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbenv
Last Modified: 09-AUG-2001

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server, Enterprise Edition version 4.0 
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SUMMARY
=======

This article describes how to use the Assoc command to display or change file
extensions and their associations.

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

The Assoc command can be run only from a command prompt.

NOTE: When you use the Assoc command, the changes you make are immediately
written to the Software registry file.

- To display a list of file extensions and their associations, type "assoc"
  (without the quotation marks) at a command prompt, and then press ENTER.

- To display the association for a specific file extension, type "assoc
  .<xxx>" (without the quotation marks) at a command prompt, and then
  press ENTER, where <xxx> is the file extension whose association you
  want to view.

- To change the association for a specific file extension, type "assoc
  .<xxx>=<file type>" (without the quotation marks) at a command
  prompt, and then press ENTER, where <xxx> is the file extension whose
  association you want to change, and <file type> is the program, dynamic
  data exchange (DDE), or OLE object you want to associate with the file
  extension.

- To delete the association for a specific file extension, type "assoc
  .<xxx>= " (without the quotation marks) at a command prompt, and then
  press ENTER, where <xxx> is the file extension you want to delete.

  NOTE: You must type the trailing space after the equal sign (=). If you do
  not, the association is not deleted and you receive the following error
  message:

  File association not found for extension .<xxx>

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Keywords          : kbenv 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTSEntSearch kbWinNTSEnt400 kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400
Version           : WINNT:4.0
Issue type        : kbhowto

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