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Test
Your System
If you have Microsoft Word or any of its
derivatives (Microsoft Office, Office XP, etc.) currently
installed on your computer, it may already be set-up to launch when your
browser starts the download of a DOC, DOT, or RTF file. To test
your system, click on this test
RTF Document.
Diagnostic
Three possibilities exist:
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The "Save Location" dialog box will appear, asking for a location
(directory) in which to save the file.
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A "Choice" dialog box will appear, asking if you want View the file in
the application or download to a 'Location'.
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Microsoft Word will launch and the file displayed while your Browser is
still active.
In the case of No. 2 or 3 above; you're done. The association has
already been created. You don't have to read anymore.
Create Association
If all you see is the "Save Location" dialog box, then your goal is to
create an 'association' between the File Type "RTF" and an application
that can open the RTF File Type and display the text file data.
The following may seem a little convoluted, but that is the nature of
MS-Windows. However, with just a little work here, the results are
actually quite impressive. With your System properly configured, when
you click on a Filename, the file will be downloaded, MS-Word will be
launched and the file will be displayed retaining all of its formatting
and giving you the power and flexibility of having the file in a "Full
Blown" word processor with features like; Save, Save As and Cut & Paste
at your fingertips.
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From the Windows Desk Top, click on My Computer, then View, then
Folder Options, and last File Types.
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Find MS-Word; it will probably be under "M" for Microsoft, Not "W" for
Word.
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You can use other applications such Word Perfect or Quick View, however,
the formatting may not be just right.
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Set the "Open" function to the path for the application you intend to
use.
(To find the path, click the right mouse button on the Application Icon
and select "Properties" and then "Shortcut"; the path will be displayed
in "Target".)
The following is an excerpt for the Windows Help System (My Computer
| View | Folder Options | File Types):
To change which program starts when you open a file:
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In My Computer or Windows Explorer, click the View menu, and then click
Folder Options.
Click the File Types tab.
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In the list of file types, click the one you want to change.
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The settings for that file type are shown in the File Type Details box.
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Click Edit.
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In the Actions box, click Open.
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Click Edit, and then specify the program you want to use to open files
that have this extension.
Tip: For Help on an item, click on the “?” at the top of the dialog box,
and then click the item. |
