You can do this all through the registry:
Unhide file extensions for known filetypes
You can use the following DWORD to make the file extensions visible:
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
Setting the default Explorer view to 'List'
Setting default explorer view is somewhat more difficult, I always have it in my options when nLiting (you might want to look into nLite, it can automate a lot of stuff during installation and set system settings like the ones you describe).
I assume this key will work (taken straight from my registry), but assuming it doesn't make sure to back up your existing value for Settings
first.
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams]
"Settings"=hex:08,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,77,7e,13,73,35,cf,11,ae,\
69,08,00,2b,2e,12,62,04,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,43,00,00,00
Automatically opening certain filetypes in Notepad++
Now, for the automatic opening in Notepad++ go to these keys (or create them):
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.h]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.c]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.cpp]
And then create/modify the default string (look at the other keys in Classes
to see the way it is done).
This registry file should handle your specific needs:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced]
"HideFileExt"=dword:00000000
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Streams]
"Settings"=hex:08,00,00,00,04,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,00,77,7e,13,73,35,cf,11,ae,\
69,08,00,2b,2e,12,62,04,00,00,00,01,00,00,00,43,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.h]
@="nppfile"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.c]
@="nppfile"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\.cpp]
@="nppfile"
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\nppfile\DefaultIcon]
@=hex(2):25,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,\
00,73,00,25,00,5c,00,4e,00,6f,00,74,00,65,00,70,00,61,00,64,00,2b,00,2b,00,\
5c,00,6e,00,6f,00,74,00,65,00,70,00,61,00,64,00,2b,00,2b,00,2e,00,65,00,78,\
00,65,00,00,00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\nppfile\shell\open\command]
@=hex(2):25,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,52,00,6f,00,6f,00,74,00,25,\
00,5c,00,53,00,79,00,73,00,74,00,65,00,6d,00,33,00,32,00,5c,00,4e,00,4f,00,\
54,00,45,00,50,00,41,00,44,00,2e,00,45,00,58,00,45,00,20,00,25,00,31,00,00,\
00
Yes I know nLite, it's a great tool, but that won't help if I'm working on a machine where it's already installed. Anyway thanks for the help it's greatly appreciated. So normally I just paste all this into a text file rename it to .reg and it shall work ? – jokoon – 2010-12-22T12:43:43.470
I could make you a reg if you give me the location that Notepad++ will be installed in :) – Matthieu Cartier – 2010-12-22T12:45:39.443
by default, "C:\Program Files\Notepad++" – jokoon – 2010-12-22T17:20:20.063
another problem, when I associate file with notepad++, I can't change one icon without changing all other filetypes that have been associated with notepad++. How do you set extensions icons in the registry ? – jokoon – 2010-12-22T17:21:40.577
1Added the reg for you. – Matthieu Cartier – 2010-12-22T17:25:51.307
To do that you set DefaultIcon, you can see how I've done it in the reg, it's very easy to manipulate :) If you just want to change the icon for another type, duplicate the key (like nppfile) and then change the value for DefaultIcon to what you're wanting. – Matthieu Cartier – 2010-12-22T17:30:43.240