How to Create Multiple Associations for One File Extension

This article demonstrates how to create more than one association for a file extension.

The example in this article demonstrates how to associate the .doc extension with both Microsoft Word for Windows and WordPad. You can use this method to associate other extensions with other programs.

To associate the .doc extension with Microsoft Word for Windows and WordPad, follow these steps:

1. Double-click My Computer.
2. On the View menu, click Options (or Folder Options).
3. Click the File Types tab.
4. In the Registered File Types box, click Microsoft Word 6.0 Document.
5. Click the Edit button.
6. Click the New button.
7. In the Action box, type Open with WordPad. In the Application Used To Perform Action box, enter
   
   "<path>:\wordpad.exe" "%1"
   
   where <path> is the full path to Wordpad.exe. The quotation marks are required.
8. Click OK.

If you double-click a .doc file, it opens with Microsoft Word. However, you can now use the right mouse button to click a .doc file and then click Open With WordPad on the menu that appears to open the file in WordPad.