INFO: Shell Extensions for File Names with No File Extension

View products that this article applies to.

This article was previously published under Q236014

Expand all | Collapse all

SUMMARY

Shell extensions for file names with no file extension can be registered under the following:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.]

For example, to associate a program (for example, Notepad.exe) to open all files with no extension, use the following registry keys:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.]
@=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.\shell\open\command]
@="<path to notepad.exe> %1"

Here is an alternative method:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.]
@="NoExtFile"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\NoExtFile]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\NoExtFile\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\NoExtFile\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\NoExtFile\shell\open\command]
@="<path to notepad.exe> %1"

NOTE: "NoExtFile" is not a predefined name, and therefore it can be anything. Adding other shell extensions is similar to adding shell extensions for file names with extensions.