I have searched for your problem on Google and there does seem to be a bit of an issue with managing "default" file types in Vista. I cannot test this as I insisted that my PC had Vista removed and XP installed before it was delivered to me.
This is what I found on a Google search which may help. It comes from a site called annoyances.org. I have not tested the utility they refer to so I do not know if this is accessible. Edit File Types in Windows Vista Intended For Windows Vista only "File Type" associations are the links between your documents and the applications that create them. For instance, when you double-click a Microsoft Word Document on your desktop, Windows knows to start Word and instruct it to open the document because of the Microsoft Word Document file type. Likewise, when you click a website link in an email message, Windows knows which browser to open (e.g., Firefox, Internet Explorer) because of the HTTP Protocol file type. The Folder Options window in Windows Vista is missing the File Types tab found in earlier versions of Windows. So how do you edit file type associations in Windows Vista? There are three ways: Method #1 (on the fly): list of 3 items 1. Right-click a file of the type you want to change, and select Properties. 2. In the General tab, click the Change button. 3. Choose a program from the list, or click Browse to select an .EXE file on your hard disk. list end Method #2 (view a list of file types): list of 3 items 1. Open Control Panel. 2. In Control Panel Home, click Programs, and then click Make a file type always open in a specific program. Or, in the Classic View, open Default Programs and then click Associate a file type or protocol with a program. 3. Highlight a file type in the list and click Change Program. list end Unfortunately, neither method in Vista allows you to choose anything but the default programs, such as the programs listed in your files' context menus. If you want complete control over your file types, use this tool: Method #3 (File Type Doctor): list of 5 items 1. Download and install Creative Element Power Tools. 2. Open the Creative Element Power Tools Control Panel. 3. Turn on the Edit file type associations option, and click Accept. 4. Right-click a file of the type you want to change, and select Edit File Type to show this window: Graphic of Window File Type Doctor 5. Click Help if you need more information. list end Written by: Annoyances.org Last updated: Monday, April 2, 2007 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Sent: Friday, 28 November 2008 21:20 To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Hi I downloaded the Jarte program. I love the features. However, I am having the same issue assigning it to a file type. Now, it seems to me that my computer used to be setup where when I used a program to open a file once, the next time I wanted to open a file it reverted to the last program used for that file type. I wonder how I could turn on this automatic file association feature again? I tried to find this on a web search but came up with nothing. I will try again. I wanted to thank everyone who recommended Jarte. God bless, Mark -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon Overcast, 48.0°F Wind:WNW-300° at 6mph< ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Griffith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 11:39 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. It is on the Jaws User Home Page under programs. The link is on the bottom of all the emails posted I think. Regards David Griffith -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Sent: 28 November 2008 19:22 To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Hi The built in spell checker is why I was so intent on using HjPad. My spelling to paraphrase that country western song (ain't too g. u. d.) sometimes. Where does one find Jarte? God bless, Mark -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon Overcast, 46.0°F Wind:NNW-330° at 3mph ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerald Levy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 11:09 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Jarte does indeed have a builtin spell checker. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 1:50 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Hi Does Jarte have spell check? God bless, Mark -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon Overcast, 42.1°F Wind:SSE-150° at 3mph ----- Original Message ----- From: "Gerald Levy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 9:43 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Jarte works very well with all versions of JAWS. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Donald Marang" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 12:19 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. I also did the experiment of assigning HJPad to open text files. I have Vista Home Premium, and it worked fine. I do hate that dialog, since it rarely lets me make a selection in the list! The browse feature worked well. David, I think I will try out Jart . I have been having problems with Notepad and JAWS 10. Don Marang ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Griffith" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Friday, November 28, 2008 7:17 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. I have just experimented with assigning HJPad as the default text file program on an XP machine and there was no problem so this may be a Vista issue. Have you tried assigning any other program apart from HJPad to see if WordPad will release control of the text file type to another program? By the way there is an excellent replacement / "front end" for WordPad called Jart which has inbuilt support for Jaws and screenreaders. I personally have assigned this to both txt and rtf files. I also use Jart as the preferred program for reading all long documents. With Word I find Jaws crashes to a halt after reading for about 15 minutes at 51% speed. With Jart Jaws will happily read for as long as you like. I have never known it to pause or halt. The basic Jart program is free and very light on resources. It can even run from a pen drive. You might want to give it a try if your intention is to seek a replacement for WordPad. Regards David Griffith . . -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mark Sent: Thursday, 27 November 2008 16:58 To: blind-computing@jaws-users.com Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Hi Negoslav Sabev, Sadly I was unable to accomplish what I wanted to do. I am still looking for the answer. When I select a text file and simulate a right click on it a menu opens. I choose "open with". I am next given a list of twelve programs along with an option to look for more. So, I look for more programs after going through a couple menus I am faced with a list of 71 programs. One of these programs is called freedom scientific. Under this is Jaws (three versions). I select the newest version and press the letter h for HjPad. I have to press it twice. Then I am on HjPad. Next I tab to OK and press enter. Now, I am back on a screen that has the original twelve programs and the box that asks if I always want to use this program to open the file. It is checked. Then I click OK. the screen goes away and I am stuck with wordPad opening my text files just like before I started the process. I feel like there is something wrong. I am thinking that HjPad should be added to the list of twelve on that first screen but how to get it there is another question. God bless, Mark -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon Overcast, Mist 33.1°F Wind:Calm< ----- Original Message ----- From: "Negoslav Sabev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Thursday, November 27, 2008 3:03 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Did you accomplish what you wanted? ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:19 PM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. Hi I am using vista home addition. God bless, Mark -- Currently in Pendleton, Eastern Oregon Regional At Pendleton, Oregon Overcast, Mist 33°F Wind:NNE-030° at ----- Original Message ----- From: "Negoslav Sabev" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blind-computing@jaws-users.com> Sent: Wednesday, November 26, 2008 11:25 AM Subject: Re: [Blind-Computing] Assigning a program to open a text file. > Jacob Kruger wrote: >> Apart from actually browsing for the file, you'll initially be in the >> recommended group of applications, but if you move down, you'll come to a >> list of almost all installed applications that reckon they can handle the >> file type. > > > I think this doesn't work for me in vista home premium, there is only this > first list, and arrowing does lead to nowhere. I'm not sure what he is > using though. > > Negoslav > > Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: > http://www.jaws-users.com > Visit the Blind Computing home page at: > http://www.blind-computing.com > Address for the list archives: > http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ > To post to this group, send email to > blind-computing@jaws-users.com > To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject > or body of a blank message to: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Use the following address in order to contact the management team > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the > following address: > [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Visit the JAWS Users List home page at: http://www.jaws-users.com Visit the Blind Computing home page at: http://www.blind-computing.com Address for the list archives: http://www.mail-archive.com/blind-computing@jaws-users.com/ To post to this group, send email to blind-computing@jaws-users.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help from Mailman with your account Put the word help in the subject or body of a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Use the following address in order to contact the management team [EMAIL PROTECTED] If you wish to join the JAWS Users List send a blank email to the following address: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
