Help opening file

[Little Nell]

Wendy kindly sent me a Gedcom from the generations game challenge, but my computer won't open it.

It says I need to "create an association in the Set Associations control panel"

where is this and how do I do it?

[TrevorFranklin]

right click on the file
Select Open with
Navigate to the application you use for reading your Ged files (poss FTM?)
Put a tick in the always open with this box

[Little Nell]

Trevor

Thank you. When I right click I just get an Open option and when I click on that I get the same message as before.

[TrevorFranklin]

Further down the list you should see Open With

[TrevorFranklin]

dare I ask
Are you Vista or XP?

The Windows Vista tool you use to change file associations in located in the Control Panel click on the Default Programs icon
you then have two choices for changing file associations:
1. Set your default programs
2. Associate a file type or protocol with a program
Choose 2
You then get a very long list of file extensions, including a description and the name of their associated program if it is known. To modify the program associated with a particular extension, you select the extension and click the Change Program button. then navigate to the required program

In XP Go to control panel > tools > folder options
Select the file types tab
Scroll down the list until you get to the required extension, then use the change button and navigate to the required application.
If it is not listed, use the Add button and set it up.

(Though in XP the right click method should work, and it's easier)

[Little Nell]

Trevor

I don't get the Open with option. I have Windows Vista and have found the long list of file exensons, but it doesn't have .ged which is the file Wendy sent me.

[TrevorFranklin]

Try this
Right click the file
select Properties
Click on the General tab
Select Type Of File
Then Change
Choose a program from the list of reccomended programmes or click Browse to select one.

Information from
Windows Vista Tips, Security, Downloads, Features, News, Views, & More
Run by professional Microsoft users

[Little Nell]

Trevor

It doesn't say any of that

It says

Open
Print
Save as
Save all
Quick view
Add
Remove

and only Open is in bold.

[TrevorFranklin]

You are right clicking on the attachment.
You need to save it to your PC first before right clicking on it

Trevor

It doesn't say any of that

It says

Open
Print
Save as
Save all
Quick view
Add
Remove

and only Open is in bold.

[Little Nell]

I tried using the link you gave but when I click on Properties (from the File tab) it doesn't look like the one on the website!!!!

Would it be possible for Wendy to send it again with a different file extension? What would you suggest?

[Little Nell]

Just seen your last post. Will try. Thanks for your help.

[jules of the desert]

Just been following this thread and hoping for an answer. I have the same message as Nell when I try and open a .pdf attached to an email (I have Vista - Windows Mail). The only way I can open it is to save it as an attachment, then go into word then open it - its a right pain!!

Jxx

[TrevorFranklin]

If the association is created in Vista
it should automatically open in the chosen when clicked on

Follow the thread and see if you have it created correctly

(yawn, time for bed now)

Trev

Just been following this thread and hoping for an answer. I have the same message as Nell when I try and open a .pdf attached to an email (I have Vista - Windows Mail). The only way I can open it is to save it as an attachment, then go into word then open it - its a right pain!!

Jxx

[jules of the desert]

Thanks Trev

Oooh the penny has dropped:o. So the reason I can't open the .pdf is because the sender is not on Vista - got it now. Thanks

Night Night

Jxx

[Cloggie]

Nell, if Trevor's suggestion hasn't worked (although I can't see why it shouldn't), what about saving the gedcom attachment to your computer, then opening your family tree program and opening the file in that?

(in FTM, click on File > Open, and then browse (using "Look in:") to find the saved gedcom file attachment)

[Cloggie]

Thanks Trev

Oooh the penny has dropped:o. So the reason I can't open the .pdf is because the sender is not on Vista - got it now. Thanks

Night Night

Jxx

It has nothing to do with the sender, but the program associated with the file type on your computer. To summarise Trevor's instructions (hope you don't mind Trev! ) :

First, you need to save the file (attachment) to your PC.
Then:
right-click on the file
select Open with
Navigate/Browse to the application you use to read the file (= Adobe Reader for PDF files)
Put a tick in the "always open with this program" box (in Vista, tick the "Always use the selected program to open this type of file" box)

This should work in both XP and Vista.
Alternatively, see Trevor's instructions in post #5.

I wonder if the reason you can't open PDF files is because you haven't got Adobe Reader installed? If that's the case, you can download it here: Adobe - Adobe Reader Download - All versions

[TrevorFranklin]

Thanks Sarah
She has summerised exactly what you need there Jules

[WendyPusey]

Nell, I hope you managed to open the gedcom. Let me know if you still have problems.

[Little Nell]

Hallo

I've done it by going into my PAF and creating a new file!

Off to digest the info now!

[Little Nell]

It's looking good, thank you so much Wendy!