Make Word default app for wpd files (7)

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A quick question: I would like to make files with the .wpd extension open (by default) in Word with the WordPerfect 6 translator. (There’s no copy of WordPerfect on this machine.) Does this require editing an Open string in the Registry?

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You can create associations in Windows Explorer using Tools, Folder Options, File Types. But the Registry route might be quicker if you can get a reliable import file. Or… quickest of all, if the file type is unrecognized, right-click it, choose Open With…, then Word, and check the box to save that association. (If the file type is recognized as belonging to another application, using Shift-right-click should allow you to use Open with…) Hope this helps.

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I’ve tried the “File types” method, making Winword the default application for opening .wpd files. But the result is a message that Word cannot open the file. (I assume it’s because it’s expecting a Word document.) If I open Word, use File | Open, and select *.wpd as the file type and then open the WP document, Word uses the proper converter and all goes (reasonably) well. My question is, does someone have a .reg file that makes Word open .wpd files with the proper import filter automatically when a wpd file is double-clicked.

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I think Word studies the header of the file to determine its type rather than relying on the extension, but I could be wrong.

Try enabling the option on the Tools, Options, General tab for “Confirm conversion at Open.” This will tell you the wrong guess that Word is making. That might not lead to a solution, but it would be a clue.

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After associating *.wpd with Word, opening up a *.wpd file from Explorer opens a new instance of Word every time. Is there a way to change this?

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Which version of Word do you have?

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Word 97 SR2, Windows 98.

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Try replicating the settings for .doc files in the File Types dialog for .wpd (e.g., if .doc uses DDE, there will be some command strings).

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Bingo! The DDE line made the difference. That will make our life easier, thanks so much.

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