WordViewer installation hid WordPad

[Dean aka D9R]

I don't have MicroSoft Word, but within my collection of
Works programs there's a simplified version of Word called
WordPad. (I'm running Windows 95.)

With WordPad I'm not able to read regular Word documents --
the code for formatting displays as lots of little hollow
squares, etc.

So I downloaded Word Viewer in order to read Word
documents. Word Viewer lets you read (not edit) Word
documents if you don't have Word.

=> But during its installation Word Viewer became the
default program for opening WordPad documents -- which
means I can't create new or edit existing WordPad
documents anymore.

I know how to go in and set default programs for file
types (setting Notepad to open .html for example) but the
file types for WordPad and Word seem to have been
combined. There's no WordPad file type anymore (that I
see) that can be set to use WordPad.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

I don't have MicroSoft Word, but within my collection of
Works programs there's a simplified version of Word called
WordPad. (I'm running Windows 95.)

WordPad is a Windows utility. It's not part of Works or Office.

With WordPad I'm not able to read regular Word documents --
the code for formatting displays as lots of little hollow
squares, etc.

You may not be able to read Word documents created in later versions of Word
using WordPad.

So I downloaded Word Viewer in order to read Word
documents. Word Viewer lets you read (not edit) Word
documents if you don't have Word.

=> But during its installation Word Viewer became the
default program for opening WordPad documents -- which
means I can't create new or edit existing WordPad
documents anymore.

It only becomes the default viewer when you double-click files with
extension *.doc. If you simply open WordPad from off the Start Menu (under
Accessories) you should still be able to use it to edit/create documents.

I know how to go in and set default programs for file
types (setting Notepad to open .html for example) but the
file types for WordPad and Word seem to have been
combined. There's no WordPad file type anymore (that I
see) that can be set to use WordPad.

Any help would be appreciated.

Can you find a *.doc listing? It's so many years since I used Win95 that I
don't recall particulars of the file association user interface. You may
also have better luck on a Windows 95 NG if no one here can jump in with a
solution.

--

Mike Williams - Office MVP
http://www.mvps.org/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup. Make sure you
include details of your application and Windows versions, plus any
service pack updates.

Do not mail to me directly without invitation - you have a choice of
getting ignored or billed for my time. Most questions can be answered
by reading recent NG posts, checking the MVPS web FAQs or searching the
relevant Google archive e.g.
http://groups.google.com/groups?group=microsoft.public.word.spelling.grammar

 

[Dean]

Thanks Mike.

I went to the Windows 95 NG and while posting the question
I had an idea:

(BTW, now I see that WordPad is under Accessories and not
Works.)

Maybe both WordPad and Word use the .doc extension and
there's no way to distinguish between the 2? If that's
the case, I guess I just need to go to the file type
which "claims" to be Word and switch it back to WordPad
as it was before. That's probably it.

It was. All fixed and seems to be fine now.

(Now I just need to figure out what the .exe name is for
wordpad. hmm.)

FYI: C:\PROGRA~1\ACCESS~1\WORDPAD.EXE "%1"

Follow up question:
The reason I'm using Word Viewer is so that I can read
Word Documents that are posted online, and also ones
received by email. Just now after switching the default
for .doc back to WordPad, I tested it and WordPad opens my
original (local) WordPad files, but WordViewer opens
online .doc files. How does it know which program to use?

Dean

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

Follow up question:
The reason I'm using Word Viewer is so that I can read
Word Documents that are posted online, and also ones
received by email. Just now after switching the default
for .doc back to WordPad, I tested it and WordPad opens my
original (local) WordPad files, but WordViewer opens
online .doc files. How does it know which program to use?

Not sure about that one, but check the settings in IE > Tools > Internet
Options > Programs. Is WordViewer mentioned there?
--
--

Mike Williams - Office MVP http://www.mvps.org/faq/

Please respond in the same thread on this newsgroup - not by email!
Include details of your application and Windows versions, plus any
service pack updates. Answers may also be found by reading recent
posts, checking the FAQs or searching the relevant Google archive at.
http://groups.google.com/groups?group=microsoft.public