Open a file with more than one program.

Having options is a very good thing. Why open a file with a single program each and every time, when you can choose PhotoShop or Adobe Elements or Word or Notepad? Follow these steps to keep your options open.


  1. Open Windows Explorer.
  2. Select View, Folder Options, and File Types.
  3. Find the file type you desire (GIF Image for example) and double-click it.
  4. Open Edit File Type, and select Actions.
  5. You will see "open" in the Action Box. This opens the file into your default.
  6. To add an entry, press New.
  7. In the New Action box, type the name of the action. For example, type Open (Adobe Elements) or Open with the name of the application in parentheses.
  8. Browse to locate the application you want to perform the action.
  9. Press OK.
  10. Highlight the action you want to open as a default and press Set Default.


The application you selected above becomes the default when you double-click a certain file, such as .gif. If you right-click a .gif file, all the entries you selected in the Action box will appear, so you can easily choose another application to open the file with.