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Windows Associations

Windows associations

Microsoft has defined the word "associate" as follows:

  • To identify a filename extension as belonging to a certain application, so that when you open any file with that extension, the correct application is opened automatically.

For example, by default, Windows associates .WRI files with the Write or WordPad application and .TXT files with the NOTEPAD application. Most Windows application installation procedures create associations. For example, Word for Windows creates an association for .DOC files, while WinZip® generally creates associations for files with the extensions ZIP, ZIPX, 7Z, B64, BHX, BZ, BZ2, CAB, GZ, HQX, IMG, ISO, LHA, LZH, MIM, RAR, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TBZ2, TGZ, TZ, UU, UUE, XXE, XZ, and Z.

WinZip uses associations when you Double Click on a filename listed in the main WinZip window and when you use the Unzip and Try Feature.

WinZip and Windows Explorer both use associations the same way. When you open a file with an association, the application associated with the file is run, and the application automatically opens the file. WinZip's Unzip and Try provides the option to create an entry for your unzipped files in the Program menu with shortcuts to the unzipped files. Thes shortcuts also make use of the file association to open files in the correct program.

To view, add, and remove Windows associations; click Start and then Default Programs. This will display a window with options that include Set your default programs and Associate a file type or protocol with a program.

WinZip associations

You can easily review and modify the types of archives with which WinZip is associated from within WinZip. When an archive type is associated with WinZip, Windows will use WinZip to open files of that type.

To view and modify WinZip associations, open the WinZip Options window by clicking WinZip Options in the Settings tab of the WinZip Ribbon. In the WinZip Options window, click the Integration tab; on the Integration tab, check the Archive checkbox and then click the Associations button. In the window that follows, you will see a list of archive types. You can specify whether an archive type should be associated with WinZip by checking or unchecking the checkbox next to the archive type.

Note: in order to change associations using the WinZip Options window, you will need administrative privileges. You will need to allow administrative rights if you are presented with the User Account Control window.