Introduction

Double Clicking a WordStar File in Windows Explorer Doesn't Start WordStar and Load the File. This can be resolved by associating WordStar file types with Microsoft Windows XP. The process is similar for later versions of Microsoft Windows.

Reason

WordStar files aren't directly recognised by Microsoft Windows. Microsoft Word has also stolen the often used .doc file extension for its own use and if Microsoft Word is not installed then WordPad will use this file extension instead, the often used .txt extension is, by default, allocated to Windows Notepad.

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	How to Set up and Use Shortcut Icons in Microsoft Windows
Â		Overview
Â		Set Up the Basic WordStar Association
Â		Set Up the File Open Command
Â		Set Up the File Open in Non-Document Mode Command
Â		Set Up the File Print Command
Â		Set the Default Action
Â		Change the Icon
Â		Conclusion
Â		How to Use the Associations

Overview

To allow compatability with Microsoft Word's import filters, and to identify - explicitly - the WordStar file types it is necessary to set up new file type associations within Windows Explorer.

This solution can be modified to suit whichever file extension you normally give your WordStar documents - however, it is recommended that you use the format of .wsx - where x represents the version of WordStar that created the file. Doing this will make it easier to transfer files to non-WordStar users.

The actual method depends on the version of Microsoft Windows being used, the diferences being in how to access the File Extensions dialog. The example given is for Windows XP and WordStar 7 - Windows 2000 is similar.

Create the File Associations

Set Up the Basic WordStar Association

1. Select Start > Programs > Explorer
   
   
2. Select Tools > Folder Options
   
   
3. Select the File Types tab.
4. Select the New Type button.
5. In the Create New Extension box, type WS7 (change this to match your version of WordStar).
6. Click OK - the new extension WS7, with a file type of WS7 File should now be listed,

Set Up the File Open Command

1. With the WS7 File type selected, click on the Advanced button in the Folder Options dialog.
2. In the box between the hand icon and the Change Icon button, type: WordStar 7.0 File (Change the description to match your version of WordStar).
3. Click the New button.
4. In the New Action dialog's Action box, type: Open.
5. In the Application used to perform action box type the full path to your WordStar executable file (e.g., C:\WS7\WS.EXE) you can use the Browse button to locate it if necessary.
6. Click OK

Set Up the File Open in Non-Document Mode Command

1. Click the New button.
2. In the New Action dialog's Action box, type: Open in Non-Document Mode .
3. In the Application used to perform action box type the full path to your WordStar executable file followed by the command switch to open the file in non-document mode (e.g., C:\WS7\WS.EXE %1/n) you can use the Browse button to locate WordStar if necessary, then add the " %1/n" to the end -- this opens the selected file in non-document mode.
4. Click OK

Set Up the File Print Command

1. Below the Actions box, Click the New button.
2. In the New Action dialog's Action box, type Print.
3. In the Application used to perform action box type the full path to your WordStar executable file followed by the command switches to print the file (e.g., C:\WS7\WS.EXE %1/p/x) you can use the Browse button to locate WordStar if necessary, then add the " %1/p/x" to the end -- this opens the selected file, prints it immediately to the default printer, and then closes WordStar again.
4. Click OK

Set the Default Action

The default action - the one that responds to a double-click - should be shown in bold letters.

1. Click on the newly created Open Action in the Actions box.
2. Click the Set Default button.

Change the Icon

The default icon given to unknown file types isn't very helpfull. You can change this (for WordStar documents) from this panel. This will not affect the icon you use for the WordStar program itself.

1. Click the Change Icon button.
2. Select an icon from the options shown, or click the Browse button to locate another icon file (try browsing to your WordStar directory and select an icon from there).
   
   The Windows DOS icons are stored in C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\Moreicons.dll (WINDOWS may be WINNT on your system).
   
   There are also some icons you can download.
3. With the chosen icon highlighted, click OK to select it and close the Change Icon dialog.

Conclusion

1. Click OK again to close the Edit File Types dialog.
2. Click Close to close the Folder Options dialog.

How to Use the Associations

1. Using the still open Windows Explorer window, find a WordStar file and right-click on it. You should see options to Open, Open in Non-Document mode, and Print the file. Test each one.
   
   
   Note: If you don't yet have your WordStar files ending with .WS7 you can copy one to test it. For example, copy the example file SHAKE.DOC in the WordStar directory to SHAKE.WS7.
   
   Note: For the print test choose a small file because you're going to print it!).
   
   Then try double-clicking on the file - it should open in WordStar.
2. You can now double-click any WordStar document file listed by Windows Explorer and it will be opened in WordStar.
3. Right-clicking on a file and selecting the Open option from the pop-up menu is the same as double-clicking on it.
4. Right-clicking on a file and selecting the Open in Non-Document Mode option from the pop-up menu will start WordStar and open the selected document in non-document (plain text) mode.
5. To directly print a file, right-click on it and select the Print option from the pop-up menu. The file will be printed using the default printer you have installed in WordStar - not the default Windows printer!