How to Manage Default Software Selections on Your Computer

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Registration
• Using Advanced Installer
  • GUI
  • Working with Projects
  • Installer Project
    * Product Information
    * Resources
    * Files and Folders
    * Tiles
    * Java Products
    * Registry
    * File Associations
    * Default Programs
    * Add Protocol Association Dialog
    * Context Menu Properties
    * ProgID Properties
    * Extension Properties
    * Verb Properties
    * Assemblies
    * Drivers
    * Services
    * Package Definition
    * Requirements
    * User Interface
    * System Changes
    * Server
    * Custom Behavior
  • Patch Project
  • Merge Module Project
  • Updates Configuration Project
  • Windows Store App Project
  • Modification Package Project
  • Optional Package Project
  • Windows Mobile CAB Projects
  • Visual Studio Extension Project
  • Software Installer Wizards - Advanced Installer
  • Visual Studio integration
  • Alternative to AdminStudio/Wise
  • Replace Wise
  • Migrating from Visual Studio Installer
  • Keyboard Shortcuts
  • Shell Integration
  • Command Line
  • Advanced Installer PowerShell Automation Interfaces
• Features and Functionality
• Tutorials
• Samples
• How-tos
• FAQs
• Windows Installer
• Deployment Technologies
• IT Pro
• MSIX
• Video Tutorials
• Advanced Installer Blog
• Table of Contents

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Default Programs

To open a particular type of file, such as a music file, an image or a web page, Windows uses a default program. In this dialog, a specific program can be set as default for a specific file type.

The Default Programs feature applies only when the package is installed on Windows Vista or later. For lower systems, it’s ignored.

The Default Programs feature does not apply on Windows 8 and newer operating systems. Due to their design, these operating systems don’t allow setting the default programs programmatically.

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Register application with Default Programs

This option enables you to register an application from your package to be used through Windows Default Programs (Vista or above).

For additional information please, see Microsoft’s Platform SDK documentation.

Application

This section allows you to specify all the information needed to register an application to Windows Default Programs.

Application description

A string that describes the application’s capabilities. This field is of Formatted Type and can be edited using Smart Edit Control .

Capabilities Path

Specify the Capabilities key’s registry key path.

The Capabilities key contains all the Default Programs information for a specific application. This field is of Formatted Type and can be edited using Smart Edit Control .

Set your defaults

This section allows you to specify what files types or protocols should be associated by default with the application you registered in Windows Default Programs.

This is achieved with the use of a custom action which is running at the end of the installation.

The options you set here only apply to the user that performs the installation. Your choices won’t affect other user accounts on the machine. Also, all the settings performed after the installation through the Default Programs UI will apply only to the current user.

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Program Association

To add a new Program association, right click on the_Set Default_ table and choose Add Program Association… option.

Protocol (URL) Association

To define a new Protocol Association, right click on the_Set Default_ table and choose Add URL Association… option. The Add Protocol Association dialog will be displayed.

Topics

• Add Protocol Association Dialog
  The “Add Protocol Association” dialog in Advanced Installer.

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