Difference between revisions of "FileAssociation"

From Free Pascal wiki
Jump to navigationJump to search
Line 93: Line 93:
 
== Another way of registering file associations ==
 
== Another way of registering file associations ==
  
Whithout using the component is as well possible to register a file association. This however doesn't cover adding the application to Default Programs, but is shorter if you only want to register a file type that's owned by your application.
+
Without using the component is as well possible to register a file association. This however doesn't cover adding the application to Default Programs, but is shorter if you only want to register a file type that's owned by your application.
  
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">
 
<syntaxhighlight lang="pascal">

Revision as of 16:38, 23 December 2019

Windows logo - 2012.svg

This article applies to Windows only.

See also: Multiplatform Programming Guide

English (en) français (fr)

Windows logo - 2012.svg

This article applies to Windows only.

See also: Multiplatform Programming Guide

TFileAssociation

Author: Lainz

Licence: Modified LGPL

Version: 1.0

Description: This unit registers file association for Windows.

Download

GitHub: https://github.com/lainz/FileAssociation

Usage

First install the package. You can then drop the component TFileAssociation (FileAssoc unit) that gets installed in the System tab of the IDE on your form.

...
uses
  ...
  FileAssoc; //<-- add fileassociation unit here

type

...
    { private declarations }
    assoc: TFileAssociation;
...

procedure TfrmMain.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
begin
  assoc := TFileAssociation.Create(Self);//<-- create like a regular component
end;

procedure TfrmMain.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
begin
  assoc.ApplicationName := 'Lazarus IDE';
  assoc.ApplicationDescription := 'RAD for Free Pascal';

  // you can change Extension and Action part for each extension you have

  assoc.Extension := '.lpr';
  assoc.ExtensionName := 'Lazarus Project';
  assoc.ExtensionIcon := '"C:\lazarus\images\lprfile.ico"';

  // full path required, you can use ParamStr(0) to get the path with the .exe name included. The path must be inside quotes if it has whitespace.
  assoc.Action := '"C:\lazarus\lazarus.exe" "%1"'; 
  assoc.ActionName := 'Open';
  assoc.ActionIcon := '"C:\lazarus\images\mainicon.ico"';

  // notice that using RegisterForAllUsers as True requires Administrator Privileges
  // if you want to run without privileges set it to false, but it will register for current user only
  assoc.RegisterForAllUsers:=False;
  if assoc.Execute then
  begin
    ShowMessage('OK');
    assoc.ClearIconCache; //<<-- rebuild icons
  end;
end;

end.

How to open the associated file

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender: TObject);
var
  s: String;
begin
// if there are parameters
  if ParamCount > 0 then
  begin
// load the first parameter
    s := ParamStr(1);
 
// if is a .txt file
    if ExtractFileExt(s) = '.txt' then
    begin
// load the .txt file into a memo
      Memo1.Lines.LoadFromFile(s);
    end;
  end;
end;

Another way of registering file associations

Without using the component is as well possible to register a file association. This however doesn't cover adding the application to Default Programs, but is shorter if you only want to register a file type that's owned by your application.

{$IFDEF WINDOWS}
uses Registry, ShlObj;
 
procedure TMainForm.RegisterFileType(ExtName: string; AppName: string);
var
  reg: TRegistry;
begin
  reg := TRegistry.Create;
  try
    reg.RootKey := HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT;
    reg.OpenKey('.' + ExtName, True);
    reg.WriteString('', ExtName + 'file');
    reg.CloseKey;
    reg.CreateKey(ExtName + 'file');
    reg.OpenKey(ExtName + 'file\DefaultIcon', True);
    reg.WriteString('', AppName + ',0');
    reg.CloseKey;
    reg.OpenKey(ExtName + 'file\shell\open\command', True);
    reg.WriteString('', AppName + ' "%1"');
    reg.CloseKey;
  finally
    reg.Free;
  end;
  SHChangeNotify(SHCNE_ASSOCCHANGED, SHCNF_IDLIST, nil, nil);
end;
{$ENDIF}

See also

If this component for some reason does not work for you, or you need to run it as administrator for all users without elevating your application privileges, an Inno Setup Script may fit your needs best.