Opening two programs with one filetype

[Cassie]

Hello! I'm just wondering if this is possible... Can you set things up so that when you open a certain type of file, it opens two programs at once? For example, if I doubleclick on an mp3 file, it plays that file in my player and also opens a game? Thanks for any reply!

[jroc]

NO

[firefoxthebomb]

No not possible, but you could create a BAT file to open more than one program at a time.

[Cassie]

Ah darn, ok, thank you!

Hm, I don't suppose it would be possible to make a .bat and then have the shortcut open that .bat? Is there some way to tell the .bat file to open 'winamp.exe' with 'song.mp3' when you click on 'song.mp3'? Or can a bat just open a program, not load something into it?

I've never really made a .bat before, I have a rough idea of how to do it but no idea of what you can actually do with it ; )

Thanks very much for the help anyway!

[HybridShadow]

What do you want it for

What are you opening

I think there is a way throught the bat file i'll hav a look around for you

[Martin Zugec]

It IS possible - in action you must use && to chain two commands...

[prathapml]

Open notepad.

Paste this into it:

"c:\Program Files\Winamp\winamp.exe"  D:\songs\filename.mp3
C:\folder\gamename\program.exe

save it as "whatever.BAT" (note the double quotes around the filename while saving in notepad, you need it, otherwise the file will end up with a .TXT extension)

The first line opens winamp and loads the specified MP3 into it for playing.

The second line runs your game.

Both lines are just examples, you have to change the folder and file-names specified there as per your OWN needs.

Do tell us how it goes...

[Yzöwl]

Or something like this

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.mp3]
@="mp3file"

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\mp3file\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Winamp\\winamp.exe\" \"%1\" && start \"C:\\folder\\gamename\\program.exe\""

[gunsmokingman]

Or In Vbs

CreateObject("Wscript.shell").run("Path To\winamp.exe D:\songs\filename.mp3")

Also This Will Work If Winamp Is Installed And Is The Defualt MP3 Player

CreateObject("Wscript.shell").run("D:\songs\filename.mp3")

Since This Is Vbs And There Is No Stops It Will

Start The Next Line like it was running 2 at once.

Dim Act : Act = CreateObject("Wscript.shell")

Act.run("D:\songs\filename.mp3")

Act.run("Next Thing To Do")

Edited May 12, 2005 by gunsmokingman

[Cassie]

Thanks so much for the replies! Sorry it's taken me so long to come back and check!

Prathapml - Thank you, that does work! I was kind of hoping to be able to just open any mp3 though (Rather than one specific mp3), but that'll certainly work if that's not possible. Thanks!

Yzöwl - That looks really good, it looks like it would do exactly what I want, but when I went into regedit I couldn't find the folders you have - There's no .mp3 or mp3file folders in my 'Classes' folder... I'm using Windows XP, if that makes a difference.

Sorry, I'm really no expert at these things - The main reason I'm doing this rather than just opening the two programs seperately is to learn more about what's possible, but it unfortunately means I need step by step kind of instructions to really understand : \

Gunsmokingman - That looks really good too! I'm not sure if I have VBS though, that's Visual Basic isn't it? Unless there's something that comes with windows to run that I'm afraid I don't have it...

Thanks again for all the help, it's really great of you to take the time! Sorry I need to ask all these extra questions...

[evilvoice]

VBS is standard in windows, so you have that...you should have .mp3 and mp3file in your regsitry...tho you may not have mp3's associated, so you may not have them...try associating mp3s with winamp and you should get those reg keys in there...also...I would use the vbs or reg file posted since those are the best methods...I prefer reg since you DO NOT have to specify a mp3 file, itll open any mp3 file along with a game. Tho you do have to specify the game in the reg file.

[Yzöwl]

Yzöwl - That looks really good, it looks like it would do exactly what I want, but when I went into regedit I couldn't find the folders you have - There's no .mp3 or mp3file folders in my 'Classes' folder... I'm using Windows XP, if that makes a difference.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

There will not be existing keys and subkeys in the location I gave, the existing ones will be in HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes. However, because this tweak is a personal one, it is better in your own profile, just run the REG file I gave and the options should be available for the current user only and the 'global' setting will remain untouched for your other users.

[Cassie]

Sorry again for how long it's taken me to reply... I kept checking the page for updates without noticing there was a page two, I feel like such an id***!

That worked great Yzöwl thanks! Thank you all for your help and patience, I really appreciate it and I've learned a new trick!