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Opening DS files by double clicking on them...

Avatar Posted by Dr.Tube at

Hello there,

I just upgraded from V3 to V4 and everything works wondefully! No glitches...
I did install DS4 in another directory than DS3.

One "feature" I (and maybe more with me) would appreciate is the possibility to open DS files, for example *.sch files, by double clicking on them. I often have all the project files collected in one directory and I go there when I want to work on that project. It's a bit of a nuisance to have to go back to the desktop (or the Start Menu) to open DS and then File|Open then traverse to the rigfht directory and then open the file I want, when I'm already on/at the file in Explorer...

I can't get this to work (both in V3 and V4) under Windows 7 Pro. I can choose Open with... (right click in Explorer on the .sch file) and traverse to the directpory with the DesignSpark.exe file, and even choose that .exe file, but Windows won't use it to open the .sch file and it won't appear in the list of possible programs to use to open the .sch file. I don't know whether this is a Win7(Pro) issue or a DS issue, but I don't expect this matter to take a lot of programming effort.

I hope someone is willing and able to pick this matter up. :o)

Kind regards
Xavier van Unen
Dr.Tube

Replies

  • Avatar

    Posted by MikeBK at

    Hi Dr.Tube,

    Thank you for the feedback and the questions. Installing V4 in different directory to V3 is a good idea if you want to continue using V3 sometimes (although I do not see point for even keeping V3, personally I always uninstall previous versions of any software before installing a new version - unless it is only an update not a new install of course).

    You are right pointing out that Win7 does not offer 'open with' option for *.sch files (while it does for *.pcb). That comes as a surprise to me and honestly I do not know how to go around it. An alternative for you is to set up a project file for your schematics to be included in, which is by the way the right way of working in DesignSpark PCB. In DSPCB you go for new>project and the add files to this project. Project files *.prj are automatically opening in DSPCB and you have the schematics and PCB files all within a click away. See the Chipkit example project from V4 for reference. You can create a new project file and add existing schematics and pcb to it, it does not need to be a completely new project as a whole.

    Hope this helps, please try out and let us know what you think about this approach?

    Cheers

    Mike

  • Avatar

    Posted by mattylad at

    Does drag and drop work OK?

    It does for me.

    It could be Windows 7 UAC rstricting you, google and turn it off to see if it now works.

    MS really went to town restricting file associations setup for us, however if you can find your way to editing the association check it has
    a %1 at the end of the open properties.

    Another way may be to change it in the registry.

  • Avatar

    Posted by aartsen at

    Yes, I also bumped into this problem. I just can't change file association in Windows7 using "älways open with".
    .prj just keeps being associated with another program. Even after re-installing DS4. It just won't stick.
    Never had such persintant file association problem with any other applications.

  • Avatar

    Posted by Ajlag003 at

    Use Windows default file association:

    Control Panel > Programs > Default Programs > Set associations

    That works fine for me...

  • Avatar

    Posted by aartsen at

    Reply to Ajlag003. Yes I went all along that path in W7.

    Start-Menu > Default Programs > Associate a file type... > then select .prj from the list
    then "change program". A number of recommended programs show up, but not DS4 (why not?) so I use the browse button.
    But here is where Windows fails. It is just not possuble to select a different program by browsing to the executable.

    So it may also be a Windows problem. But I don'tunderstand why the association did work correctly when I was stlll using DS3.
    When (if..) I solve it will let the community know.

  • Avatar

    Posted by aartsen at

    I found the sulution. In the registry (regedit) go to the top and find the entry : HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > Applications > DesignSpark.Exe > shell > open > command
    In my case the old location of DS3 was still there even after installing DS4. If you change this to the new location where your latest version of DS4 is installed it will appear again from selectable programs when you use the "File Assocaition" steps as above. Or do an "Open with".

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