Notepad++ doensn't start when doubleclicking files

Mats

After upgrading from Win 7 to Win 10, Notepad++ doesn’t start when doubleclicking associated files. Nothing happens except the windows “wait circle” is visable a few seconds.
But if Notepad++ is already started, clicked files will be opened as expected.

I tried to solve the problem by removing the installed old portable version and then install V6.9.1 portable, but the problem didn’t go away.

Rightclicking a file and choose “Open” --> same behavior
Rightclicking a file and choose “Open with” (notepad++) --> same behavior.

Rightclicking a file and choose “SendTo” (notepad++) --> works

Claudia Frank

Hello @Mats,

entry in SendTo has been created by you hasn’t it?
Where does SendTo point? Which path and executable?

If you open registry editor and check a file extension which doesn’t open npp.

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\

What is listed under openwithlist, userchoice and openwithprogids?

Do you know that you can create an shell entry which would call npp directly instead of using
the application dialog and find the appropriate app?

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\OpenWithNotepad\Command

Create a string value and put in something line

D:\PATH_TO_NPP\notepad++.exe %1

Cheers
Claudia

Mats

Hello Claudia

Yes, the SendTo entry was created by me and works fine, pointing to D:\PGM\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
I tried to create an shell entry as you suggested, with the same path, and it works.

In the registry, it’s different depending on which associated extension you look at:
Under openwithlist .txt:
a notepad++.exe
b abc
c WINWORD.EXE
d EXCEL.EXE
e NOTEPAD.EXE
f notepad++.exe
MRUList afebcd

.xml:
a EXCEL.EXE
b a
c MSOXMLED.EXE

.log
a notepad++.exe
MRUList a

Under openwithprogids .txt
Notepad++_file (binaryvalue with null-length)
txtfile (binaryvalue with null-length)

.xml
xmlfile (binaryvalue with null-length)

.log
Notepad++_file (binaryvalue with null-length)

I’m running a swedish version, so I did a translation if you think the value “binaryvalue with null-length” is strange. The value I see is “(binärvärde med nollängd)”

Under UserChoise .txt
Hash YoCvzaGlx4g=
ProgId Notepad++_file

.xml
Hash JwUoPW3BLOY=
ProgId xmlfile

.log UserChoise don’t exists

I did a test with .txt and changed the value “a” to full path of notepad++, but it’s still the same, notepad++ isn’t started.

Claudia Frank

Hello Mats,

binaryvalue with null-length is ok, more strange sounds binärvärde med nollängd to me ;-))

If you have a progid of Notepad++_file then there is a need to have the same key under software classes.
Is this the case? Something like

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Notepad++_file\shell\open\command]
and default needs to point to your npp installation.

Cheers
Claudia

Mats

Hello Claudia!

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Notepad++_file] doesn’t exist.

Inside npp, I removed npp association with .txt, .log & .xml, then I added it again. After that, .txt and .log works but not .xml!
Then I rightclicked a .xml file, choosed “open with” and select always use npp. After that, .xml also works. I did try that before, the new thing was to remove and add association in npp first.
So the problem is solved, but there is still a lot of questions how this could happend.
Thanks for helping me.
Mats