Notepad++ 8.4.2 not recognizing file extension to define language

[PeterJones]

@pallieguy

Here’s a way to do it where you cannot accidentally write anything: using the command-line REG QUERY which just grabs information from the registry without editing it. (For these instructions, I am assuming that even double-clicking a *.txt file is giving this wrong behavior. If not, replace the .txt below with an extension that double-clicks into Notepad++ but doesn’t identify correctly, like maybe .php, since that’s what started it all.)

Open a command prompt

REG QUERY HKCR\.txt /VE

This will output something like:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt
    (Default)    REG_SZ    txtfile

Whatever the text is to the right of REG_SZ, use that in the next query:

REG QUERY HKCR\txtfile

Share those results with us (use the </> button on the forum toolbar to wrap your text in a black box like I did)

For example, mine is:

C:\usr\local\share>REG QUERY HKCR\.txt /VE

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.txt
    (Default)    REG_SZ    txtfile


C:\usr\local\share>REG QUERY HKCR\txtfile

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile
    (Default)    REG_SZ    Text Document
    EditFlags    REG_DWORD    0x210000
    FriendlyTypeName    REG_EXPAND_SZ    @%SystemRoot%\system32\notepad.exe,-469

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\txtfile\shell

Those will give the “old fashioned” file associations, which Windows used prior to Win10 (and still work in Win10 and Win11, though they are moving away from them)

But since @giannis-raptis is on Win10, it might be useful to examine the newer “Open With” storage locations

REG QUERY HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt /S
REG QUERY HKCR\Applications\notepad++.exe /S

Give us the output to both of those as well

For the record, mine are:

C:\usr\local\share>REG QUERY HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt /S

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt\OpenWithList
    a    REG_SZ    notepad.exe
    b    REG_SZ    cabd
    c    REG_SZ    EXCEL.EXE
    d    REG_SZ    notepad++.exe
    MRUList    REG_SZ    dce
    e    REG_SZ    chrome.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt\OpenWithProgids
    txtfile    REG_NONE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt\UserChoice
    ProgId    REG_SZ    Applications\notepad++.exe
    Hash    REG_SZ    cK5ueCMWhb4=


C:\usr\local\share>REG QUERY HKCR\Applications\notepad++.exe /S

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe
    FriendlyAppName    REG_SZ    Notepad++
    (Default)    REG_SZ    Notepad++ Text Document

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\DefaultIcon
    (Default)    REG_SZ    "c:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe",-100

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open
    Icon    REG_SZ    c:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe,-101

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open\command
    (Default)    REG_SZ    "C:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

And finally, grab

REG QUERY HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ApplicationAssociationToasts

But that’s too big. So paste it into Notepad++, and then run the following replacement on it:

• FIND WHAT: (?-s)^((?!Toasts|Notepad\+\+\.exe|\.txt).)*(\R|\Z)
• REPLACE WITH: (empty)
• hit Replace All

Then copy/paste the filtered results from Notepad++ into a black </> box in your your reply as well.

[Pallieguy]

@peterjones
I tried a .txt to see if the language problem persisted and like after the .css yesterday, the language is back to being detected properly for all my files. If it happens again tomorrow I will run these commands and post them while it’s still wonky.

First set of commands:

C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\.php /VE

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.php
    (Default)    REG_SZ    php_auto_file


C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\php_auto_file

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\php_auto_file\shell

Second two:

C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php /S

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\OpenWithList
    a    REG_SZ    firefox.exe
    b    REG_SZ    cab
    c    REG_SZ    {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\OpenWith.exe
    d    REG_SZ    dabc
    MRUList    REG_SZ    eabcd
    e    REG_SZ    notepad++.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\OpenWithProgids
    php_auto_file    REG_NONE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\UserChoice
    Hash    REG_SZ    8c5Dq+bAc2A=
    ProgId    REG_SZ    Applications\notepad++.exe


C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\Applications\notepad++.exe /S

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open\command
    (Default)    REG_SZ    "D:\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

Filtered last command:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ApplicationAssociationToasts
    txtfile_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    textfile_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.sfv    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.srt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.ssa    REG_DWORD    0x0
    soffice.StarWriterDocument.6_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    soffice.StarCalcDocument.6_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.php    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\NOTEPAD.EXE_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.gcode    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.pl    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.css    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.js    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.orig    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.ini    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.log    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.fasta    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.htaccess    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.cpp    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.h    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.cfg    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.pem    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.html    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.json    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.lock    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.gitignore    REG_DWORD    0x0
    AppX4ztfk9wxr86nxmzzq47px0nh0e58b8fw_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.test    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.old    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.new    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.xml    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.bar    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.htpasswd    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.env    REG_DWORD    0x0

[PeterJones]

@pallieguy ,

I wonder if one of your plugins is causing Notepad++ to have intermittent difficulty in identifying the file type. Weird. If it goes back to happening, share your ?-menu’s Debug Info like @Giannis-Raptis did.

Also, if it happens again, try closing Notepad++ and renaming your c:\program files\notepad++\plugins directory (which is one of the steps in this FAQ, which though it claims to be about crashing, is also a general-purpose see-if-plugin-is-causing-problem instruction set; because your problem is only with double-click, you cannot easily use option #1, but option #2 will still work for you)

[Pallieguy]

This post is deleted!

[Pallieguy]

@peterjones
I haven’t installed any plugins that I’m aware of, but I’ll try that after posting if it happens again tomorrow.

Debug info:

Notepad++ v8.4.2   (64-bit)
Build time : May 29 2022 - 16:47:30
Path : C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
Command Line : "D:\Dropbox (xxxx)\xxxx\Coding\xxxx\web\content\submissions\permissionForm\index.php"
Admin mode : OFF
Local Conf mode : OFF
Cloud Config : OFF
OS Name : Windows 10 Pro (64-bit) 
OS Version : 21H2
OS Build : 19044.1766
Current ANSI codepage : 1252
Plugins : 
    mimeTools (2.8)
    NppConverter (4.4)
    NppExport (0.4)

[PeterJones]

@pallieguy said in Notepad++ 8.4.2 not recognizing file extension to define language:

I haven’t installed any plugins that I’m aware of

Your Debug Info agrees: you only have the default plugins, which aren’t the culprit.

Well, let us know if the problem comes back.

[Pallieguy]

@peterjones
Day three and the same problem. Only difference is I didn’t shut down the computer last night.

First commands:

C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\.php /VE

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.php
    (Default)    REG_SZ    php_auto_file


C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\php_auto_file

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\php_auto_file\shell

Second Set:

C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php /S

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\OpenWithList
    a    REG_SZ    firefox.exe
    b    REG_SZ    cab
    c    REG_SZ    {1AC14E77-02E7-4E5D-B744-2EB1AE5198B7}\OpenWith.exe
    d    REG_SZ    dabc
    MRUList    REG_SZ    eabcd
    e    REG_SZ    notepad++.exe

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\OpenWithProgids
    php_auto_file    REG_NONE

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.php\UserChoice
    Hash    REG_SZ    8c5Dq+bAc2A=
    ProgId    REG_SZ    Applications\notepad++.exe


C:\Users\Palli>REG QUERY HKCR\Applications\notepad++.exe /S

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open\command
    (Default)    REG_SZ    "D:\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

Filtered last command:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ApplicationAssociationToasts
    txtfile_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    textfile_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.sfv    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.srt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.ssa    REG_DWORD    0x0
    soffice.StarWriterDocument.6_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    soffice.StarCalcDocument.6_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.php    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\NOTEPAD.EXE_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.gcode    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.pl    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.css    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.js    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.orig    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.ini    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.log    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.fasta    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.htaccess    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.cpp    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.h    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.cfg    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.pem    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.html    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.json    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.lock    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.gitignore    REG_DWORD    0x0
    AppX4ztfk9wxr86nxmzzq47px0nh0e58b8fw_.txt    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.test    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.old    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.new    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.xml    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.bar    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.htpasswd    REG_DWORD    0x0
    Applications\notepad++.exe_.env    REG_DWORD    0x0

Possible solution
I find out that if N++ is closed and I open the file through Windows Explorer, then language is detected and everything works, even if I open new files. If I open N++ from my taskbar shortcut (Set by right clicking an open N++ and selecting Pin to taskbar) then double click on the file in Windows Explorer is the only time it seems to not be working. Opening N++ by opening the file in my taskbar also shows a second N++ icon in that taskbar:

Unpinning the old shortcut (originally pinned so long ago I don’t recall which N++ version it was) and pinning the new one Fixed the problem entirely. It may be that enough time has passed for the problem to resolve itself like when I tried the txt and css files, so I’ll have another update tomorrow, but it appears the issue had to do with the shortcut made for an older version of N++.

[Pallieguy]

I missed the edit window to correct this, sorry.

Before my taskbar screenshot I meant to say:
Opening N++ by opening a file in Windows Explorer also shows a a second N++ icon in my taskbar:

[PeterJones]

@pallieguy said in Notepad++ 8.4.2 not recognizing file extension to define language:

Unpinning the old shortcut (originally pinned so long ago I don’t recall which N++ version it was) and pinning the new one Fixed the problem entirely.

Yeah. I wonder if you still have a residual notepad++ installation somewhere else other than your newly-pinned shortcut.

Actually, your data actually already shows that. Earlier, you were running from C:\Program Files\Notepad++\notepad++.exe, as your Debug Info showed. Your REG QUERY output showed

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\notepad++.exe\shell\open\command
    (Default)    REG_SZ    "D:\Notepad++\notepad++.exe" "%1"

(though I didn’t see it yesterday, because I didn’t scroll far enough in your black box)

So when you double-click when no notepad++ was running, it ran your D:-drive copy of Notepad++. If you used your old shortcut, it was apparently running your C:-drive copy … and then, because you presumably don’t have multi-instance enabled, when you double clicked, it tried to run the D:-drive copy, but saw the C:-drive copy running and opened the file with that instead.

Since I believe you pinned the copy that was associated, I believe your pin should now point to the D:-drive copy. If so, I would recommend removing the C:-drive copy, to avoid future confusion. But check your pin to make sure: right click on the pin, then right click on the notepad++ near the bottom, then select “properties”: the Target field will show which one is now pinned.

[Pallieguy]

@peterjones
I do indeed have a C: and a D: install, I wonder when I did that?

Glad this is resolved, thanks fro all your help!

[PeterJones]

@pallieguy said in Notepad++ 8.4.2 not recognizing file extension to define language:

I wonder when I did that?

Probably at one of the updates: there was a while when the installer would not notice an old installation if it wasn’t in c:\program files\notepad++, so even if you had installed to D:\notepad++\, the updater/installer would put the newer copy in c:\program files\notepad++ instead. IIRC, that has been fixed (I spent a couple minutes searching through the issues list, but wasn’t using a narrow enough set of search terms, so couldn’t find it buried in all the other results), so the next time you run the installer/updater for whatever version you end up keeping, it should hopefully default to the existing location.