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    Notepad++ 8.4.2 not recognizing file extension to define language

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    • PallieguyP
      Pallieguy @PeterJones
      last edited by

      @peterjones ,

      I made a new file that only has

      <?php
      

      and called it demo.php
      When I open it it’s still user defined.

      I’ve never made a user-defined language, but user-defined language folder has markdown._preinstalled.udl.xml and markdown._preinstalled_DM.udl.xml, which are both on my language list
      589a68fb-c978-4970-ac57-84d0f092d3e7-image.png
      my status bar shows:
      15d66ab8-04e6-4b54-af15-156c8a118d5e-image.png

      Do I just delete the 2 preinstalled UDLs in the folder?

      Alan KilbornA PeterJonesP 3 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
      • Alan KilbornA
        Alan Kilborn @Pallieguy
        last edited by

        @pallieguy

        As those 2 are “predefined” I think removing them will do nothing for your situation.

        FWIW I tried Peter’s experiment with php.misnamed and obtained his exact results with it.

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • PeterJonesP
          PeterJones @Pallieguy
          last edited by PeterJones

          @pallieguy ,

          The status bar disagrees with your Language menu. Your status bar shows you have a UDL called “ILE=MANDALORE”, which means it has nothing to do with the Markdown UDLs (and apparently something to do with Star Wars, though I would have thought it would be “ILM=MANDALORE” in that case ;-) )

          Please check the Language > User Defined Language > Define Your Language…, which will pop up a dialog (or a docked windows, depending on if you’ve docked it). It will have a pulldown that lets you pick the language, like
          aacf228c-e881-4c7f-926b-01bad2b680c4-image.png

          Select each entry in that list, and make sure that the Ext.: box doesn’t contain php

          Alan KilbornA 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
          • Alan KilbornA
            Alan Kilborn @PeterJones
            last edited by

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

            and apparently something to do with Star Wars, though I would have thought it would be “ILM=MANDALORE” in that case ;-) )

            I wonder how many people understand that reference; maybe just us oldsters. :-)

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • PeterJonesP
              PeterJones @Pallieguy
              last edited by

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

              and called it demo.php
              When I open it it’s still user defined.

              When you are saying “open”, do you mean “when I launch Notepad++ and the saved session includes demo.php” or do you mean “when I close demo.php and then use File>Open or equivalent to open the demo.php, it still says it is user defined”

              Because if you manually selected “user defined” (either intentionally or on accident) for demo.php and exit Notepad++ without closing, and if you have “remember current session for next launch” enabled, then when Notepad++ writes the session.xml file, it saves the UDL that you had assigned to an open file. Until you actually close the file before exiting Notepad++, the application will continue to remember your manual UDL choice.

              PallieguyP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
              • PallieguyP
                Pallieguy @PeterJones
                last edited by

                @peterjones
                Mandalore is what my computer is named. Your pun made me laugh out loud and my Girlfriend called me a nerd.

                When I close demo.php and go File > Open or double click on the file in my Windows Explorer window (N++ is my default) then the language is not identified. If I launch notepad any saved sessions keep the language I’ve identified.

                Under Language > User Defined Language > Define Your Langauge… I see the following:
                04737a10-fe50-4c96-a12f-8be8114795d4-image.png

                I thought I might have clicked something, but I’m trying brand new files and they’re not doing it.

                PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                • PallieguyP
                  Pallieguy
                  last edited by

                  Okay, so I jsut tried opening a CSS file and it recognized it as CSS and now my php files are being recognized. I’m not sure if it was opening the User Defined Languages popup or opening the CSS file, but something in there fixed my issue.

                  Strange…

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • PeterJonesP
                    PeterJones @Pallieguy
                    last edited by

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

                    any saved sessions keep the language I’ve identified.

                    Indeed, that is the way it works. The session files track the Language selected for each file – so that way if you’ve manually selected a language for a file, it will keep it from run-to-run as long as you don’t close the file in Notepad++. And if you had saved a separate session file (File > Save Session…) then that UDL information was saved in that file, so any time you load that session file, it will keep that UDL information with the file. Other *.php files, and any file like the php.misnamed which starts with <?php will determine the type as PHP when you do the File > Open on them; but if you have a PHP file in a session and had saved that session with something other than PHP selected, it will remember that. Resave your session now that demo.php is identified as a PHP, and your problem will not come back to haunt you.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                    • Giannis RaptisG
                      Giannis Raptis
                      last edited by

                      Hello

                      I recently had a similar “issue” with other type of source files and only if I open the file from file explorer and not from File->Open.

                      For example .py, .md, .txt, .json, etc. files (with extension).
                      When they are opened from File->Open or File->Recent the language is detected and is correctly visible on the left side of status bar.
                      When they are opened from file explorer in all cases the language is not detected and in status bar is see the following a21361f7-3023-4355-817c-aba89919657f-image.png

                      I have a couple of UDLs but all mentioned file types-extensions should not be affected.

                      Notepad++ v8.4.2 (64-bit)
                      Build time : May 29 2022 - 16:47:30
                      Path : C:\Users~~\Apps\Notepad++\notepad++.exe
                      Command Line :
                      Admin mode : OFF
                      Local Conf mode : ON
                      Cloud Config : C:\Users~~\Apps\Notepad++\cloudDir
                      OS Name : Windows 10 Pro (64-bit)
                      OS Version : 21H2
                      OS Build : 19044.1766
                      Current ANSI codepage : 1252
                      Plugins :
                      ComparePlugin (2.0.2)
                      DSpellCheck (1.4.24)
                      EnhanceAnyLexer ()
                      Explorer (1.9.5)
                      GitSCM (1.4.7.1)
                      MarkdownViewerPlusPlus (0.8.2)
                      mimeTools (2.8)
                      NppConverter (4.4)
                      NppExport (0.4)
                      NPPJSONViewer (1.40)
                      NppXmlTreeviewPlugin (2)
                      PoorMansTSqlFormatterNppPlugin (1.6.13.31508)
                      SurroundSelection (1.4.1)

                      PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • PeterJonesP
                        PeterJones @Giannis Raptis
                        last edited by

                        @giannis-raptis ,

                        Given that your status bar shows path or file/machine information in the “file type” section like @Pallieguy showed, I now think you have found something… however, I am not able to replicate it with my installation of Notepad++.

                        If I use the Windows Explorer and use the double-click action (on file types like .txt and .md, which have their default action set to Notepad++), it loads them up and immediately recognizes the type; and if I use my right-click Edit with Notepad++ action on any file type (those listed, or .py or .json, to finish replicating your examples), it also correctly recognizes the type: it does not pick a non-existent UDL and show part of the file path in the status bar.

                        Notepad++ v8.4.2   (64-bit)
                        Build time : May 29 2022 - 16:47:30
                        Path : C:\usr\local\apps\notepad++\notepad++.exe
                        Command Line : "C:\Users\xxxxx\Downloads\TempData\23148.txt"
                        Admin mode : OFF
                        Local Conf mode : OFF
                        Cloud Config : OFF
                        OS Name : Windows 10 Enterprise (64-bit) 
                        OS Version : 20H2
                        OS Build : 19042.1586
                        Current ANSI codepage : 1252
                        Plugins : 
                            AutoSave (1.6.1)
                            ComparePlugin (2.0.2)
                            DSpellCheck (1.4.24)
                            EnhanceAnyLexer ()
                            ExtSettings (1.2.1)
                            MarkdownViewerPlusPlus (0.8.2)
                            mimeTools (2.8)
                            NppConsole (1.2.4.1)
                            NppConverter (4.4)
                            NppEditorConfig (0.4)
                            NppExec (0.8)
                            NppExport (0.4)
                            NppFTP (0.30.12)
                            NppLspClient ()
                            NppUISpy (1.0.4)
                            PreviewHTML (1.3.2)
                            PythonScript (2)
                            QuickText (0.2.4.1)
                            TagLEET (1.3.10.1)
                            _CustomizeToolbar (5.3)
                        

                        I wonder if there’s some difference in the way our file associations are defined which are causing the difference between your installation’s behavior and mine… Weird. If you can provide more information (how you made your associations, or digging into the registry to show us exactly what those associations look like), it might provide enough hints to make a replicable situation: if we can replicate it and define the exact sequence of events necessary, then we can probably file a bug report about it; but without a way to replicate it, I am not sure that a bug report will get much activity after the first attempt to replicate it fails.

                        PallieguyP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                        • PallieguyP
                          Pallieguy @PeterJones
                          last edited by

                          @peterjones
                          I booted up my computer today and I’m now getting the behavior described by @Giannis-Raptis. If I go File > Open it detects the language, if I right click in explorer and select Edit with Notepad++ it detects the language, if I select the file from the recent files section under the File menu it detects the language. The only way it doesn’t is if I double click the file in Windows Explorer.

                          I’ve tried my hardest to avoid dealing with the windows registry. If you can let me know what details you need I’ll gladly get you what I can.

                          PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                          • PeterJonesP
                            PeterJones @Pallieguy
                            last edited by

                            @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.

                            PallieguyP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                            • PallieguyP
                              Pallieguy @PeterJones
                              last edited by

                              @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
                              
                              PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                              • PeterJonesP
                                PeterJones @Pallieguy
                                last edited by

                                @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)

                                PallieguyP 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • PallieguyP
                                  Pallieguy @PeterJones
                                  last edited by

                                  This post is deleted!
                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                  • PallieguyP
                                    Pallieguy @PeterJones
                                    last edited by 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)
                                    
                                    PeterJonesP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • PeterJonesP
                                      PeterJones @Pallieguy
                                      last edited by

                                      @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.

                                      PallieguyP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • PallieguyP
                                        Pallieguy @PeterJones
                                        last edited by

                                        @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:
                                        359ca8c8-672f-4f41-a814-8b41d2f4abcf-image.png

                                        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++.

                                        PallieguyP PeterJonesP 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                        • PallieguyP
                                          Pallieguy @Pallieguy
                                          last edited by

                                          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:

                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • PeterJonesP
                                            PeterJones @Pallieguy
                                            last edited by 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.

                                            PallieguyP 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
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