Computer trouble

[masoth]

In trying to look at online woodwork plans my computer defaults to Adobe Image Ready and then refuses to recognize the file (this happens with most email attachments I recieve too), so I have two questions:
1. How to cause Image Ready recognize the file types; and
2.Or how to change the default reader from Image Ready to something else?

A ****** frustrating lack of knowledge.

soth

[Bob Willson]

When you are trying to open the file hold down the ctrl key and then right click
go to "open with" and you can then choose which program to use to open the file with.

ps if you then go to choose a program it offers you an opportunity to select what ever program you want to use as the default by putting a tick in the box at the bottom of the window

[masoth]

Bob, thanks for your advice - it didn't work. There is no 'open with' option.

A bit more info is that I'm registered with Bunnings, which should enable me to download DIY brochures, after DL any, the same "non recognition" message come up.

soth

[Iain]

Anything to do with the pop up blocker which should appear at the top of the screen when you try to open, if so you need to temporarily allow pop ups.

[Article99]

What operating system are you using, Soth? XP or Win98?
Next up, what kind of file is it? PDF?

If the answers are XP and Yes, right click the link that you're supposed to follow for the file and then select 'Save Target As'. Dump it on the desktop, then right click it and follow the 'Open With' proceedure.

[Bob Willson]

Or if that doesn't work, the second option would be:
Start
My computer
c: drive
tools
Folder options
file types
go to the extension type that you want to change
change
to whatever

[Ianab]

I assume that the files are .pdf files?

If thats the case they should open with Adobe Acrobat reader, but windows can get it's file associations fouled up and try to open with the wrong program.

First thing to try is to save the file into 'my documents' or 'desktop'. Now open the Acrobat Reader, and use the file/open menu to open the file you want to view.

If that works then you need to fix the file associations. The easiest way is probably to download and install the latest version of Acrobat reader from www.adobe.com . Thats should replace the file associations as part of it's setup.

You can probably fix the file associations manually like Bob says, but it can be a bit tricky especially if the associations/file types are badly confused.

Cheers

Ian

[bsrlee]

I haven't come across 'Image Ready ' at all. Do what Ianab says, install 'Acrobat', that should fix the .pdf problem.

For non-.pdf files, you'll have to go thru' and fix each one manually, or install/re-install an application that works. It is VERY annoying for programs to register lots extensions to open with themselves without asking for permission, it is even worse when they can't actually read the file format & just stuff around.

'Open Office' can handle most document formats & is free. For picture files such as .jpg's, .gif's etc try 'Irfanview', another freebie that handles resizing, reducing dpi & .jpg compression particularly well.

[masoth]

Foolishly I let my frustration get the better of me and deleted the latest posts, but some were certainly pdf files and some earlier were pictures (jpeg, gif, etc). I'm using Win XP and have Irfanview and Acrobat and a dozen other photo applications. What I've failed to achieve is to open these files in other than the defaulting Image Ready. Pop-up is not the problem - I think, and I thank all of you for commenting. I've tried 'saving' but then the files disappear into somewhere.

soth

[Ianab]

When you do the 'save', have a look at the pulldown address bar at the top of the save window. This will let you set the 'somewhere', it's usually the 'My Documents'.. but can be anywhere.

I all else fails go and re-install Acrobat Reader, 95% chance that will just fix your problem.

Cheers

Ian

[Dan]

Or remove Image Ready.

[bsrlee]

Yep, sounds like time to re-install Irfanview, Acrobat etc. If asked, answer that you want them to be the default application to open those files - sometimes you may have to take a proverbial hammer to Windows to get it to change - I don't know how they do it, but some applications are very sticky & won't let go of a file type.