In order to add a file extension to a packaging project, users go to the file extension view of the Visual Designer mode.
With a click on the Create new... button, the wizard for extension creation is invoked.
Work your way through the steps of the wizard to define all required properties for the new object.
At any time, using the Next or Back buttons, which are displayed at the bottom of the wizard dialog, allows to navigate within the already processed steps.
To exit the wizard without creating a new object, use the Cancel button, also located at the bottom of the wizard dialog.
Step 1: Extension
Creating a new file extension object can be assigned by manually writing the extension string, or by selecting an already existing extension.
The default option is to create a new extension. To do so, users have to activate the upper radio button option in this wizard step, and enter the file extension string into the now editable input field below.
A file extension is basically a string of 1 to 255 signs length. Internally, it is stored in a column of type text, which allows any kind of string. Logically, file extensions have to be entered as alphanumerical string, without leading period and without special characters.
Since some file systems limit the length of valid file extensions to three (FAT) or six (VM/CMS) characters, it is recommended to make sure that the extension matches the target file system restrictions.
To create a new file extension based on an extension object that already exists within the current packaging project, users activate the second option of the radio selection "Use an extension that is already present in this Windows Installer database", and select the base extension from the now expandable list of existing file extension objects.
Step 2: Target Selection
In this wizard step the target executable for the file extension has to be selected. The directory tree of the currently opened project is displayed. Navigate through the tree structure to display the desired executable in the file list area at the right-hand side of this dialog. From the list of files, select the required executable with a left-click.
The Next button becomes available as soon as a valid file resource for file extension targets is selected.
Step 3: ProgId
Relating a file extension to a ProgId is optional. Therefore, the radio button is set to the default value Don't setup ProgId. Set the radio selector to Create new ProgId or to Use existing ProgId to relate a ProgId to the file extension.
A programmatic identifier (ProgId) is a registry entry that can be associated with a CLSID. The format of a ProgID is <Vendor>.<Component>.<Version>, separated by periods and with no spaces. Although the internal storage format for ProgId names is flat text, there are some logical restrictions to the creation of valid ProgIds, since they must:
•Have no more than 39 characters.
•Contain no punctuation (including underscores) except one or more periods.
•Not start with a digit.
•Be different from the class name of any OLE 1 application, including the OLE 1 version of the same application, if there is one.
If an existing ProgId should be related to the file extension, users have to select the specific ProgId from the list of available ProgId's, which becomes available as soon as the option Use existing ProgId is enabled.
If a new ProgId has to be created, users may decide to either use the default icon (which is the standard setting defined by the active checkbox below the Create a new ProgId radio selector option), or define a specific icon. To define an individual icon, the checkbox "Use default icon" has to be de-selected. The icon selector interface is displayed as soon as the checkbox is un-selected.
An individual icon relation may be established with an icon resource that has already been added to the project, or with a new icon resource.
To pick an existing icon, users have to click on the button with the downwards pointing arrow icon, and select the desired one from the list of already available icon objects within the packaging project. The active index of the icon may be adjusted after it has been selected from the list, by simply using the left- and right-wards pointing arrows below the currently selected icon preview.
To add a new icon resource, users have to click on the "load from disk..." button, and use the windows file system browser to navigate to the desired icon resource file. Select the desired icon file, and click Open to add it to the project in general, and the new ProgId in particular.
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Be aware: Once a ProgId is related to the file extension, this relation cannot be removed via the Visual Designer interface. To remove a ProgId relation from a file extension object, users have to directly edit the resembling Installer database table row via the TABLES view of the Advanced mode. |
Step 4: MIME
Building a relation between a file extension and a MIME object is optional. Therefore, the radio button is set to the default value Don't setup MIME. Set the radio selector to Create new MIME or to Use existing MIME to relate a MIME object to the file extension.
If there are no MIME objects stored within the current packaging project, the option list of the selector control for Use existing MIME is empty. If the MIME object has not been prepared already, a new MIME object may be defined when the Create new MIME option is enabled. Please adjust the MIME object properties by directly accessing the MIME database table.
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Be aware: Once a MIME is related to the file extension, this relation cannot be removed via the Visual Designer interface. To remove a MIME relation from a file extension object, users have to directly edit the resembling Installer database table row via the TABLES view of the Advanced mode. |
Step 5: Summary
Use the summary page to check the correctness of the object properties that were defined during the previous wizard steps.
•If all properties are set as required, click Process to finally create the item.
•If changes are due, click Back until the wizard step with the incorrect property definition(s) is displayed and make modifications as required.
Please note that changes in an early step may lead to different defaults or options in any later step. Therefore, please verify that all steps contain the desired settings whilst NEXTing to the summary page again.
Step 6: Finished
Once the new file extension has been created, the wizard can be closed by using the Finish button at its lower right corner. The file extension view is updated, and the list of existing objects contains the newly created extension at the last list position.