Microsoft Windows XP provides the users with a functionality to customize their computing experience on a number of levels and in a range of ways. Normally Windows XP associates every file format supported by it with a certain application within which the file is opened by default. For example, the default image viewing application under the Windows XP environment is Windows Picture and Fax Viewer. Hence, whenever you attempt to open an image file supported by Windows XP, the image file is opened within Windows Picture and Fax Viewer by default.
However, if you are not satisfied enough with Windows Picture and Fax Viewer
or you prefer to view your image files in any other image viewing application of your choice due to any reasons, you might customize Windows XP for associating that particular image file with that image viewing application too. This can be done in a number of ways, which are as follows:
- Changing the default image viewing application directly
- Associating the image file format from within the application
- Associating the image file format through Folder Options
In this article series, we will discuss all these modes one by one.
This is the most straight forward method to ensure every time you open your desired image files in Windows XP, your favorite image viewing application pops up with the images ready to be seen by you. For doing this, right click the icon of your image file, and select "Open with > Choose Program". You will see a list of programs in front of you, which will be categorized into two groups. On the top in the list, you will see some applications grouped as "Recommended Programs". You will also see some other applications grouped in a separate category named "Other Programs" on the bottom of the list.
Check thoroughly if any group of applications in the list contains your favorite image viewing application that you want to make default for the particular image file format, and select it. After selecting the application icon in the list, click the checkbox before the caption "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" right below the window pane, and click at the "OK" button. You've done it! Now all the image files pertaining to that particular file format will be opened in the application that has been selected by you as the default image viewing application for the format.
If you are unable to find the application right here in the list, don't panic. There's a lot more that can still be done. Below the caption
mentioned above, you will find a button labeled "Browse". Click it, and you will reach the "Program Files" folder inside your Windows XP installation folder. By default, when you install any Windows XP application, this folder is auto-selected by the PC for you to install your application into.