Editing .reg files in Developer Studio 6.6C

[ronalddavis]

I am trying to edit some .reg files, for use in a simple installer for my application. I have set up a project in Developer Studio with them listed. The normal way to edit a file is by double-clicking it. However, when I do that, I get a message box asking if I want to add the information to the registry, and no editing window. I can't think of another way to open one of those files for editing in Developer Studio. (Of course, I can open them with NotePad, but Developer Studio has important advantages, when it works.) I would be grateful for any help.

[Steven_L_Intel1]

Actually, double-clicking is the way to "open" a file. You're just used to that action being to open in an editor, but for .reg and other "executable" files, it means something different. You can right-click on the file and select Edit, if you have Developer Studio set as the tool for that action, or select Open With...

[ronalddavis]

Thank you for the response, but I failed to make clear that I am talking about opening a file in Visual Studio. I recognize that what you sayis correct about opening a filein Windows Explorer.

I have a "Project" (named "*** Installer", where *** is the name of the application I am developing)that contains references to the .reg files. They are listed in the "Workspace" child window (underaproject folder named "*** Installer") in a subfolder that by default was named "Source Files", but that I have renamed"Registry Files". For example, if I put a .html file in such a listing, when I double-click that file's listing, Internet Explorer does not open, but rather a child window opens in Visual Studo, in which I can edit text in the file. However, I cannot do this with .reg files.

I think something may havebroken during one of the updatesin the last few years. I remember that I used to be able toselect an .exe file similarly in Visual Studio, and Visual Studiowould open achild window witha hexadecimal editor in it. Now, the file attempts to execute (but fails for lack of input). This leads to the related question, how can I open a hexadecimal editor in Visual Studio? The answer to that questionis probably relevantto my question about .reg files.

[Steven_L_Intel1]

I tried adding a .reg file to a VS6 project and I could open it for editing with a double-click. I don't know what's different about your setup.

[ronalddavis]

I have thus far failed to find the difference, but I'll make do with NotePad for now. If I someday stumble onto the answer, I'll post it here.

Thank you for your attention.

Ron