Knowledge Base

Windows File Association System On-boarding Process

Article ID: 929149

Article Last Modified on 3/17/2007

APPLIES TO

Windows Vista Business
Windows Vista Enterprise
Windows Vista Home Basic
Windows Vista Home Premium
Windows Vista Ultimate
Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit edition
Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit edition
Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition
Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
Windows Vista Starter
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional

INTRODUCTION

With Windows XP we took steps to make it easier for customers to find software applications that can operate on specific file types. To do this Windows XP added a web service which presents applications which can operate on a given file type. An Example of what this may look like for a .DOC file is here:

http://shell.windows.com/fileassoc/0409/xml/redir.asp?EXT=doc

With the release of Windows Vista, we have improved the existing service to ensure the best possible customer experience.

Microsoft has re-designed the system to provide the user with a broader selection and allow them to choose an application more efficiently. One of the methods will be to have direct links to the download or purchase offering as often as possible.

More details on what is required to add an application to the File Association service are below.

MORE INFORMATION

Step by Step

Fill in the Windows File Association Form for your application.
To register your application(s), simply email the information from the form below to winfar@microsoft.com.
You will receive an email response regarding the acceptance of your application to the system within 2 business days.

Windows File Association Form Description and Example

Field name	Description
Contact Name	Name of contact
Company Name	Name of company
Street Address	Street Address for contact
City	City for contact
State	State or Province for contact [N/A if placed in Korea]
Postal Code	Postal Code for contact
Country/Region	Country for contact
Phone Number	Phone Number for contact
Email	Email for contact
Locale for display	Locale name based on Windows Locale Name Constants (See http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/intl/nls_238z.asp for more information)
Application Name	Name of application to be installed
Brief Description	A Description of the application to be installed
File Type Name:	Name of the type of file that is requesting the application
File Extension	File extension of the application
Download Type	Full application, Viewer Application, Trial Application or Beta Application
Destination URL	The download or purchase location for the application
Destination URL Type	Free Download, Buy Online – Download or Buy Online – Shipped Goods

Please Note

All fields must be < 255 characters in length.

Each entry should be for a specific locale.

Example

Contact Name	Joe Contact
Company Name	Microsoft
Street Address	1 Microsoft Way
City	Redmond
State	WA
Postal Code	8052-6399
Country/Region	USA
Phone Number	425-882-8080
Email	joe.contact@microsoft.com
Locale for display	en-us
Application Name	Music Library
Brief Description	Application that organizes a user’s music collection
File Type Name:	Music Library Audio Format
File Extension	.mus
Download Type	Viewer Application
Destination URL	http://www.microsoft.com/search/redir.aspx?AssetID=DC011320141033&Origin=HH101544381033&CTT=5
Destination URL Type	Free Download

File Association Form

Contact Name:               
Company Name:            
Street Address:              
City:                              
State:                            
Postal:                           
Country/Region:             
Phone Number:             
Email:                            

Locale for display:
Application Name:         
Brief Description:           
File Type Name:             
File Extension:                
Download Type:             
Destination URL:            
Destination URL Type:    

Locale for display:
Application Name:         
Brief Description:           
File Type Name:             
File Extension:                
Download Type:             
Destination URL:            
Destination URL Type:    

Locale for display:
Application Name:         
Brief Description:           
File Type Name:             
File Extension:                
Download Type:             
Destination URL:            
Destination URL Type:    

Locale for display:
Application Name:         
Brief Description:           
File Type Name:             
File Extension:                
Download Type:             
Destination URL:            
Destination URL Type:

Again, for additional details and to register your application(s), simply email the information on the above form to winfar@microsoft.com.

Keywords: kbhowto kbexpertiseinter kbinfo KB929149

Microsoft KB Archive/929149

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