How to set default parameters for an application?

Question

Is it possible to set default parameters for an application in Windows XP? (without using a shortcut) For example, I want Firefox to run with the parameters "-p username" when I run "firefox.exe".

Answer 1

Run regedit and take a look at the key:

`My Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\command`

Put -p username into the command string at the appropriate place.

I believe this affects all users on the machine, however.

You would also be wise to backup this part of the registry. In RegEdit, select the key:

 `My Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML`

and choose File | Export.... Choose the Selected Branch option to backup this part of the registry before changing it.

Answer 2

1) Open notepad, paste this in, and save it as firefox.bat

@echo off
firefox-original.exe -p username %*

2) Using a batch file compiler (such as this one or this one which both seem to do what you need, but note that I have not personally tested either), compile firefox.bat to firefox.exe

3) Navigate to your Firefox install directory, and rename firefox.exe to firefox-original.exe

4) Copy and paste your compiled batch file, firefox.exe, to your Firefox install directory.

Now when firefox.exe is launched, either directly, by shortcut, or by associated file type, your compiled batch file will run firefox-original.exe with your custom parameters and with the parameters passed during launch.

Answer 3

You can specify default parameters for any file (for example HTML files). Just:

1. Open My Computer
2. From Tools select Folder Options
3. Go to File types tab
4. Find the file type you want (HTM or HTML or both!)
5. Click on Advanced button
6. Select open action from actions list
7. Click on Edit
8. Add any parameter you want in text-box labled Application used to perform action:
9. Click on OK and OK and then Close

Now when user opens a HTM or HTML file, firefox (or any application that is associated to HTM or HTML files) will run by the specified parameters and opens that file.

But as far as i know, there is no way to specify a default parameter for a particular EXE when user clicks on it.

Answer 4

You could just create a batch file that runs Firefox with the arguments, and always use this to run, by adding the Firefox directory to your PATH environmental variable and simply calling run.bat

Answer 5

Always use the same shortcut for Firefox? It's not, to my knowledge, possible to set this on a per-application basis, just per-shortcut.

Answer 6

An alternative to using a batch file compiler is to use an AutoIt script, which can be compiled into an exe file.
As has already been discussed here, you will have to rename the executable and replace it with the compiled script, which has its disadvantage when the executable is updated.