Applying a command line argument to the binary exe when double click on the file

Question

On windows, I have modified a shortcut to an exe file in order to apply a command line argument for that. So, in the properties of the shortcut, I have written

D:\texlive\2018\bin\win32\texworks.exe -stylesheet path\to\mystyle.css

When I double click on the shortcut, I can verify that the argument has been applied. Problem is that when I double click on foo.tex, it will automatically use D:\texlive\2018\bin\win32\texworks.exe and not the argument that I defined.

I even right clicked on foo.tex and changed the "open with" to shortcut path instead of D:\texlive\2018\bin\win32\texworks.exe. Still the argument is missing when I try to open the tex file directly.

Please see the pictures below

and

Any thought?

Answer 1

To modify the command used to open a certain file type you will need to go in to regedit.

Perform the following within regedit:

• Navigate to HKLM\Software\Classes\.tex\OpenWithProgids - Make note of the name of the application listed.
• Navigate to HKLM\Software\Classes\<Name of Program from previous step>\shell\Open\command

Here, you find a (Default) key with the command line used to open that type of file. Specifically, the <path> and <name> of the executable will be enclosed in double-quotes followed by, usually, a "%1" which will be replaced by the <path> and <name> of the file when you try to open it.

• Double-click to edit the (Default) key, then move to the end of the line. Add a [space] and then add your additional command line parameters. Any parameter that has a space in it should be enclosed within double-quotes to indicate it is one parameter and not multiple. i.e.

  -stylesheet "path\to\mystyle.css"

Close regedit, then logoff and log back on to your computer and test.

Note: The instructions above aren't universal, but for most third party applications with associated file types you'll see this layout. Some special applications like Microsoft Office do things differently.