Besides determining the default folder type in Windows Explorer, what is the purpose of "Perceived Types" for files in Windows 7-10?
Are there any advantages or disadvantages to setting the perceived type for custom file extensions?
asked Mar 17 '20 at 17:03
RockPaperLz- Mask it or CasketRockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket
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Just another way to group files of like types into broad categories. For example images such as jpg, png and ico.
The advantage is that you can then do operations on like type files.
For example, if your new file type is image related and you want to rename it while renaming all image files than give it the perceived type 'Image.'
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I'm not understanding your example. Can you expound on it in your answer? – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket Mar 18 '20 at 3:59
PerceivedType corresponds to the Kind column in Explorer. It's a way "rolling up" file types that similar in nature. Especially useful for searching to avoid a list of file extensions. Add the Kind colum to a Details view in Explorer and explore :) Take a look at:
HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\KindMap
as well.
answered Mar 18 '20 at 5:15
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Ah, thank you. And thanks for the registry reference. If you don't use Explorer, and your file manager doesn't do anything with the Perceived Type, do Perceived Types effect/impact anything at all in the system (for Windows 7-10)? – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket Mar 18 '20 at 14:05
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Hard to say (at least for me - LOL). Is Explorer still your shell? It provides the common dialogs used by many programs. It also may affect waht appears in the context menu for items. – Keith Miller Mar 18 '20 at 16:19
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Good questions. Yes, Explorer is still the shell. It does provide common dialogs used by many programs. Context menus are an interesting point as well, although I'm currently unclear if Perceived Types impact them. – RockPaperLz- Mask it or Casket Mar 19 '20 at 8:02
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1I haven't tested, but I imagine that PerceivedType is what ties file extensions to the audio/image/text/video entries under
HKCR\SystemFIleAssociations. All of those appear to add verbs to the context menu. – Keith Miller Mar 19 '20 at 16:19 -
