Can I set a ClickOnce application as the default program to open a filetype on a PC

ClickOnce applications are a great way to deploy applications to users without needing to interact with them. They provide a secure way to deploy applications that can be updated and configured remotely by an IT administrator. However, one of the most common questions asked by IT administrators is if it is possible to set a ClickOnce application as the default program to open a filetype on a user’s computer.

The short answer is yes – it is possible to set a ClickOnce application as the default program to open a specific filetype on a user’s computer. This can be done by first setting the default program in the Windows registry and then deploying the ClickOnce application to the user.

The first step is to set the default program in the Windows registry. To do this, you will need to open the Windows registry editor by typing “regedit” into the search bar in the Start menu. Once the registry editor is open, navigate to the following key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\\Software\\Microsoft\\Windows\\CurrentVersion\\Explorer\\FileExts

Once you’ve located this key, you will need to find the file extension for which you’d like to set the default program. Once you’ve located the file extension, you will need to create a new key for the extension. This key should be named “UserChoice” and should contain two values: ProgId and Hash. The ProgId value should be set to the name of the ClickOnce application you’d like to set as the default program, and the Hash value should be set to the hash of the application.

Once the registry key has been created, you will need to deploy the ClickOnce application to the user’s computer. This can be done by creating a ClickOnce deployment package and then deploying it to the user’s computer. Once the application has been deployed, it will be set as the default program for the specified filetype.

Setting a ClickOnce application as the default program to open a filetype on a user’s computer is a simple process and can be done with a few steps. By setting the default program in the Windows registry and then deploying the ClickOnce application to the user, you can easily make sure that the application is set as the default program for the specified file type. This can provide a great convenience for users, as they will no longer have to manually select the application each time they open the file type.