Win32 and Jext

Document Version 3.0

This Document enables the windows user to associate .Java files with Jext, and to right click on anything -> "Send To" Jext. Some registry hacking is involved so it is a very good idea to back up your system.dat and user.dat before proceeding. In win98 there is a tool in the System Information program called "Registry Checker",this can make a backup for you. I am assuming that your JDK and Jext both function now.

Throughout you will find references to c:\jext , this is where it is installed on my system and you will have to edit if that is not where you installed Jext. I am assuming you are capable of making these modifications.

Most of this technique would apply to any Java application that would benefit from a file association.

Make a shortcut to jext.bat, this will be jext.pif
Be sure the settings under the "Program" tab ( in properties ) contains

Batch file and shortcut key are not essential. You can also change the icon to the jext icon by clicking on "Change Icon" and browsing to the c:\jext\bin\icons folder, then clicking on "jext.ico".

Copy jext.pif and paste into your "Send To" folder in win95 and win98 this folder is in "c:\windows\send to" in win2000 it is in "c:\documents and settings\"your username"\send to". I can't recall the particulars for winNT, probably "c:\winnt\send to" or in the user folders.

I also find it useful to have shortcuts to notepad, wordpad and winzip in the "send to" folder for quickly viewing files. Winzip for quickly examining jar files.

This is a modified registry entry that was posted a while back but I cannot remember by whom. So if you're reading this, thanks. It was originally called JavaSource.reg. Now to create a Registry file called JextSetup.reg For simplicity we will place JextSetup.reg in the \bin folder. Paste the following into a plain txt file and save as JextSetup.reg

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.Java]
@="Java.Source"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Java.Source]
"EditFlags"=dword:00000000
"BrowserFlags"=dword:00000008
@="Java Source Code File"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Java.Source\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\Jext\\bin\\icons\\jext.ico"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Java.Source\shell]
@="open"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Java.Source\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Java.Source\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\Jext\\bin\\jext.pif \"%1\""

== Step 4 ==

Make sure that the path statements in JextSetup.reg are aimed at your jext install. Double click on JextSetup.reg.

Test these settings by double clicking on a Java source code file, any .Java will do. The Dos box that pops up should terminate before Jext is loaded, and the file you clicked on should be loaded in Jext. Test the Send to by right-clicking on any text file, ( or xml, or, html, or etc.... ) then click on "send to" then "Jext". The file should be loaded in Jext.

On some systems you may experience truncation of filenames in the filename tab when you "send to" Jext this way. This seems to be because of the Dos filenaming limits. Your file should still save correctly.