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vb.netwindowswindows-explorer

VB.NET Set Default Text Editor

I have created my own text editor in Visual Basic 2013. I want to open text files with it from outside the application: to open them from the Desktop with double click or right click and open with.

I tried to use right click and open with but it doesn't work, it just opens up my application.

How I make my text editor the one that I open text files with?

Solution

  • You would have to use something like the Environment.GetCommandLineArgs method.

    Put this in your form load event:

    Dim CommandLineArguments() As String = Environment.GetCommandLineArgs()
If CommandLineArguments.Length >= 2 AndAlso String.IsNullOrEmpty(CommandLineArguments(1)) = False AndAlso IO.File.Exists(CommandLineArguments(1)) Then
    Me.TextBox1.Text = IO.File.ReadAllText(CommandLineArguments(1))
End If

    This will get the command line arguments sent to your application (which is the path to the file you are trying to open with your app) and check if the argument is an existing file. If so, it will read all the file's text into your TextBox.