There are times when you need to open a file with an application other than the one associated with that filetype. For example, I use Notepad to for looking at various filetypes, but I don’t want it to be the default app. By placing a shortcut to the desired application in my Quick Launch bar (or pinning it to the Taskbar in Windows 7), I can use my keyboard and mouse to drag and drop the file onto the icon and launch it in the desired application.
For Windows Vista:
Add any applications that you frequently use as alternatives for opening various filetypes to your Quick Launch bar on your Taskbar (such as Notepad, Wordpad, etc.)
Go to the desired file, hold down the Shift key, then drag and drop the file onto the desired Quick Launch icon.
The file will open in the desired application.
For Windows 7:
Drag any applications that you frequently use as alternatives for opening various filetypes to your Taskbar. This will pin the application to the Taskbar (since Windows 7 has no Quick Launch bar).
Go to the desired file, hold down the Shift key, then drag and drop the file onto the application’s pinned icon (make sure that you hold down the Shift key or the file will be pinneded to that application’s jump list.
The file will open in the desired application.
