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not sure if I should post this here

ok tried it and it worked

I usually make a folder in my documents and when I get enough downloads in it I make a copy, so I tried a few downloads sending them to my documents so I didn't mess up what was in the folders ,and of course your right . The files that you have to change for the gun sounds which never work are fx files ,as long as when you change the name and put .fx on the end the name will change. Same for the readme files .txt ,as long as you put .txt at the end you can change the name ,like Readme-1.txt.
What I still don't get and it's not important, is why I have to do this now when I never did before. But like you said we pretty much exausted this subject so hopefully this will be my last post on it.
Thankyou so much for helping me out.
 
Well since you got it figured out this might be re-hash. Can't hurt.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
readmefirst.txt
readme first.txt
readme_first.txt : all=same file: names=DIFFERENT: extension= 'txt'
readme.first.txt
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What makes the file NAME different is the 'space', the '_', or the '.' . It is
STILL the same file. Only the name has changed. It is still a 'txt file (type).
- It is 'txt. ***-- File 'type' is text. -- File 'extension' is 'txt' ---***.
- it could be 'cfg'. ***-- File 'type' is text. -- File 'extension' is 'cfg'---***.
If you try to change EXTENSION to 'bck' Win's will object, as it will not
know what to do (what program to use to open it) when you dbl-click it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
But, you can right-click it, choose 'open with', choose 'Notepad' and 'ok'
and it will open, even if it's extension is 'bck'. This is possible because
you just TOLD Windows what program to use (ie: Notepad).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dbl-Clicking to open requires you to pre-set 'file association' for that file
type. Some are already set (ie:'cfg, txt, etc' files that open with notepad).
It is when you change that file extension that Windows will object, as it
KNOWS what type FILE it is ('txt'-and not 'bck' extension type). But it will
let you make extension whatever you want ('bck'). Just ignore warning.
Then when you want to open it ('bck') you must right-click, choose 'Open
With', UN-CK 'Always Use this Prog to Open', click 'Notepad', and that
tells Windows what program to use, and it will open it.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I imagine you haven't 'figured out' YET why some files can't be modified. That is a hard one to explain, being you did not change anything on your own. So it MUST be some update file changing things 'on it's own' (to comply with M$ efforts to close all those security 'holes'). They figure your pc MIGHT be 'taken over' by some hacker, but they (carelessly) mess up your ability to manipulate files in the process. Most files (except some 'system' files) you can change attributes by right click on file and clicking on 'Properties' and then look at 'Attributes (ie: Read Only, Hidden, Blocked). Uncheck what you don't NEED and hit 'Apply', then 'OK'. After this you may be able to modify file name or extension. Good luck.
Chuck B
Napamule
 
here we go again

If you try and open one of those things that look like a page with colored dots, and you tell it to open with notepad or word or whatever ,it looks like a notepad type file when you tell it to open with note pad but if you open it ,it's unreadable like code.and though it gives you choices as to what to use to read it, none of them are any better.
So bottom line ,how do you open a file like that so you can read it?Air files are like that a lot, not that I'am going to mess with it, but what are those type of files and how would you open it to read it? Windows gives you a choice and says you can pick one from the web but that never works, cause you don't know what your looking for.
Also why uncheck 'always use this program to open it" when youve chosen notepad, I thought note pad was THE one to always use.
I sure hope we get this straighten out soon ,cause as you can see I can't spell and my one finger is getting tired from typing.
 
air files

Just checked.now all my airfiles look like notepad ,but you still can't read them. Will this hurt them ? Are they still usable?
 
Hurricaine, I want you to do something. Perhaps this explains what is going on (assuming you have Windows XP).

First, I want you to open a folder and look at your files. Across the top of the window is an option for Tools. Click on the Menu option and look for Folder Options. There should be three tabs across the top. The one on the far right is labeled File Types. Click on it. You should now see a box of all your file extensions that you can scroll through.

The core information is in your computer registry. Whenever a program is installed, it adds the file extension and the program to use to open it. Typically for every program application there is a different icon for that program.

What can be confusing is the the same file can be open by multiple programs. A txt file, for example, can also be opened by MS Word or Excel but the default is set to Notepad. And sometimes when a newer program is installed, it overwrites these registry entries and forces the file to be opened by the newer program. I encounter this alot with image files because they can be opened by multiple programs each with their own icon.

So, if you which to change the default program for opening a file (assuming it can open it), this is the menu where that can be changed. If you look down below there is an option for "open with:" which permits you to select another program for opening the file.

So, if you have a txt file and want only Notepad to open that file type, you highlight the extension, select Notepad.exe as your application, and save the results. The file icon will automatically change to the Notepad icon.

BTW - I have limited experience with Windows 7.0, but from what I recall the process is similar to what I described for XP.

Hope I haven't made things more confusing for you. And no, by changing the 'open with:' application you are not altering the original file.

--WH
 
Air files are only read by a program called 'AirEd'. Due to AirEd being an older program it can't be used to open air files by doing a dbl-click on 'x.air' file. What you do is get AirEd version 1.42 from FltSim.Com (I know it's there, but might be here). Download, and extract files to a folder you make called 'AirEd v142' or such. Then you drag 'AirEd.exe' to desktop (minimize window first) and choose 'Create Shortcut Here'. Then you dbl-click that shortcut and it will open itself (might have to drag sides to get an 'open area') then go 'File' then 'Open' and browse to air file and click on 'X.air', click 'ok', and it will open it for you and show the lines for the 'X.air' file and be displayed (like lines in aircraft.cfg) in the open area. You can then edit like cfg file, say 'Save' and the changes will be made. Back up your orig air file first. (Right click on 'X.air', choose 'Copy', right click anywhere, then choose 'Paste' and you will get a 'Copy of X.air' in same folder where orig air file is. It's a copy.

The file you opened that looks like code. What file extension was it? Doc? ini? Some files can't be opened and read as they are not text type. They are programming code.

When you don't KNOW what program will open a file is when you NOT choose 'Always Open With'. That is because you only want to TRY to open that one file and don't necessarily want to change 'association' for all the other hundreds of files of the same EXTENSION and what they will open with. Telling it to 'Always Open With' will set what program (notepad?) that file extension will open with from now on (ie: will set the file (extension) association) to a certain program. If you don't KNOW, then don't change the association. Like air files. They don't open with notepad. All you get is garbage. You need AirEd (only one I know) to open air files. So don't set it by choosing 'Always Open With' notepad. Later (when you get AirEd) you can tell it to 'Always Open With' and point to AirED.exe program in that folder you made for AirEd files. I know. It's hard to figure it out. Give it time to 'soak in'. You'll get it when you do it a couple of times. Useful? That is a different story. I'll hang in there with you. Take it a bit at a time. No rush or stress, I hope. (Poor little finger-ha). You could go Google 'file association XP' and get a lot of info that way which you can read slowly. Wikipedia covers it I am sure. Cheers.
Chuck B
Napamule
PS: I am 71 yrs old, but been doing 'puters' since 1960's and used to know DOS in and out, so don't feel bad if you are just learning. It's not impossible, just new.
 
Currently, all my FS9 air files default to an Adobe Installer program. I don't edit them anyway, so no harm done. But this is an example of what can happen. Time for a :icon29:.

--WH
 
Thankyou all

Thankyou everyone for all your time and effort and vast knowledge, but I think I'am done with this now. I did a system restore which put back my airfiles to the way they were. I have "always open with notepad" for the config files so since (thanks to you guys) I know how to rename file extensions ,thats enough for me.
I have no intension of messing with airfiles anyway so I don't need to open them and now I know why you can't read them. So being very tired of messing with this stuff and with what knowledge I've got from you guys I'am calling it it quits.
I can't thank all of you enough for helping me out ,but since all is ok now ,thats good enough for me.
 
By the way

Not that it matters but I did as you said and opened a folder then went to tools and folder options and under all those extensions and also in the window there was no "open with" I only get that option if i right click on a folder, which I did for my config files cause it was set for word which made it hard to change anything in the config file ,so I changed it to "always open with notepad" which makes it much more easy to make changes.
 
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