1¾«-*-----.MPA - v1.0 Note: This document was created with WRITE. The printer selected is an Epson FX100+, and the font is Roman. This information is provided so that when you read this document, it looks the same as when I created it! MPA (Multiple Program Association), provides a function that Windows lacks - Multiple programs associated with a single file extension. For instance, double clicking on this file (MPA.WRI) loaded write, and write loaded this file. The extension .WRI was associated with WRITE.EXE. With MPA, you will have the option to load up to 200 different programs for each extension. An example would be associating WRITE and WINWORD for the extension of .WRI. A dialog box will appear in the center of the screen, with the choices available. You can double click on the program name, or highlight it and press OK. The program of your choice will load, and that program will load the file. Setting up MPA is quite simple. The shareware version (what you have now), requires manual editing of the WIN.INI file, but contrary to popular belief, windows does not have to be restarted for the changes to take effect. The first thing that you have to do is place MPA.EXE in the DOS path. Since the windows directory probably is, that is the best place for it. Then just run MPA from either File Manager, or MSDOS Exec, or whatever method you choose. Initially, it will search the WIN.INI file for its section. Not finding it, it will create one for itself. It will notify you what it's doing, and add the lines: [mpa] path0=ext=drive:\dir\program.exe ; use this line for an example...Increase Path# The path0= is simply a template for adding your own associations. You will start with path1. Once entered, you can delete the path0= line if you wish. Using Notepad or Sysedit, open up the WIN.INI file. Locate the [mpa] section (probably at the end of the file), and simply add the associations that you with to have. In the previous example of loading this file, the extension is .WRI. With my two associations for .WRI (and some additional ones) set up, the [mpa] section would look like this: [mpa] path1=wri=d:\win300\write.exe path2=wri=d:\win300\winword\winword.exe path3=pcx=d:\win300\pbrush.exe path4=pcx=d:\win300\pubpaint\pubpaint.exe Save the file, then load File Manager. As far as Windows is concerned, .WRI is still associated with WRITE.EXE. To change that, locate a file with the extension you wish to associate, and highlight it (single click with the mouse). Once selected, pull down the file menu, and select Associate... WRITE.EXE should be highlighted in the dialog box that appears (if you didn't change it)! Whatever program is there, erase the entry and put in MPA.EXE and click OK. Now, double-click on the .WRI file. MPA will present you with a choice of WRITE or WINWORD. Select which one you want, and click OK. The program of your choice will load, and it will load the file you double-clicked on. Take note of the sequence of adding associations. Edit the WIN.INI file first, then use File Manager to associate the extension to MPA.EXE (even if it's already associated to MPA.EXE). Doing it in this order ensures that the copy of the WIN.INI file that Windows has loaded into memory is the most current one. Otherwise, the changes you have made won't take effect until you restart Windows, or a program you run unknowingly causes Windows to reload the WIN.INI file (such as Control Panel). ---------------------- I am releasing MPA in its present form as public domain. All revisions to version 1 (1.00 - 1.99) will be public domain. Once you have run the program, you will have probably noticed the three buttons that are disabled. They are Modify, Add, and Remove. Version 2.?? of MPA has these buttons enabled and you no longer have to edit the WIN.INI file manually. It will also notify Windows of the WIN.INI file change, so you will no longer have to run File Manager, or Control Panel for you changes to take effect. However, that luxury will cost you $20. I chose to distribute MPA in this manner as the Public Domain version provides something missing from Windows and I think that everyone should have that valuable missing item. If you choose to upgrade the program, the multiple association ability is no longer missing from your system. That is then considered an upgrade, and I am choosing to charge for the upgrade. I hope that you enjoy the flexibility the program has provided, as much as I do. ---------------------- My Mailing address is: Chris Brown 8613 Underwood Ave California City, CA 93505 I can be reached on GEnie as MAFMPD (don't ask about the strange address) Compuserve as 70062,116 is quite simple. The shareware version (what you have now), requires manual editi€ŠwŒsŽojmmjh’e*c-`0^7[”Y¤V] T ] d x™ vœ sŚ qį n l ingqdKbX_\]bZuXuxx©v¬s‰qÄnŻlģig+d-aX_\]bZuX €ŒxŽxhujuˆuŠuuuuu“u•’’œ’’ļ’’ń’’‹rrźrģrģó’’) xR xr x xŸ xT xV xGx_uÜrŽr‘r“rrrYrqoģq‰x–xŖxĘxČxŻxx-x/x_uÜrŽr‘r“rrrYrqoģ Roman Tms Rmnad or Sysedit, open up the WIN.INI file. Locate the [mpa] section (probably at the end of the file), an