The original question about file type associations raises a point that appears not widely known.

If a file type is "associated" double-clicking a file in Windows explorer will open the file in the "associated" program.

If you "right-click" on a file, you get a "roll-down" that should include a choice "Send To." Generally, the "places" you can send the file to are pretty useless, but you can add places to send stuff.

In the your "Windows" directory, usually C:\Windows, you should find a subdirectory named "SendTo." You can create a shortcut to any program and copy or move it into the "C:\Windows\SendTo" directory, and that program will appear when you right click a file and move down to the "Send To" choice.

I added a shortcut to Word, because many times I'd prefer to have Word editing features immediately available when I look at .txt files that would ordinarily go to Notepad or Wordpad. I also have a "default" picture viewer that opens when I double click a graphic file, but I can right click to send the file to one of my other photo editors if I want to do more than just look at it.

Messing with file associations can drive you buggy, but this is a handy - and poorly documented - trick if you have a use for it.

John