use inventor as defult STP / STL opener

[Torben.pedersen]

I have a hard time adding inventor to my default program list in inventor.

if I right click on a step file choose open with, find inventor in C - Programfiles - autodesk - inventor 2018 - Bin - Inventor.exe it wont do anything.

the only way I can do it ist from inside Inventor with the open option, and that really annoy me.

I have just reasontly opdateed from 2016 to 2018 version

I hope someone understand my question (or feel free to ask) and can help me with this small byt annoying problem 😛

Mads 🙂

[jhackney1972]

I follow the same steps you mention in my screencast and Inventor opens up and starts the .step file import.  I am using Windows 10 and Inventor 2018.  One thing, this method will always open up a new session of Inventor.

[kelly.young]

Hello @Torben.pedersen that is the location that I was going to direct you to.

Are you the administrator? It might just not be sticking if not. 

You can set it through the Control Panel as well. It might stick better there.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Torben.pedersen]

Hi you 2 and thanks for your solutions.

my problem is, that inventor don´t shows up in my list of programs. when I click "gennemse" (Browseing for the program) and find Inventor.exe in the inventor 2018 folder and choose it , it still not shows up, and does nothing. 

[Anonymous]

Having same problem using windows 7.

Two of the solutions are windows 10 which do not apply and the other one that is windows 7 when you follow like you would for previous inventor versions does not take.

[Torben.pedersen]

I use also windows 7 btw

[kelly.young]

@Torben.pedersen since you are using Windows 7 and from your screenshots the way I would suggest doesn't work, there might be something more complex going on.

After a bit of searching there is a lengthy discussion with multiple suggestions given:

I can't set a program as the default to open a filetype with in Windows 7

Make sure to use caution at your own risk when downloading any third party software or making changes to your computer.

Some of the responses look plausible, but without Windows 7 I'm not sure what is going to work best for you.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Anonymous · Accepted solution]

I just fixed this problem.

First close down Inventor if it is running

Next find the Inventor.exe that you are trying to make the default program and rename it, which I changed it to "Inventor 2018.exe"

Now reopen inventor with the .exe file that you just renamed so it can re register inventor with the new name.

Now you should be able to set .stp, .iges, .sat, and other files to default open with this new .exe.

Windows got confused somewhere along the way and thinks there is two "Inventor.exe" even if you uninstalled the old one from a different release.

These makes it so you can not make it a default program because Windows is confused.

Also if you have and use a shortcut on your desktop and or have it pinned to your Taskbar these shortcuts will need to be updated to the newly renamed .exe file.

[kelly.young]

@Anonymous thanks for sharing! I have seen similar issues where you need to change the file type to something and change it back for it to be recognized.

@Torben.pedersen does that help you get yours opening as well?!

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[Torben.pedersen]

Thank a lot LCarson

it worked like a charm - you should see my happy face right now!

have a really nice day 🙂

[BobKruse]

Thank you LCarson.

I have been struggling with this for years (perhaps since we upgraded from 2010 to 2017) and yours is the first solution I have been able to find.

Bob

[bkasperHX6DY]

The real question is, is it Microsoft's fault or Inventors fault. BTW the fix worked for me as well.

[johnsonshiue]

Hi! I guess this is probably due to the fact that Inventor.exe is the executable for all releases. Windows recognizes the last run Inventor as the registered one.

Many thanks!