TechNote (Archived)

Setting Dreamweaver MX 2004 as the default editor in Microsoft Internet Explorer

Background information

Microsoft Internet Explorer allows users to open a file they are browsing in an HTML editor by using the File > Edit with (Default Application) option. The application used for this action corresponds to the HTML Editor which is set in the Programs tab of the Windows Internet Options. Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004 is not automatically added to this list upon installation. This TechNote describes the steps necessary to add Dreamweaver MX 2004 as the default editor for Internet Explorer.

Note: These instructions are provided as a courtesy for customers, and affect Microsoft Internet Explorer rather than Dreamweaver.

For Windows 2000 and Windows XP

For Windows 2000 and Windows XP, the following steps are required to set Dreamweaver MX 2004 as a default editor in Internet Explorer:

1. Launch Windows Explorer (typically, you can launch this by choosing Start > Programs > Accessories > Windows Explorer).
2. Select Tools > Folder Options...
3. Select the File Types tab.
4. Scroll to the HTM extension in the Registered File Types list.
5. Click the Advanced button. You may have to restore the file association before you see the Advanced button.
6. Select Edit from the actions list (not Edit within Dreamweaver), then click the Edit button.
7. Browse to the Dreamweaver MX 2004 executable. The default location for the Dreamweaver.exe file is: C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Dreamweaver MX 2004\
8. Click OK until you are back at the File Types list.
9. Select the HTML extension and repeat steps 5 to 8.
10. Click OK.
11. Restart your system.
12. Open the Internet Options tool from the Windows Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel).
13. Select the Programs tab.
14. Select Dreamweaver MX 2004 from the drop-down menu in the HTML Editor category.
15. Click OK.

For Windows 98

For Windows 98, the following steps are required to set Dreamweaver MX 2004 as a default editor in Internet Explorer:

1. Open Windows Explorer (Start > Programs > Windows Explorer).
2. Select Tools > Folder Options or View > Folder Options (both will open the same window).
3. Select the File Types tab.
4. Scroll to the Microsoft HTML Document listing in the Registered File Types list.
5. Click the Advanced button.
6. Select Edit from the actions list (not Edit with Dreamweaver), then click the Edit button.
7. Browse to the Dreamweaver MX 2004 executable. The default location for the Dreamweaver.exe file is: C:\Program Files\Macromedia\Dreamweaver MX 2004\
8. Click OK until you have closed all windows.
9. Restart your system.
10. Open the Internet Options tool from the Windows Control Panel (Start > Settings > Control Panel).
11. Select the Programs tab.
12. Select Dreamweaver MX 2004 from the drop-down menu in the HTML Editor category.
13. Click OK.

Additional information

Please be aware that these steps do not resolve any issue with Macromedia Dreamweaver MX 2004, but are a configuration step for Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Internet Explorer. Any difficulties in executing those instructions, or any errors that may arise from modifying your operating system settings, should be addressed to Microsoft. For more details, please refer to Microsoft Support Article 163606 - Changing Source Code Editor in Internet Explorer.

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