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How can I get GIF images to open in the IrfanView viewer?

The Windows operating systems uses file associations so that when you double-click a file with a certain extension (images, text, web pages, spreadsheets), the correct program starts and displays the file. Sometimes you need to change this association - in the example, you wish to use the IrfanView file viewer (see bottom) to view GIF images. This procedure can be used for any type of file.

How to change the program associated with a .GIF in Windows XP to to open with IrfanView, which is normally located at   C:\Program Files\IrfanView\i_view32.exe.

1. Open Windows Explorer and select Tools > Folder Options > File Types
2. Scroll to .GIF in the Registered file types box, and in the Details for GIF, click Change. A new Open With dialog will appear.
3. If the IrfanView is already be listed as an Open With option, select it and check the box for Always use the selected program to open this kind of file. Click OK. You're done.

4. If IrfanView isn't listed as an Open With option, click Browse to bring up a more detailed Open With dialog. In the Files of type list at the bottom of this dialog, select All Files.
5. Navigate to the C:\Program Files\IrfanView folder, select i_view32.exe, and click Open. Return to the previous dialog. Check the Always use the selected program box. Click OK. You're done.
6. You can change your Windows Vista default image viewers via Default Programs in the Control Panel. Press the Windows key, type default programs, and press Enter. Click Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program, scroll to and select .GIF, and click the Change program button. Make your selection from the list that appears, or click Browse and then navigate to the program you'd like to use to open GIFs. Don't forget to check Always use the selected program to open this kind of file in the Open With dialog.

This procedure can be used to change any Windows file associations or Open dialogs.

IRFANVIEW : www.irfanview.com

Easy to use file viewer for image, sound, and multimedia files. Supports simple editing of image files and conversion between formats, even batch operations (convert 100 images at once). Free for private use. [For more software: Software downloads]