desktop or in explorer. The default string should be the path and filename of the .EXE or.DLL that contains the icon, followed by a comma and the index of the icon in the file (i.e. C:\Windows\Notepad.exe,0).

The sub-keys under Shell identify what commands to add to the right-click menu for the file-type. The most common is Open, but there can be others like Print (these are defined by the application). Under Shell is a key Open and under Open is a key Command. Command is where the actual command is stored. The should contain the command line to execute (i.e. C:\Windows\Notepad.exe %1).

How can the component help
However, messing with one's registry is not a good thing to do, especially if you are unfamiliar with it. If you would like to add file association capabilities to your application, then TLRAssociate is right up your alley. This component provides facilities for creating associations with the application that contains it.

To use it, simply drop the component onto a form and set it's properties. Then call Associate and pass it an extension, the extension will be associated. It also has methods for unassociating extensions, registering and unregistering your application, and getting a list of extensions associated with your application.

When you associate an extension, if it has a previous association this will be stored in the registry. Then if you unassociate it, the old association will be restored.

The properties available and their purpose are as follows:

• KeyName - the name of the application. This name will be used to create the key in the registry when registering the application.
• PathToApp - the path and filename of the executable to launch for this association.
• IconPath - the path and filename of the file that contains the icon to use.
• Icon - the index of the icon in the file.
• ShellCmd - the command to add to the right-click menu (should be Open).

Once the properties have been specified, calling RegisterApp creates an entry in the registry for the application. To register an extension, call Associate and pass in the extension to associate. Enumerate returns a TStringList, which contains all the extensions, associated with the application.

Following is an example of how to set up the component and associate the file type .LOG with it:

procedure TForm1.FormCreate(Sender:

          TObject);

begin

  LRAssociate1.KeyName   := 

                        Application.Title;

  LRAssociate1.PathToApp := 

                      Application.ExeName;

  LRAssociate1.IconPath  := ParamStr(0);

  LRAssociate1.Icon      := 0;

  LRAssociate1.ShellCmd  := 'Open';

  LRAssociate1.Shell     := 

           Application.ExeName + ' "%1"';

  LRAssociate1.TypeName  := 

         Application.Title + ' document';

  LRAssociate1.New       := False;

  LRAssociate1.Quick     := True;



  LRAssociate1.RegisterApp;

  LRAssociate1.Associate('.LOG');

end;