Help with extensions please

Windows 7 seems to be more "fluffy" than useful now. My main point of contention is that I am unable to select the entire file name including the extension without extra clicks. I have written a database and am in the process of assembling hyperlinks for many fields; every table has a hyperlink field to point to documents. A hyperlink needs the file extension in order to open the file. I have more than 250,000 links to assemble.

In XP it was easy enough to click on a file name, click again to get the entire name highlighted then use keyboard shortcuts to get the directory and file name WITH extension pasted into my fields. Now. I must click the document, click again and everything EXCEPT the extension is highlighted, click again to un-highlight, click again and manually highlight the whole file name then copy and paste. Too many extra steps for so many hyperlinks! Must I now write a macro to overcome microsoft's omission just because someone there decided that I really didn't need those pesky file extensions?

QUESTION: is there a way to force windows explorer to highlight the entire file name including the extension? Not just display it, I already tried unchecking the box for "hide extension of known file types" in folder options.

If there is not remedy or work around, is there a better way to assemble hyperlinks in access? (I know, that is a question for another forum...)

You should be able to bulk rename file extensions by using the command prompt
Put your files that require the extensions renamed into a single folder
Hold the shift key and right click the folder and choose
Open command window here
then type
ren *.html *.htm or whatever the current file extension is to whatever the extension you want it to be.

ctrl-A will highlight the entire name including extension - is that any help?

You, also, might want to check that the box shown in this screen shot is NOT checked.

Regards,
Drew

Originally Posted by pamaples

Windows 7 seems to be more "fluffy" than useful now. My main point of contention is that I am unable to select the entire file name including the extension without extra clicks. I have written a database and am in the process of assembling hyperlinks for many fields; every table has a hyperlink field to point to documents. A hyperlink needs the file extension in order to open the file. I have more than 250,000 links to assemble.

In XP it was easy enough to click on a file name, click again to get the entire name highlighted then use keyboard shortcuts to get the directory and file name WITH extension pasted into my fields. Now. I must click the document, click again and everything EXCEPT the extension is highlighted, click again to un-highlight, click again and manually highlight the whole file name then copy and paste. Too many extra steps for so many hyperlinks! Must I now write a macro to overcome microsoft's omission just because someone there decided that I really didn't need those pesky file extensions?

QUESTION: is there a way to force windows explorer to highlight the entire file name including the extension? Not just display it, I already tried unchecking the box for "hide extension of known file types" in folder options.

If there is not remedy or work around, is there a better way to assemble hyperlinks in access? (I know, that is a question for another forum...)

Think that was addressed in the OP.

Thanks folks.

Trouble, I don't need to rename them just be able to select them. And Drew, the ctrl+a works but its still another step to perform. I can do click, pause, click, pause, ctr+A, ctr+C, Alt+Tab, ctr+V. This is an operating system; is there something I can do deeeeep in its entrails to force it to comply with my wishes? Somewhere in the code there must be an event procedure for what do do when a user clicks on a file name.

Actually I think that, that was patcooke who suggested the Ctrl+A thingy.
Hate recommending third party software solutions, but you may find this useful. I downloaded and followed the instructions put the folder (just the Copy Filename folder) into C:\Program Files, ran the .reg file and it works well for doing what I think you are attempting to do and looks like it will save you a click or two in the process.
Basically it adds the "Copy filename" feature to the right click menu, and you get the name plus the extension. http://www.gnostice.com/nl_article.asp?id=168
Good Luck and let us know.
Regards
Randy

You may have just saved my life. I will let you know.

Thanks
Pam

if you want to process the filenames programatically you could use a command line to send the entire listing of filenames to a text file. At a command prompt:

dir /b > filename.txt

Oooooh! That looks good too. I don't need to use my forms to enter data; I could just put it right into the tables. The path will be the same for every document in a specific folder.

Is it dir /b > filename.txt where the directory referred to is the one that has the focus when I bring up the command prompt? (It has been a very long time since my dos days) and "filename" is the document I create to receive the names?