Thread: Executable entension

they have the .exe extension, it is just hidden in Explorer, as is many other extensions. if you're seeing a file that looks like this in Explorer:

file.exe

its real name is likely:

file.exe.exe

a good way to demonstrate this is to take one of those files that you are seeing the .exe in and upload it on the internet. once you select the file in the file open dialog you'll see its true file name, which will be file.exe.exe.

if you want to be able to see the extensions for known file types, go to the Control Panel and click:

Tools > Folder Options > View

and uncheck the "Hide extensions for known file types" checkbox.

Originally Posted by NoFearXD

Thats not what I meant. I have Process Explorer, when I open it I see all programs running with the .exe extension. But, I've seem some programs running with a different extension. For example: test.xxx The xxx is not exe So I'm wondering how to do that

Why not?

Make a copy of calc.exe to your folder and rename it to calc.txt. Then make a program and do this in it:

Code:

STARTUPINFO si;
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
ZeroMemory(&si,sizeof(STARTUPINFO));
CreateProcess("calc.txt",0,0,0,false,0,0,0,&si,&pi);

You can easily create a process with from a file with any extension.

BUT, you can't execute other extensions as programs just by clicking on them or writing them on the command prompt, because then the ShellExecute is called and that opens the file with the program it is associated to (and if not associated, then will prompt "Open with").

that works because CreateProcess/Ex does not pay any attention to the extension, it simply tries to execute the file irregardless.

if you're asking how to register a custom extension for executable files, then I think you should take a look at the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT key in the registry. find the .exe key, create a new key for your new extension (e.g.: .xxx), and copy the values (specifically "Content Type") from the .exe key into your new key.

RegOpenKeyEx
RegQueryValueEx
RegCreateKeyEx
RegSetValueEx
RegCloseKey