When you double-click on a text file in Windows Explorer, does it automatically open in Microsoft Word, or some other bulky word processing program? There may be times when you would prefer to open a text file in a smaller, simpler program like NotePad or WordPad.

There is another option to open the file in a different program without changing file associations.

1. Make sure the program you want the file to open in is open. In this example we'll use NotePad.
2. Locate the text file in Windows Explorer.
3. Left-click the file and drag it to the NotePad button on the Taskbar at the bottom of your screen. Don't drop it yet!
4. Hold the cursor over the button for a second or two and the NotePad application window will pop up. Don't drop it yet!
5. Drag the file up to the middle of the NotePad window and NOW you can drop it.
6. The text file will open in NotePad.

If you find that you are always using a certain program to open a certain file type this way, you may want to change the file association for that file type so that you can simply double- click in Windows Explorer to open it. To do this, left click the file, hold down the Shift key while clicking File on the menu, click Open With..., select the program, and select the 'Always use this program...' option. Now every time you double-click a file of that type, it will automatically open in that program.

Get more time-saving tips just like this one delivered to you by email every week in my FREE newsletter "Spreadsheet Tips From An Excel Addict". Subscribe at the TheExcelAddict.com/Newsletter.htm and you could win a really cool prize. You'll be amazed how much time you'll save just by learning a few of these tips. Copyright © All Rights Reserved by