How to use .bat to open default program?

Question

Is it possible (using cmd or .bat) to automatically open a text file using the default Windows application?

For example, when opening a .html file, if Chrome is my default browser, the .html will open with Chrome automatically. How can I tell the cmd (or .bat) to open the default program for a particular file extension?

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered May 31 '18 at 08:48

2

Use the start command, which I believe uses ShellExecute():

start "" "My text file.txt"

(The first empty parameter is often required.)

answered May 31 '18 at 08:48

u1686_grawity

452,512

Thanks. What if there's no document? How would I simply open the default web browser or default text editor? – user910404 May 31 '18 at 09:30
@user910404 if this is what you meant to ask in the first place, please edit your question to indicate that. – I say Reinstate Monica May 31 '18 at 10:28

score 2 · Answer 2 · edited May 31 '18 at 10:29

2

That is what the START command is for.
START <name of document> will load the document in the default application.

edited May 31 '18 at 10:29

I say Reinstate Monica

25,968

answered May 31 '18 at 08:48

Tonny

31,463

How to use .bat to open default program?

2 Answers2