java - Inno Setup: Extending Windows default apps list

Question

How is it possible to have listed my application on the Windows default apps list?

I have a special Java based video player application with an installer created by Inno Setup. I want my application to be listed on the selectable video players list on Windows 10 (I also don't know how to do it with older Windows versions).

Answer 1

For generic information, see:

• Registering an Application for Use with Default Programs on Microsoft Docs.
• How do I add my application in the Default Programs list of Windows Vista/7? on Stack Overflow

In Inno Setup, you implement this using [Registry] section:

[Registry]
; Create the application capability key
; (The location of the key does not matter)
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "SoftwareMy Company"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "SoftwareMy CompanyMy Program"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "SoftwareMy CompanyMy ProgramCapability"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: "ApplicationDescription"; 
    ValueData: "This is My Program that does stuff"; Flags: uninsdeletevalue
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "SoftwareMy CompanyMy ProgramCapability"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: "ApplicationName"; ValueData: "My Program"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue
; List of extensions the application supports
Root: HKLM; 
    Subkey: "SoftwareMy CompanyMy ProgramCapabilityFileAssociations"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: ".jpg"; ValueData: "MyProgram.JPEG"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue

; Add the capability key to list of registered applications
Root: HKLM; Subkey: "SoftwareRegisteredApplications"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: "My Program"; 
    ValueData: "SoftwareMy CompanyMy ProgramCapability"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue

; For each extension that the application supports
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEG"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEG"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: ""; ValueData: "MyProgram JPEG"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGDefaultIcon"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGDefaultIcon"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: ""; ValueData: "{app}MyProg.exe,1"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGShell"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGShellopen"; Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGShellopenCommand"; 
    Flags: uninsdeletekeyifempty
Root: HKCR; Subkey: "MyProgram.JPEGShellopenCommand"; 
    ValueType: string; ValueName: ""; ValueData: """{app}MyProg.exe"" ""%1"""; 
    Flags: uninsdeletevalue

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In Inno Setup 6, you should modify the code as follows to support non-administrative install mode:

1. Replace HKLM in the first block with HKA;
2. Replace HKCR with HKA and add the SoftwareClasses prefix to the Subkey in the second block.

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