I recently was running into a problem where Shop Users would attempt to open up a .SLDPRT file and it would default to Adobe Reader. I have actually run into this before, where somehow the file association gets mapped to something else and users do not have the permissions or knowledge on how to quickly adjust it.
I decided to track down the registry changes needed to force the end users file association to default open with SolidWorks E-Drawing Viewer.
Here are my findings.
Create a User Group Policy.
User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry
Create a Registry Item pointing too...
Choose Replace...
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldprt\UserChoice\Progid
Value name Progid
Value type REG_SZ
Value data eDrawings.eprt
Use Item Level targeting to target the ShopGuys Security Group, so that SolidWorks Engineers do not open with default E-Drawings Viewer.
Also, do NOT run in user security context. This will drop the rights and will get the error message access is denied.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldprt\OpenWithList
Value name a
Value type REG_SZ
Value data EModelViewer.exe
Here is the full policy setting listed below...
============================================================
User Configuration (Enabled)
Preferences
Windows Settings
Registry
Progid (Order: 1)
Generalhide
Action Replace
PropertiesHive HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key path Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldprt\UserChoice
Value name Progid
Value type REG_SZ
Value data eDrawings.eprt
Commonhide
OptionsStop processing items on this extension if an error occurs on this item No
Run in logged-on user's security context (user policy option) No
Remove this item when it is no longer applied No
Apply once and do not reapply No
Item-level targeting: Security GroupAttribute Value
bool AND
not 0
name DOMAIN\SHOPGUYS
userContext 1
primaryGroup 0
localGroup 0
Action Replace
PropertiesHive HKEY_CURRENT_USER
Key path Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldprt\OpenWithList
Value name a
Value type REG_SZ
Value data EModelViewer.exe
Commonhide
OptionsStop processing items on this extension if an error occurs on this item No
Run in logged-on user's security context (user policy option) No
Remove this item when it is no longer applied No
Apply once and do not reapply No
Item-level targeting: Security GroupAttribute Value
bool AND
not 0
name DOMAIN\SHOPGUYS
userContext 1
primaryGroup 0
localGroup 0
Control Panel Settings
Folder Optionshide
Open With (Extension: sldprt, Program: C:\Program Files (x86)\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks eDrawings\EModelViewer.exe)hide
sldprt (Order: 1)hide
Generalhide
Action Replace
PropertiesFile Extension sldprt
Associated Program C:\Program Files (x86)\SolidWorks Corp\SolidWorks eDrawings\EModelViewer.exe
Set as default Enabled
Commonhide
OptionsStop processing items on this extension if an error occurs on this item No
Run in logged-on user's security context (user policy option) Yes
Remove this item when it is no longer applied No
Apply once and do not reapply No
Item-level targeting: Security Group Attribute Value
bool AND
not 0
name DOMAIN\SHOPGUYS
userContext 1
primaryGroup 0
localGroup 0
SolidworksAdministration