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