OK, Browse Buttons Disabled in File Manager Associate Option

  - Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a, 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

If the OK and Browse buttons are unavailable (dimmed) for a particular file extension in Windows version 3.1 File Manager when you choose Associate from the File menu, then the file extension is on the "Programs=" line in the [Windows] section of the WIN.INI file.

If a file extension is on the "Programs=" line under Windows version 3.0, the Associate option is unavailable in File Manager when you attempt to associate the file extension with an application.

To associate the file extension with an application, remove the file extension from the "Programs=" line in the [Windows] section of the WIN.INI.

MORE INFORMATION

Windows treats files whose file extensions are on the "Programs=" line as if they are executable files.

To determine if the file extension in question is on the "Programs=" line, run File Manager and look at the icon next to a file that has the file extension in question. If the icon next to the file appears as a rectangular gray box with a green bar across the top (or a rectangular box with a smaller rectangular box within it), then that file extension is on the "Programs=" line within the WIN.INI file.

The icon should appear exactly like the icons to the left of files with the .EXE, .PIF, .COM, or .BAT file extensions.

The same behavior may occur if you try to associate a file without a file extension.

For more information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   File and Manager and Associate and extension