Starting Mastercam from Windows Explorer???

[Will Slota]

When version 8 first came out I was able to double-click any file associated with Mastercam and it would start up Mastercam.

Now with V8.1 or V8.1.1 it errors out saying cannot read mill8.txt. Is this because the config file is looking for mill8.txt in the wrong place?

[Bill]

Your Mill8.txt should be in the MC8 folder (root). When you install MC8 it asks whether or not if you want mc8 extensions to be opened with mill8. Go to a folder after you have made sure the mill8.txt is in the right place and right click on an .mc8 file and click open with and set it so that every file with an mc8 extension will be opened with mill8 or design or whichever you are using.

[Will Slota]

Naw, The mill8.txt is in the right place and mastercam runs just fine if I click on the icon or the mill8.exe and all my mc8, mc7 geo, igs... files are associated with the mill8.exe to be honest its kinda confusing. I was wondering if I do the repair from the cd won't it overwrite my mill8.cfg file and then won't that mess up the v8.1.1 add on settings?

[Bullines]

Make certain you have MC8 files types associated with Mastercam. For example, in a Windows Explorer windows in Win2k, go:

1. Tools | Folder Options.

2. Select the File Types tab in the Folder Options dialog.

3. Look for MC8 in the Registered File Types listbox(if it's gone, you'll have to add it manually).

The open action for MC8 files should be similar to the following:

X:Mcam8mill8.exe "%1", where X is the drive that Mastercam is installed on. Hope this helps

[Charles Davis]

If you changed the folder mastercam is in (for example, from mcam8 to mcam81), you may have to edit the registry.

As I recall, Start, Run, Regedit

click on the following paths

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Software

CNC Software, Inc.

Mill8

Under the Directory function make the path

c:mcam81 instead of c:mill8

[JAMMAN]

Right on.

You can associate any file extension with any program this way, whether it will actually open it or not. Works similar in win98 also- highlight the file and hold down either the shift or control key (I forgot which but it is one of them!) and right click to get the "open with" option. You will have the chance to permanantly associate the file extension highlited with a program if you like.

Bullines is quickly becoming my hero........

Jim