Restoring a la mode file associations in Windows

This document explains how to restore file type associations such as .ZAP and .ORD files when they don't open in the correct program.

Document 5114  |  Last updated:  12/27/2022 CW7

In rare instances, file types are accidentally set to open with a program other than what you would normally use. This is most commonly seen when you try to open a report file or an order file attached to an email, or try to open it somewhere outside of TOTAL, and it opens up in Notepad as a bunch of miscellaneous characters. Or, it doesn’t offer you the option to save the file in a TOTAL folder.

In order to resolve this problem, you need to restore the file associations for TOTAL or TOTAL Connect to their original state. Here's how:

Follow the instructions to set file associations for .ZAP files back to TOTAL.

  1. In TOTAL, click Help and select Tech Support Assistant.

  2. When the Tech Support Assistant opens, go to the Additional Tools tab.

  3. Double‑click #14 Set ZAP file association.

  4. Click OK. Then, click Close to exit the Tech Support Assistant.

That's it!  After following the instructions above, your .ZAP files, when opened outside of TOTAL, now open correctly.

  1. Press Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open a Run dialog box.

  2. In the Open: field, type (or copy and paste) "%md%/Mercury.exe" replace and click OK.

  3. When TOTAL Connect finishes loading, close out of the program and try opening an order file (.ORD) again. If TOTAL Connect prompts you to log in or if it opens to your list of orders, the problem has been resolved and your new order is displayed alongside your other orders.

If problems persist, we need to manually set .ORD files to open with TOTAL Connect. Click the panel below that corresponds to your version of Windows for instructions:

Windows XP to 7

  1. Right‑click a .ORD file on your computer.
  2. In the menu that appears, hover over Open With and click Choose Program.
  3. Click TOTAL Connect in the list of programs and check the box Always use the selected program to open this kind of file.

  4. Click OK.

At this point, the file opens with TOTAL Connect and you should experience no other problems opening .ORD files.

Windows 8 + 8.1

  1. Right‑click a .ORD file on your computer.
  2. In the menu that appears, hover over Open With and click Choose Default Program.
  3. In the list of programs, click TOTAL Connect.

At this point, the file opens with TOTAL Connect and you should experience no other problems opening .ORD files.

Windows 10

  1. Right‑click a .ORD file on your computer.
  2. In the menu that appears, hover over Open With and click Choose Another App.
  3. In the list of programs, click TOTAL Connect.

At this point, the file opens with TOTAL Connect and you should experience no other problems opening .ORD files.

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