Wouldn't it be nice if you could double click on a Windows SharePoint Services Solution Package (WSP) CAB in Windows Explorer and it would open just as if it had a CAB extension. This can be done by simply associating any file with a WSP extension to open in the Cabinet File Viewer Shell Extension. The net requirement is just a few Windows Registry entries:
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wsp]
@="CLSID\\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}"
"InfoTip"="Contains compressed files"
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.wsp\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.wsp]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.wsp\DefaultIcon]
@="cabview.dll,0"
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.wsp\OpenWithList]
[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.wsp\OpenWithProgids]
"CLSID\\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}"=hex(0):
To make it simple, I've created two .reg files in a downloadable WSPCabinetFileViewer.zip:
1. WSP Cabinet File Viewer.reg: Set the registry settings needed to open a WSP cab within the Windows Cabinet File Viewer Shell Extension of Windows Explorer just like a file with a CAB extension.
2. WSP Cabinet File Viewer - Undo.reg: Remove the registry setting added to open a WSP cab within the Windows Cabinet File Viewer Shell Extension of Windows Explorer.
Steps to try this out:
- Download and expand the zip
- To "install", double click on WSP Cabinet File Viewer.reg
- Reboot if you are running Windows Server 2008
- Try to open a WSP file in Windows Explorer
- See the files contents
- To "uninstall", double click on WSP Cabinet File Viewer - Undo.reg
It really is that easy. I have tested these .reg files on Vista Ultimate, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2008. Only Windows Server 2008 required a reboot to see the effects.
<Todd />