Does Windows XP Professional have a file viewer?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Anthony B
  • Start date Start date
A

Anthony B

I recently downloaded an ascii text file from the Internet and need a file
viewer to look at the text in the file. I don't know if Windows XP has a
file viewer as part of its accessories package. Can I open this file with a
Windows Accessory program, or will I have to purchase a proprietary file
viewer such as Quick View Plus? Any help will be appreciated.
 
Anthony said:
I recently downloaded an ascii text file from the Internet and need a file
viewer to look at the text in the file. I don't know if Windows XP has a
file viewer as part of its accessories package. Can I open this file with a
Windows Accessory program, or will I have to purchase a proprietary file
viewer such as Quick View Plus? Any help will be appreciated.
Click to expand...
..txt files can be read with notepad or wordpad. Both built into windows.
If you have not messed around with settings, windows defaults to notepad
for .txt files out of the box.
 
Big Al said:
.txt files can be read with notepad or wordpad. Both built into windows.
If you have not messed around with settings, windows defaults to notepad
for .txt files out of the box.
Click to expand...

I opened the file with both Notepad and Wordpad, but the text does not
format properly, and I have to scroll a great distance horizontally to read
the file. This makes it very difficult to read the text. When I open the
file with Microsoft Word, the text is properly formatted inside the window,
but I don't wand to inadvertently edit the file as I read it. Can Notepad
and Wordpad properly format the text so that I do not have to scroll
horizontally?
 
Anthony B said:
I recently downloaded an ascii text file from the Internet and need a file
viewer to look at the text in the file. I don't know if Windows XP has a
file viewer as part of its accessories package. Can I open this file with a
Windows Accessory program, or will I have to purchase a proprietary file
viewer such as Quick View Plus? Any help will be appreciated.
Click to expand...


you should have no problem opening it using notepad or wordpad
 
I opened the file with both Notepad and Wordpad, but the text does not
format properly, and I have to scroll a great distance horizontally to read
the file. This makes it very difficult to read the text. When I open the
file with Microsoft Word, the text is properly formatted inside the window,
but I don't wand to inadvertently edit the file as I read it. Can Notepad
and Wordpad properly format the text so that I do not have to scroll
horizontally?
Click to expand...

Do you have wordwrap turned on in Wordpad or Notepad?
--ron
 
Anthony B said:
I opened the file with both Notepad and Wordpad, but the text does not
format properly, and I have to scroll a great distance horizontally to read
the file. This makes it very difficult to read the text. When I open the
file with Microsoft Word, the text is properly formatted inside the window,
but I don't wand to inadvertently edit the file as I read it. Can Notepad
and Wordpad properly format the text so that I do not have to scroll
horizontally?
Click to expand...

Just use Word if that's what works best.
If you are worried about possibly changing the contents...
change thr attiributes of the file to read only.

Also...what the heck...make a copy of it and store it in another folder
 
philo said:
Just use Word if that's what works best.
Click to expand...

Something tells me that the "ascii text file" described by OP is
actually a Word .doc file.
If you are worried about possibly changing the contents...
change thr attiributes of the file to read only.

Also...what the heck...make a copy of it and store it in another
folder
Click to expand...

All very good suggestions.
 
Ron Rosenfeld said:
Do you have wordwrap turned on in Wordpad or Notepad?
--ron
Click to expand...

Ron:

Many thanks for your suggestion to turn on wordwrap. This solved the
mystery. I did not know that wordwrap could be turned on and off in Notepad
and Wordpad. I have to admit that I didn't read the documentation for these
software utilities. It's great to be able to solve a problem in a newsgroup!
 
Bill in Co. said:
IF he turns on word wrap.
Click to expand...

Thanks Bill. I turned on wordwrap and that solved the mystery. I didn't know
that wordwrap could be turned on and off in NotePad and WordPad. We learn as
we go along.
 
Ron:

Many thanks for your suggestion to turn on wordwrap. This solved the
mystery. I did not know that wordwrap could be turned on and off in Notepad
and Wordpad. I have to admit that I didn't read the documentation for these
software utilities. It's great to be able to solve a problem in a newsgroup!
Click to expand...

You're most welcome. I'm glad that problem was easy to solve.
--ron
 
philo said:
Just use Word if that's what works best.
If you are worried about possibly changing the contents...
change thr attiributes of the file to read only.

Also...what the heck...make a copy of it and store it in another folder
Click to expand...
I changed the attributes of the file to "read only" and then I opened the
file with NotePad and WordPad. These two utilities are file editors. When
you open a file with either NotePad or WordPad, the file can still be edited
in the program even though the file has been set to "read only." If you
want to be certain that the file cannot be edited, I believe that you have
to use a file viewer instead of a file editor such as NotePad or WordPad.
 
Anthony B said:
I changed the attributes of the file to "read only" and then I opened the
file with NotePad and WordPad. These two utilities are file editors. When
you open a file with either NotePad or WordPad, the file can still be
edited in the program even though the file has been set to "read only."
If you want to be certain that the file cannot be edited, I believe that
you have to use a file viewer instead of a file editor such as NotePad or
WordPad.
Click to expand...
Any, Most, All, File editors require you to save after editing or the
changes you make will be lost on closing.
If the file is read only then you will get a warning if you try to save to
that file name.
Just for info..
Most Data Base (Access, Filemaker etc.) programs save as they go without
asking because that is the way they need to work but if the file is read
only the program will either not like it from the start or refuse to
continue once you make an entry.

John G.
 
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