To add to the initial comment...this is something I first noticed with OOo prior to the creation of LibreOffice. Currently, on my PC (Win7 Home Premium, 64-bit, SP1), only the "Writer" program appears twice. Impress & Calc are not duplicated. (I remember Calc also being duplicated with OOo - don't remember checking whether Impress was.) It appears to be caused by a duplicate entry in the Registry. I dove into the Registry once to fix it, but it will reappear the next time you upgrade, so it's not worth the effort & risk of making changes to the Registry.

With the latest version it seems to be only .doc and .rtf files that have two identical entries in this menu (I haven't tested absolutely all the many formats LO supports, but I tested the common ones).

Also template documents have one entry for "LibreOffice 3.3" with the generic grey icon and another entry for the component name with the component's icon.  Both these options do exactly the same thing.  Is this the same issue of should I file a separate bug for the template issue?

[This is an automated message.]
This bug was filed before the changes to Bugzilla on 2011-10-16. Thus it
started right out as NEW without ever being explicitly confirmed. The bug is
changed to state NEEDINFO for this reason. To move this bug from NEEDINFO back
to NEW please check if the bug still persists with the 3.5.0 beta1 or beta2 prereleases.
Details on how to test the 3.5.0 beta1 can be found at:
http://wiki.documentfoundation.org/QA/BugHunting_Session_3.5.0.-1

more detail on this bulk operation: http://nabble.documentfoundation.org/RFC-Operation-Spamzilla-tp3607474p3607474.html

In 3.5.0 version of LibreOffice problems still exist?

Dear bug submitter!

Due to the fact, that there are a lot of NEEDINFO bugs with no answer within the last six months, we close all of these bugs.

To keep this message short, more infos are available @ https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/QA/NeedinfoClosure#Statement

Thanks for understanding and hopefully updating your bug, so that everything is prepared for developers to fix your problem.

Yours!

Florian

I just installed LibreOffice_25.2.1_Win_x86-64.msi on the following and see what OP saw, right-click .txt file, Open With menu, two "LibreOffice" entries, one that opens it in swriter.exe and the other in scalc.exe. Bottom is a chatgpt.com  conversation I had trying to name them "LibreOffice Writer" and "LibreOffice Calc" to no avail. Neither do I know how to remove them. If a use Open With to browse to swriter.exe and pick it, a 3rd entry appears in the menu as desired, "LibreOffice Writer".

Edition	Windows 10 Pro
Version	22H2
Installed on	‎2/‎13/‎2025
OS build	19045.5608
Experience	Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19061.1000.0

chatgpt.com:
how to change the name of an item in the windows 10 "open with"  menu
ChatGPT said:
To change the name of an item in the "Open with" menu on Windows 10, you can follow these steps:

Method 1: Modify the Registry (Advanced)
Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
Type regedit and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following registry key:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications
Find the application that you want to rename in the list of applications.
Once you find it, right-click the application's folder, and select Export. Save it as a .reg file (for backup purposes).
Edit the Display Name:
Under that application's key, you should see several strings or keys. Look for the key related to FriendlyAppName or similar.
Change the value of FriendlyAppName to the desired name you want to appear in the "Open with" menu.
Close the Registry Editor and restart your PC. The "Open with" menu should now reflect the new name.
Method 2: Change File Associations (Easier Method)
Right-click a file of the type you want to change the "Open with" menu for.
Select Open with > Choose another app.
In the dialog box, select the app you want to set as the default.
Check the box Always use this app to open .[file extension] files.
This doesn’t directly change the name, but it sets a new app as the default for that file type.
This method is more for setting defaults rather than renaming options in the menu. Be careful when editing the registry, as incorrect changes can cause issues with your system.

You said:
Why does HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications entries have redundant entries such as theapplication and theapplication.1?
ChatGPT said:
In the Windows Registry, the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications section often contains multiple entries for the same application, such as theapplication and theapplication.1, due to the following reasons:

Multiple Versions or Instances: Sometimes, different versions of an application are installed on the system (e.g., an older version and a newer version). The .1 entry could refer to a second or alternate version of the same application, ensuring that each version has its own registry entry to avoid conflicts between them.

Multiple Executables: Some applications have multiple executable files associated with them. For example, an application may have different executables for 32-bit and 64-bit versions or separate launchers for specific features. Each executable may have its own registry entry with a .1, .2, etc., to keep track of different executables.

Backup or Backup of Backup: Sometimes, Windows or the software installer might create a backup or redundant entry during installation or an update. The additional .1 (or higher numbers) might be a result of a failed update or a backup process, keeping multiple registry entries to ensure that the application can still function correctly.

Temporary or Legacy Entries: These entries may also occur due to temporary installations or legacy configuration leftovers from uninstalled applications, which still leave redundant entries in the registry.

In general, the .1, .2, etc., suffixes help ensure that the system recognizes multiple instances of the same application and avoids registry conflicts. If you're unsure whether an entry is redundant or safe to remove, it's best to leave it unless you are specifically troubleshooting the application or registry.

You said:
Windows 10 file explorer right click on .txt file shows "open with" menu having two entries for "LibreOffice". One opens in swriter.exe and the other in scalc.exe. How do I make the menu item names unique?
ChatGPT said:
To make the "Open with" menu items for LibreOffice in Windows 10 unique (one for swriter.exe and another for scalc.exe), you will need to modify the registry to provide distinct names for each application. This way, they will appear separately in the "Open with" menu with custom names instead of showing both entries as "LibreOffice."

Here’s how you can do it:

Steps to Modify the Registry for Unique Menu Entries
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
Type regedit and press Enter.
Navigate to the File Type:

Go to the following registry path:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
This key holds the "Open with" menu for .txt files.
Find the LibreOffice Entries:

Within OpenWithList, you will likely see the entries for swriter.exe and scalc.exe. These are the two entries for LibreOffice, and they may both be named "LibreOffice" in the menu.
Change the Display Name:

To make them unique, you’ll need to add custom names.

Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
Look for the string FriendlyAppName. If it exists, change its value to something like LibreOffice Writer (or whatever name you prefer).
If FriendlyAppName does not exist, you can create it by right-clicking the right pane, selecting New > String Value, and naming it FriendlyAppName. Set its value to LibreOffice Writer.
Next, navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
Similarly, change the FriendlyAppName here to LibreOffice Calc.
If FriendlyAppName doesn’t exist, create it as described above and name it LibreOffice Calc.
Restart Windows Explorer:

After modifying the registry, you need to restart Windows Explorer for the changes to take effect.
Open Task Manager (press Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Result
After following these steps, you should see two unique entries for LibreOffice in the "Open with" menu:

One for LibreOffice Writer (linked to swriter.exe).
One for LibreOffice Calc (linked to scalc.exe).
This will help you distinguish between the two different LibreOffice applications in the "Open with" menu for .txt files.

You said:
OpenWithList export only contains:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt]
"PerceivedType"="document"

ChatGPT said:
It seems that the OpenWithList does not contain entries for the specific "Open with" menu items in your case. This might be because Windows 10 stores the "Open with" menu information differently, especially for file types associated with multiple applications like LibreOffice.

Since the OpenWithList doesn't show the LibreOffice entries for .txt files, we need to look elsewhere in the registry to modify the menu names.

Follow these steps to ensure that each LibreOffice application (Writer and Calc) has distinct entries in the "Open with" menu for .txt files.

Steps to Modify the "Open with" Menu Names for LibreOffice:
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Find the LibreOffice Application Entries:

LibreOffice usually registers itself under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\ for its executables.
Navigate to the following paths in the Registry:
For LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe):
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
For LibreOffice Calc (scalc.exe):
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
Modify the FriendlyAppName:

In each of these application keys, you can add or modify the FriendlyAppName to make the name appear distinct in the "Open with" menu.
For LibreOffice Writer:

Right-click on the swriter.exe key, and if there is no FriendlyAppName string, create one by selecting New > String Value.
Name the string FriendlyAppName.
Set the value of FriendlyAppName to LibreOffice Writer (or another name you prefer).
For LibreOffice Calc:

Do the same for scalc.exe. If FriendlyAppName doesn’t exist, create it and set the value to LibreOffice Calc.
Ensure Correct File Association:

After modifying the FriendlyAppName for each executable, you also want to make sure the .txt file extension is properly associated with LibreOffice. This can be done in the File Explorer:
Right-click a .txt file and select Open with > Choose another app.
Choose LibreOffice Writer or LibreOffice Calc from the list or browse to the respective .exe file if not listed.
Check Always use this app to open .txt files if you want to set it as the default.
Restart Windows Explorer:

To see the changes in the "Open with" menu, you will need to restart Windows Explorer:
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer in the list of processes.
Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
Result:
After these changes, you should see two distinct entries in the "Open with" menu:

LibreOffice Writer (for swriter.exe).
LibreOffice Calc (for scalc.exe).
This will ensure that the "Open with" menu items for LibreOffice are uniquely named and distinguishable when you right-click on .txt files.

You said:
FriendlyAppName does not exist. At what level of the tree should it be created?
ChatGPT said:
If the FriendlyAppName string does not exist, you can create it under the appropriate registry key for each executable (i.e., swriter.exe for LibreOffice Writer and scalc.exe for LibreOffice Calc). Here's how to add FriendlyAppName at the correct level:

Steps to Add FriendlyAppName in the Registry
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to the Application Keys: You need to go to the specific application registry entries for LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc.

For LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe):

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
For LibreOffice Calc (scalc.exe):

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
Create the FriendlyAppName String:

Right-click on the application key (e.g., swriter.exe) in the left pane.

Choose New > String Value.

Name the new string FriendlyAppName.

Set the value of FriendlyAppName to the desired name, for example:

For LibreOffice Writer, set it to LibreOffice Writer.
For LibreOffice Calc, set it to LibreOffice Calc.
The result should look something like this:

For swriter.exe:
lua
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
|-- FriendlyAppName = LibreOffice Writer
For scalc.exe:
lua
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
|-- FriendlyAppName = LibreOffice Calc
Restart Windows Explorer: After making changes in the registry, restart Windows Explorer to see the updated "Open with" menu.

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer in the list.
Right-click on it and choose Restart.
Result:
By adding the FriendlyAppName string in the appropriate registry location (HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe for Writer and HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe for Calc), you will make the entries unique in the "Open with" menu. When you right-click a .txt file and choose Open with, the menu will show LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc as distinct options, depending on which executable you select.

You said:
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe exists but HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe does not exist.
ChatGPT said:
If HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe does not exist, it means that LibreOffice Calc is not explicitly registered in the registry in the same way that LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe) is. You can manually create the entry for LibreOffice Calc by following these steps.

Steps to Manually Add scalc.exe to the Registry
Create the scalc.exe Key:

Open Registry Editor (Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter).
Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications
Right-click on the Applications key and select New > Key.
Name the new key scalc.exe (this represents the executable for LibreOffice Calc).
Add the FriendlyAppName String:

Now that you've created the scalc.exe key, right-click on it and select New > String Value.
Name this string FriendlyAppName.
Set its value to LibreOffice Calc (or any name you'd like to appear in the "Open with" menu).
Your registry should now look like this:

lua
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
|-- FriendlyAppName = LibreOffice Calc
Ensure scalc.exe is Registered in the "Open with" Menu:

Make sure that LibreOffice Calc is set up correctly to handle .txt files. If you haven't already, you can associate it by:
Right-click a .txt file and select Open with > Choose another app.
If LibreOffice Calc is not listed, click More apps and scroll to find LibreOffice Calc, or click Look for another app on this PC and browse to scalc.exe (usually located in the LibreOffice installation folder).
Select it, and check the box Always use this app to open .txt files if you want to make it the default for .txt files.
Restart Windows Explorer: After making changes, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer and right-click it.
Choose Restart.
Result:
After following these steps, LibreOffice Calc will appear as a distinct option in the "Open with" menu under the name LibreOffice Calc (or whatever name you specified) alongside LibreOffice Writer. Both will now have unique names in the menu, making it easier to select the right application for .txt files.

You said:
After restarting windows explorer as instructed, the open with menu for swriter.exe is still just LibreOffice not LibreOffice Writer.
ChatGPT said:
It sounds like the changes you made to the registry for swriter.exe didn't fully take effect in the "Open with" menu. The FriendlyAppName might not be enough on its own for Windows to display the updated name. There is a different registry location where the swriter.exe entry for LibreOffice is likely stored, and changes there can ensure that the name shows up correctly in the "Open with" menu.

Let's try a more direct method to ensure that LibreOffice Writer appears with a unique name in the "Open with" menu.

Steps to Modify the "Open with" Menu Name for swriter.exe:
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to the Correct Registry Location:

For LibreOffice Writer, navigate to the following registry key:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibreOffice.Writer
You may also find it under another path like:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\LibreOffice\Writer
Modify the FriendlyAppName for swriter.exe:

If the LibreOffice.Writer key exists, right-click on it and choose New > String Value.
Name it FriendlyAppName if it doesn't already exist.
Set its value to LibreOffice Writer (or another name you prefer).
If the LibreOffice.Writer key does not exist, you can try searching for other registry keys related to LibreOffice or swriter.exe and add the FriendlyAppName there. Often, the association will be found under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe.

Associate .txt with swriter.exe:

If not already done, right-click a .txt file, select Open with > Choose another app, select LibreOffice Writer, and check Always use this app.
Restart Windows Explorer: After making the necessary changes, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Additional Option: Modify the OpenWithProgIDs
If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try modifying the OpenWithProgIDs entry.

Go to the following path in the Registry Editor:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithProgIDs
You should see an entry like:
Copy
Edit
LibreOffice.Writer
Right-click on LibreOffice.Writer, and select Export to back it up first.
You can edit the exported file, or you might try adding a new one with a unique key name for swriter.exe.
Final Check:
After following these steps and restarting Windows Explorer, LibreOffice Writer should appear as a distinct entry in the "Open with" menu, instead of just LibreOffice. Let me know how it works or if you run into any issues!

You said:
Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writer does not exist but Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writerDocument and Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writerDocument1 do exist.
ChatGPT said:
Thank you for the clarification. Since the keys libreoffice.writerDocument and libreoffice.writerDocument1 exist, those are likely the registry entries associated with the LibreOffice Writer document type, rather than the swriter.exe executable directly. In this case, we'll need to modify the registry entries related to LibreOffice Writer to display the correct name in the "Open with" menu.

Steps to Modify the "Open with" Menu for LibreOffice Writer:
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to the libreoffice.writerDocument Key: Since you found the key HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writerDocument, we will modify that to give the correct name in the "Open with" menu.

Go to the following path:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writerDocument
Modify or Add FriendlyAppName:

In the libreoffice.writerDocument key, look for a string value called FriendlyAppName. If it does not exist, you can create it.
Right-click on the libreoffice.writerDocument key and select New > String Value.
Name the string FriendlyAppName and set its value to LibreOffice Writer (or a name you prefer).
If FriendlyAppName already exists, modify its value to LibreOffice Writer.

Repeat the Same for libreoffice.writerDocument1:

You may also want to repeat this process for libreoffice.writerDocument1 to ensure consistency if it appears in the registry as well.
Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\libreoffice.writerDocument1
Create or modify the FriendlyAppName string, setting it to LibreOffice Writer (or another name if needed).
Restart Windows Explorer: After making the necessary changes, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Alternative Option: Modify the OpenWithProgIDs
Additionally, you can try modifying the OpenWithProgIDs entry under the .txt file type association, as this may also affect what appears in the "Open with" menu.

Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithProgIDs
Look for libreoffice.writerDocument in the list. You can right-click and modify it to ensure that the correct LibreOffice Writer name appears.
Result:
After following these steps, LibreOffice Writer should now appear with the desired name (e.g., LibreOffice Writer) in the "Open with" menu when right-clicking a .txt file.

Let me know if you need any further assistance!

You said:
Adding FriendlyAppName and restarting windows explorer did not change the open with menu item names. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt does not contain an OpenWithProgIds key.
ChatGPT said:
It seems that the registry changes we attempted didn't have the desired effect on the "Open with" menu. Since you're not seeing the expected changes in the "Open with" menu for swriter.exe, it might be that Windows is using a different registry mechanism to control how it displays these applications, especially when multiple executables are registered for a single file type (like .txt).

Here’s a more comprehensive approach to ensure that LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc show distinct names in the "Open with" menu:

1. Recheck the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe Entry
Since swriter.exe is registered in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe, let's ensure that this key is set up correctly for the "Open with" menu.

Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe:

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
Add/Modify the FriendlyAppName Key:

Right-click the swriter.exe key, select New > String Value, and name it FriendlyAppName.
Set the value of FriendlyAppName to LibreOffice Writer.
Double-Check File Associations: If swriter.exe is still not showing up with the new name, you may want to explicitly set the file association. Right-click a .txt file, select Open with > Choose another app, and manually browse to swriter.exe and select it, then check the box for Always use this app to open .txt files.

2. Modify the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList Key
If the OpenWithProgIDs key is missing in the .txt association, you might need to manually add the programs to the OpenWithList.

Navigate to:

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Add LibreOffice to OpenWithList: You might already see an entry here for swriter.exe, but if not, you can add it manually.

Right-click OpenWithList and select New > String Value.
Name the new string a1 (this is the format used for listing applications).
Set the value to swriter.exe.
Repeat for scalc.exe if you want it in the menu:

You may need to manually add scalc.exe as well, but scalc.exe might not be directly in the registry. You can add it in the same way as swriter.exe.
3. Creating Custom Registry Entries for Unique Names in "Open With" Menu
We can try creating completely custom entries in the registry for the "Open with" menu by associating .txt with LibreOffice applications using scalc.exe and swriter.exe.

For LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe):

Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
Create a new key under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\ (if it doesn't already exist) called OpenWithList.
Inside this key, create a new string value with a unique name (e.g., a1), and set the value to the path of swriter.exe.
For LibreOffice Calc (scalc.exe):

Similarly, navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
You can then modify the OpenWithList entries to include scalc.exe if you want it in the "Open with" menu.
4. Resetting and Rebuilding File Associations for .txt Files
After all the registry changes, it's often helpful to reset the file associations to clear out any old settings and apply the new registry values:

Open Settings: Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Scroll down to choose default apps by file type.
Find .txt and click the current default (probably Notepad) and select LibreOffice Writer (or any other application you want).
5. Test the "Open with" Menu Again
After making these changes, restart Windows Explorer as before:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Then, right-click a .txt file, select Open with, and check if LibreOffice Writer (and possibly LibreOffice Calc) now appear as distinct menu items.

Conclusion
This approach directly targets the registry entries that affect the "Open with" menu, with a focus on manually associating the correct executables and customizing the registry for a clearer display. Let me know if this resolves the issue!

You said:
 explicitly set the file association. Right-click a .txt file, select Open with > Choose another app, and manually browse to swriter.exe and select it causes the open with menu to contain a third item "LibreOffice Writer". How do remove the item named "LibreOffice"?
ChatGPT said:
It looks like the issue is that LibreOffice is still appearing in the "Open with" menu as a default option, despite setting the file association manually. To remove the extra entry named LibreOffice and keep LibreOffice Writer in the "Open with" menu, we need to modify or clean up some registry keys and file associations.

Here’s how you can remove the entry named LibreOffice and ensure only LibreOffice Writer appears in the "Open with" menu:

1. Remove "LibreOffice" from the "Open with" Menu via Registry
The "LibreOffice" entry in the "Open with" menu is likely a leftover from previous associations, and it can be cleaned up through the registry.

Steps to Remove the "LibreOffice" Entry:
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications Key:

Look for an entry under:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\libreoffice.exe
Delete the libreoffice.exe key if it exists. This key is likely responsible for the LibreOffice entry in the "Open with" menu.
If you find any similar entry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\libreoffice, delete those as well.
Check for "LibreOffice" Entries in the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\ Key:

Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt
Look for a key named LibreOffice or anything similar under OpenWithProgIDs.
If you find such entries, delete them or modify them to point only to LibreOffice Writer (e.g., libreoffice.writerDocument).
Restart Windows Explorer:

After making the changes, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer in the list, right-click it, and select Restart.
2. Reassign the Default App for .txt Files
After cleaning up the registry, ensure that the default app for .txt files is set to LibreOffice Writer.

Open Settings: Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Scroll down and click Choose default apps by file type.
Look for .txt in the list.
Click the current default app (likely Notepad) and select LibreOffice Writer from the list.
3. Clear and Rebuild File Associations
To ensure the correct association is applied and remove any lingering associations:

Go to the "Choose another app" Menu:
Right-click a .txt file and choose Open with > Choose another app.
Select LibreOffice Writer from the list, check the box Always use this app to open .txt files, and confirm your choice.
This will ensure that LibreOffice Writer is set as the default application for .txt files.

4. Verify the Changes
After doing these steps, right-click on a .txt file and check the Open with menu. The entry LibreOffice Writer should now appear as the only LibreOffice-related option, and LibreOffice should no longer appear in the menu.

Summary
By removing the registry entries that refer to libreoffice.exe and ensuring that LibreOffice Writer is correctly set as the default, you should be able to clean up the "Open with" menu and have only the LibreOffice Writer entry appear. Let me know how it works or if you encounter any issues!

You said:
I uninstalled libreoffice and now there are not open with menu items for it.
ChatGPT said:
Since you've uninstalled LibreOffice, it's normal that the LibreOffice entries no longer appear in the "Open with" menu. However, if you still want to have LibreOffice Writer or LibreOffice Calc appear as options for certain file types (such as .txt), you can reinstall LibreOffice and ensure the file associations are correctly configured.

Here's how to fix the situation:

1. Reinstall LibreOffice
If you want to restore LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc as options in the "Open with" menu, you can reinstall LibreOffice. During the installation, you can ensure the proper file associations are set.

Download and Install LibreOffice from the official website:
LibreOffice Download

During Installation:

Ensure that you select the option to associate LibreOffice applications (Writer, Calc, etc.) with their corresponding file types during installation.
This will automatically restore the proper entries for LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc in the "Open with" menu.
2. Reassign Default Apps After Reinstallation
Once LibreOffice is reinstalled, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and set LibreOffice Writer or LibreOffice Calc as the default app for file types like .txt, .ods, etc.

For .txt files:
Open Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Scroll down to Choose default apps by file type.
Find .txt and set it to LibreOffice Writer.
3. Manually Add LibreOffice Writer and Calc to "Open with" Menu
If you don't want to reinstall LibreOffice but still need LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc to appear in the "Open with" menu, you can manually add them via the registry.

Recreate the Necessary Registry Entries for swriter.exe and scalc.exe (assuming you have the executables):

Navigate to the following key:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications
Create keys for both swriter.exe and scalc.exe (if they don’t exist):
swriter.exe: Representing LibreOffice Writer.
scalc.exe: Representing LibreOffice Calc.
Inside each key, add a FriendlyAppName string with the value "LibreOffice Writer" or "LibreOffice Calc" as appropriate.
Rebuild OpenWithList:

Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Add the paths to swriter.exe and scalc.exe if you want them listed in the "Open with" menu for .txt files.
4. Restart Windows Explorer:
After modifying the registry or reinstalling LibreOffice, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
Conclusion
By reinstalling LibreOffice and properly setting file associations, the correct options for LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc should be restored in the "Open with" menu. Alternatively, you can manually modify the registry to add them back if you prefer not to reinstall. Let me know if you need more help!

You said:
I do not want LibreOffice as the default app for file type .txt.
ChatGPT said:
Got it! If you don't want LibreOffice to be the default app for .txt files but still want LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc to appear as options in the "Open with" menu, you can adjust the registry and file associations accordingly.

Here’s what you can do to achieve that:

1. Remove LibreOffice as the Default for .txt Files
You can ensure that LibreOffice Writer or any other app doesn’t become the default for .txt files, while still allowing you to select it from the "Open with" menu.

Steps to Remove LibreOffice from Default App for .txt Files:
Go to Settings:

Open Settings by pressing Win + I.
Go to Apps > Default apps.
Change Default App for .txt:

Scroll down to Choose default apps by file type.
Find .txt in the list.
Change the default app from LibreOffice Writer (or any LibreOffice app) back to Notepad or any other app you'd prefer.
2. Ensure LibreOffice Writer and Calc Appear in the "Open with" Menu
If you want LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc to appear in the "Open with" menu for .txt files but not as the default, follow these steps:

Add LibreOffice Writer and Calc to "Open with" Menu Manually (Registry Method):
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Ensure the Correct Registry Keys for swriter.exe and scalc.exe:

Navigate to the following paths:

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
If these keys don’t exist, you can create them:

Right-click Applications and select New > Key.
Name the new key swriter.exe and scalc.exe as needed.
Inside each key, create a String Value called FriendlyAppName.
Set the value of FriendlyAppName to LibreOffice Writer or LibreOffice Calc.
Modify OpenWithList for .txt Files:

Go to:

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Add new string values for swriter.exe and scalc.exe (if they are not already listed). The values will point to the correct .exe paths for LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc.

Restart Windows Explorer:

After modifying the registry, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:
Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc), find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
3. Use the "Open with" Menu for .txt Files Without Changing the Default App
After making these changes, you’ll be able to right-click a .txt file, select Open with, and choose LibreOffice Writer or LibreOffice Calc without setting them as the default app for .txt files.

4. Verify the Changes
Right-click a .txt file, select Open with, and you should see LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc listed as options (but Notepad or your other default app should remain the default).
Conclusion
By adjusting the file association for .txt files and manually adding LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc to the "Open with" menu, you can choose these apps when you right-click a .txt file, without them becoming the default app for the file type. Let me know if you need more help!

You said:
after reinstalling libreoffice, the three menu items reappear.
ChatGPT said:
It sounds like after reinstalling LibreOffice, you have the three LibreOffice entries back in the "Open with" menu. These include LibreOffice Writer, LibreOffice Calc, and potentially a more general LibreOffice entry, which you don't want to show up.

To remove the extra LibreOffice entry and keep only LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc, follow these steps:

1. Remove the General "LibreOffice" Entry
This general LibreOffice entry in the "Open with" menu is likely coming from the registry, specifically from the LibreOffice executable (often libreoffice.exe). To remove it, we need to clean up the registry.

Steps to Remove the "LibreOffice" Entry:
Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications:

Check for a key named libreoffice.exe (or similar).
Delete this key if it exists. This key is likely the one responsible for the LibreOffice entry in the "Open with" menu.
Look for Related Keys Under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt:

Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithProgIDs
Look for any entries related to LibreOffice (e.g., libreoffice.textDocument or libreoffice). If you find any, delete those entries as well.
2. Ensure Only LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc Appear
You want to make sure LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc are the only entries in the "Open with" menu for .txt files.

Navigate to the Relevant Registry Keys for swriter.exe and scalc.exe:

For LibreOffice Writer, go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
For LibreOffice Calc, go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
Add/Modify the FriendlyAppName string if it's not set, to ensure the correct name appears in the "Open with" menu.
For swriter.exe, set FriendlyAppName to LibreOffice Writer.
For scalc.exe, set FriendlyAppName to LibreOffice Calc.
Check the OpenWithList for .txt Files:

Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Make sure the swriter.exe and scalc.exe are the entries listed. If they are missing or incorrect, add them here.
3. Restart Windows Explorer:
After making the necessary changes in the registry, restart Windows Explorer to apply the changes:

Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc).
Find Windows Explorer, right-click it, and select Restart.
4. Test the "Open with" Menu Again
Right-click a .txt file, select Open with, and check that only LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc appear in the list, not the general LibreOffice entry.
Conclusion
By cleaning up the registry and ensuring that only the specific LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc entries are present, you should be able to have a clean "Open with" menu. Let me know how it goes, or if you need any further help!

You said:
C:\Program Files\LibreOffice\program>dir /b *.exe
gengal.exe
gpgme-w32spawn.exe
mar.exe
minidump_upload.exe
odbcconfig.exe
opencltest.exe
python.exe
quickstart.exe
regview.exe
sbase.exe
scalc.exe
sdraw.exe
senddoc.exe
simpress.exe
smath.exe
soffice.exe
soffice_safe.exe
spsupp_helper.exe
sweb.exe
swriter.exe
twain32shim.exe
uno.exe
unoinfo.exe
unopkg.exe
updater.exe
update_service.exe
xpdfimport.exe
ChatGPT said:
From the list of executables in your LibreOffice installation directory, it looks like LibreOffice Writer is swriter.exe, and LibreOffice Calc is scalc.exe. These are the correct executables you want to see in the "Open with" menu for .txt files.

The general "LibreOffice" entry (that you don't want) is likely coming from the soffice.exe or possibly from another executable like quickstart.exe or gengal.exe, which are related to the LibreOffice suite, but aren't specific to Writer or Calc.

Here's how to proceed to fix the issue and remove the general "LibreOffice" entry:
1. Remove the "LibreOffice" Entry in the "Open with" Menu
The general "LibreOffice" entry likely corresponds to soffice.exe, which is the main LibreOffice executable used to launch LibreOffice in general. You can prevent this from showing in the "Open with" menu by removing any registry entries that associate soffice.exe with .txt files.

Open the Registry Editor:

Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Look for soffice.exe in the Registry:

Navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\soffice.exe
If it exists, delete this key to remove the association of soffice.exe with the "Open with" menu for .txt files.
Check the OpenWithList for .txt Files:

Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Look for any entries related to soffice.exe. If you find any, remove them.
Ensure only swriter.exe and scalc.exe are present in this list.
Remove Unwanted Registry Entries for Other LibreOffice Executables: If you see other LibreOffice executables like quickstart.exe, gpgme-w32spawn.exe, or gengal.exe associated with .txt files, you can remove them by navigating to their respective registry paths in:

Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications
and deleting the entries.

2. Add swriter.exe and scalc.exe to the "Open with" List
If they aren't showing up in the "Open with" menu, you can add LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe) and LibreOffice Calc (scalc.exe) manually:

Navigate to the Registry Path for .txt File Associations:

Go to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\.txt\OpenWithList
Add Entries for swriter.exe and scalc.exe:

If they aren't already present, you can create string values for both:
swriter.exe (for LibreOffice Writer)
scalc.exe (for LibreOffice Calc)
Right-click on OpenWithList, select New > String Value, and name the values swriter.exe and scalc.exe, respectively.
Add FriendlyAppName for Both Executables:

For swriter.exe and scalc.exe, navigate to:
Copy
Edit
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\swriter.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\scalc.exe
Create a new string value called FriendlyAppName for both, and set the value to:
LibreOffice Writer for swriter.exe
LibreOffice Calc for scalc.exe
3. Restart Windows Explorer
Once you’ve made these changes, restart Windows Explorer to apply the new settings:

Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
Right-click Windows Explorer and select Restart.
4. Check the "Open with" Menu Again
Right-click a .txt file and select Open with.
Now, you should only see LibreOffice Writer (swriter.exe) and LibreOffice Calc (scalc.exe) as options, without the general LibreOffice entry.
Conclusion
By cleaning up the registry and ensuring that soffice.exe and other general LibreOffice executables are removed from the "Open with" menu for .txt files, you'll achieve a cleaner "Open with" list, showing only LibreOffice Writer and LibreOffice Calc. Let me know how it goes or if you need further assistance!

I've been encountering this issue for some time as well.

The duplication in the "Open with" menu is caused by redundant entries within the Windows Registry for the affected file extensions. Specifically, entries for both Writer and Calc are registered for the same file type (like .txt).

Interestingly, even the Calc entry results in the file opening in Writer, proving the duplication is undesirable

For reference, here is a PowerShell script that detects and removes the duplicates for the affected extensions:

$classesRoot = "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Classes"

# Note: This operation is slow
Get-ChildItem -Path $classesRoot | Where-Object { $_.Name -match "\\\." } | ForEach-Object {
    $ext = Split-Path $_.Name -Leaf
    $regPath = "$classesRoot\$ext\OpenWithProgIDs"

    if (Test-Path $regPath) {
        $values = Get-ItemProperty -Path $regPath
        $props = $values.PSObject.Properties.Name

        $writerKey = if ($ext -eq ".rtf") { "LibreOffice.Rtf" } else { "soffice.StarWriterDocument.6" }

        if ($props -contains $writerKey -and $props -contains "soffice.StarCalcDocument.6") {
            Write-Host "Duplicate detected for extension $ext"
            Remove-ItemProperty -Path $regPath -Name "soffice.StarCalcDocument.6"
        }
    }
}

I have detected these five impacted extensions: .txt .htm .html .rtf .xml

(Notice that the Writer key is different for .rtf files.)

You can find the correct "soffice.StarWriterDocument.6" keys for ".txt .htm .html .xml" in:

https://github.com/LibreOffice/core/blob/0cf331a01d1fa734a746306595d9d71f38ba1c5f/scp2/source/writer/registryitem_writer.scp

(I haven't found the "LibreOffice.Rtf" key for .rtf files.)


And you can find the extraneous, erroneous "soffice.StarCalcDocument.6" keys for ".txt .htm .html .rtf .xml" in:

https://github.com/LibreOffice/core/blob/0cf331a01d1fa734a746306595d9d71f38ba1c5f/scp2/source/calc/registryitem_calc.scp

I assume this is Windows domain, because there was other product installed, like from OO to LO or else. 
Not something that should be expected from LO to fix. 
Here is a link how to handle in Windows, in addition to the above. 
https://woshub.com/managing-default-file-associations-in-windows-10/

I’m reopening this issue because I encounter it on a fresh installation of LibreOffice on Windows 10 LTSC.

This is not the result of a migration from OpenOffice or a mixed environment. The duplicate “Open with” entries appear immediately after installation, which indicates they are caused by the installer’s registry entries rather than prior configurations.

I also found that this same issue has been reported by multiple users outside Bugzilla. Here is one matching report on Ask LibreOffice:

https://ask.libreoffice.org/t/open-with-lo-shows-up-twice/35036

This shows the problem is not isolated to a single system or configuration, but something many users are encountering in normal installations.

Created attachment 204859 [details]
Patch removing incorrect Calc OpenWithProgID entries for .txt, .htm, .html, .rtf, and .xml

This patch removes the five erroneous Calc registry entries that cause duplicate "Open with" menu items in Windows Explorer. These entries are added by the Calc installer script but should not be associated with these file types, which belong to Writer. Applying this patch prevents the duplicated LibreOffice entries from appearing.