Filetonic / Windows Vista is trying to open .cbl files with 7-zip. What do I restore the file association to?

Windows Vista is trying to open .cbl files with 7-zip. What do I restore the file association to?

Kate Dubensky What are CBL Files?

The .cbl file extension is used for files that are written in a programming language called COBOL. COBOL is one of the oldest computer programming languages that is still used today. In order to play the .cbl file, you will want to restore the file association to a COBOL-compatible program. There are a few different COBOL programs that you might have, or can get, on a Windows based operating system, including IBM COBOL, NetCOBOL, and OpenCOBAL.

File Associations

Windows-based computers use file extensions to identify different file types and determine which program will launch in order to open it. File extensions are your computer’s way of tagging and sorting your files, so that it knows what to do with them. If your file associations aren’t the way that you’d like them, you can adjust these settings manually using the Set Associations utility.

Adjusting File Associations

To adjust your files association settings, first open your Start Menu, and then your Control Panel. Find the icon that is labeled Default Programs, and click it twice to open. On the Default Programs menu, there are two options that you can use to change file associations.

Set Your Default Programs

If you use the first option, called Set Your Default Programs, you can choose the program that will be used to open particular file extensions. From the list on the left side of the menu, select the program that you want to set as the default. Not all programs on your computer are listed here, so if the program you want isn’t listed, you can use the second option that is detailed below. If your program is listed, select it to open the next menu. Near the bottom of this screen, there will be a link called Choose Defaults for this Program, which will provide a list of the file extensions that the program opens. You can now add the name of the extension that you want the program to open.

Associating File Types

You can also choose the second option on the Default Programs menu, that is called “Associate a file type or protocol with a program.” When you open this option, you will see a comprehensive list of extension types and the names of the programs that they are associated with. You can change the program by choosing the extension, and then the Change Program link. Remember, you will need a COBOL-compatible program to associate the extension with.