RE: Possible error in dependency checking a lots of other points

[Greg Spencer]

> Not entirely true.  Any suffix that the Windows File
> Manager knows how to do anything with (Open, Edit, etc.)
> will be in the registry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
> Basically, if you enumerate all registry keys under
> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, then look at only the ones beginning in
> a ".", then you will see all the registered suffixes.
>
> Of course, we all know how fun dissecting the registry is.

Sure, you can do that on *your* computer, or on each
computer you install to, but can you guarantee that it won't
conflict on a computer with "ACME Construction Software"
installed that also has a ".cons" extension?  Apple
maintains a list of registered filetypes, so that if you
want, you can check and see if a filetype is registered.  At
least then you're guaranteed not to conflict with a filetype
registered by another developer.

Unix, of course, doesn't have this problem -- it just looks
at the contents of the file (which is smart, IMHO, although
sometimes complicated).

                        -Greg.