Hi there
Once wrote a small tool in VB (unfortunately I think I lost it (((( that did the following:
1. runs invisibly
2. accepts parameters (like c:\mydir\mytool.exe help_file.chm)
3. forms does a host command passing the name of the file to open
4. the tool searches the Registry for the executable file that deals with the extension I passed on
5. The tool issues a Shell to the executable found in registry and passes the file to open
6. the tool kills it self, after opening the help file.
I'm looking in my backup cd's for that tool (i called it orahelper.exe), because it would become handy for me at the moment. If I find it I'll reply to you again
regards