Open With

Menu:  View -> OpenWith
Command:  View.OpenWith
Versions:  2008,2010
Published:  8/21/2010
Code:  vstipEnv0037

 

You can use Open With to change the editor used to view a file.  There are several ways to use this feature.  If you have an existing file open, for example, you can go to View -> OpenWith:

 

 

For files not opened yet, you can use this option from inside the Open dialog:

 

 

 

Regardless of the method used, you will get the Open With dialog:

 

 

Notice, in this example, there is one editor that is the "default" editor for the type you want to open.  This can be easily changed by selecting a new editor and clicking the "Set as Default" button:
 

WARNING:  Use this at your own risk as you will most likely want to be sure of the editor you are using before you make it the default. 

 

 

Notice there is an "Add" button where you can indicate new programs you want to use for opening files:

 

 

 

One common use of Open With is to just have source code editing for WPF files.  Normally, you get a designer/code view:

 

If we use Open With and select "Source Code (Text) Editor":

 

We get a "code only" view of the XAML: