I've just bought a new laptop with Windows 7 on (still have the old laptop with Windows Vista) and have transferred over Inkscape work that I've created.

The file icon for each of the svg files is Internet Explorer! (see the attachment) When I double click (to open) I get the image showing in IE. Inkscape does not open.

To actually open the Inkscape file, I double click on my desktop Inkscape icon, and then select 'Open' and choose one of these files that I know is an Inkscape svg master file on my computer.

If I right click and select 'Open with' - there is no Inkscape option and when I search on the web, I get nothing. I've tried to change the default settings to open with Inkscape, but again, nothing.

There has to be a solution to this. what on earth am I doing wrong?

Caroline

Hi Caroline,
Well, Microsoft has only just begun to support SVG, and IE9 is supposed to display some SVG image. But MS still hasn't mananged to display SVG thumbnails in Windows Explorer yet. What I notice is that if I've worked on an image lately, I see the Inkscape icon. But after awhile, it changes back to the IE icon.

To open them, you have a few choices. One of them you've already discovered. Open Inkscape first, and then File menu > Open or Open Recent. You've almost discovered another, and there's a 3rd. Right-click in WinExplorer, scroll to Open With, and then click Choose default program. That will open a dialog where you may or may not see Inkscape listed. If you see it, you can click on it, and Ok, and Inkscape will open the file. If you don't see it, click the Browse button, locate Inkscape, click on it and click Ok. Then Ok again, and Inkscape will open. The 3rd way, is before you click OK the last time, make sure the little box is checked that says "use selected program to open this kind of file". Then you can double-click the file, and Inkscape will open it.

One question -- On your other computer, did you have the Renesis plugins? They will sometimes help with the icon issue, but not always. And if you don't alreay have them, there's no longer any way to get them. But if you do have them, just write the installer files to disc and install them on the new machine.

Ah Brynn - so easy when you understand what's going on. Thank you very much for your very prompt and comprehensive response.

I don't have Renesis plugins on the other laptop, no.

I did try the Browse button, but nothing came up, but no matter, as long as I can get into my work.

Thank you again.

Caroline

You're welcome

Wow! You answered this one even before I got to ask it! Was away from work for 2 days and came back to find a "mess of changes" to my computer - and one of them was this icon issue. Files were opening fine in Inkscape, but hated the IE icon. Followed your "open with" instructions and all my Inkscape icons are back! Think someone upgraded Explorer while I was gone....