Can I set IDLE to start Python 2.5 by default?

Question

Ok, so I just installed Python 2.7, but I all ready had python 2.5. I realized that because I installed Python 2.7 last, IDLE automatically opens Python 2.7 IDLE, which I don't want. Is there any way to set the Python 2.5 IDLE to automatically open when I use the right click option on a python source file? Thanks.

Answer 1

You can easily create or edit the right-click properties for a file.

To edit the right-click menu for a particular file extension:

1. Run assoc .py from the command line and note the name of the association:

   C:>assoc .py
   .py=Python.File

2. Run regedit.exe.

3. Browse to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\shell.
4. Create a key under shell called Edit with IDLE (or however you want it to show up in the menu).
5. Create a key under Edit with Idle called command.

6. Edit the default value to run the command you want. Use "%1" to insert the name of the right-clicked file. Something like:

   c:\python25\pythonw.exe c:\python25\lib\idlelib\idle.pyw "%1"

Alternatively, just save the following as idle.reg and double-click it to insert this value in the registry.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\shell\Edit with IDLE\command]
@="\"C:\\Python25\\pythonw.exe\" \"C:\\python25\\Lib\\idlelib\\idle.pyw\" \"%1\""

Answer 2

Unless you need Python 2.7 for some reason, the simplest way to achieve this in Windows is to uninstall Python and reinstall Python 2.5 again.