Quick Tip: Parallels Desktop 3.0 - SmartSelect

January 13, 2008 · Filed Under Quick Tip · Comment 

Parallels is great program for a user on a Mac who needs the ability to still run Microsoft Windows applications.  Whether you are a switcher (new to the Mac), or a seasoned veteran who still likes to experiment with Windows, Parallels is the perfect application to help you achieve using Windows on a Mac.  In the current version of Parallels (3.0), the development teamed added the ability to open Windows files with Mac apps and Mac files with Windows apps using Parallels SmartSelect.  SmartSelect is great because you can set any Windows or Mac application to be the default for any file from either OS.  Setting up SmartSelect is so easy.  (Note. To enable SmartSelect, you need to configure the Shared Applications and Shared Folders settings in Configuration Editor.)  To begin follow these four simple steps:

  1. Ensure you have Parallels Tools installed on your virtual machine.
  2. From the Applications menu, choose SmartSelect and then select Edit.
  3. From the list of available Windows applications, select the one you you want to configure.  Parallels Desktop will display SmartSelect configuration dialog.
  4. In the configuration dialog, edit the file extension associations.  Click OK to save the changes.

Using SmartSelect is quick, easy and allows the user to ensure the program they want to use with certain file extensions will launch.  Parallels Desktop is available from Parallels for only $79.99.  If you purchase Parallels by clicking the previous link or if you already own Parallels, leave me a comments and tell everyone what your favorite feature of Parallels is. 

Tags: , ,