I'm a bit surprised I haven't posted this some time before, and honestly I probably spent more time double-checking my old posts than I will getting this new one put up, since it's such a useful thing to have. This is about setting what programs your computer uses to open certain files. While Toolkit will usually set itself to open any ssg files with just a double-click, every once in a while, the computer may need a little reminder. Here's how to give it one:

First, get to where you can see the extensions:

1. Click START>CONTROL PANEL> APPEARANCE > FOLDER OPTIONS
2. Click the VIEW tab
3. In the advanced settings, un-check the box labeled "Hide extensions for known file types"

Downloading the SSG:
Now of course I'm a little biased, and since I AM posting on StockCentral, I'm going to assume you're using that for your data source. That said, if you're using something else, don't worry, so long as you can get the file to a place you're able to find.

1.Login to Stock Central at http://www.stockcentral.com
2.Click on the DATA tab, then enter the ticker symbol into the proper field and click GO
3.Click on the link labeled "Get SSG Data" and save the file to a location of your choice

To change file associations:

1. Navigate to where the SSG file was downloaded
2. Right click on the downloaded file, select OPEN WITH> CHOOSE PROGRAM
3. Choose the program where you want the file to open, or click BROWSE to locate a program not on on the list
4. Check the box labeled "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file"

If our software is not on the list and you have to browse, you will need to navigate to the executables for the appropriate software. The path for each executable is listed below.

Stock Analyst - C:\Program Files\ICLUBcentral\NAIC Stock Analyst\sa3.exe
Investor's Toolkit - C:\Program Files\ICLUBcentral\Toolkit6\toolkit6.exe

Note that while we use .ssg files in this example, you can also use the first and last parts of this information to set your computer to recognize other files, such as an .ITK from Toolkit, or any other type of file you might have.

Just a couple of cautionary words before I go: Not all files are meant to be double-clicked on to be used; the .icd files from Club Accounting 3 are a perfect example. While you can double-click on them, that won't open Club Accounting; you still need to import those from in the program.

As well, if you don't know the type of file, Windows will try to guess for you. Sometimes it does a good job, but it's going to guess things like Internet Explorer, Adobe Reader, or Microsoft Office a lot if you don't tell it otherwise. In cases like this, a site like Google, Bing, or Yahoo can be very helpful. If you type in something like "what program uses the .xyz extension" you'll be able to see what programs you might need to go looking for on the computer.

Anyhow, we're supposed to get some big windy, rainy fallout from the remains of hurricane Earl tonight, so I'm going to wish you all a happy upcoming Labor day, and sign off before the sky gets any more overcast.