Opening files with default Windows application from within emacs

Question

I\'m trying to tweak the dired-find-file function in emacs on Windows XP so that when I open (say) a pdf file from dired it fires up a copy of Acrobat Reader and op

Answer 1

I'd use (w32-shell-execute "open" file-name).

In fact, in my init file I have:

(defun open-externally (file-name)
  (interactive "fOpen externally: ")
  (let ((process-connection-type nil))
     (start-process "open-externally" nil
                    "xdg-open" file-name)))

(when (eq window-system 'w32)
  (defun open-externally (file-name)
    (interactive "fOpen externally: ")
    (w32-shell-execute "open" file-name)))

Which defines a command that (may be used interactively and) opens a file with the default application according to xdg-open and then, if I'm actually on Windows, redefines that command appropriately.