   file type creation and loading it
  I have created my own file type for a feature in my engine that can be loaded via a Load() function.  BUT i would like to add a way to have the user open up the file that was created (the file type i created) and it open with the program and load all of the data in the file into the program and run it using the data from the file.  can someone point me in the right direction?  thank youEddie RiveronLead 2D engine programmerPhyerSolft   
  I'm confused about what exactly you need help with.  Do you need help with the C++ functions for reading binary files?  Do you need advice on GUI design for a user to work with your custom files?  Do you want to make a plugin for another program to deal with your file type?   ;  what i'm really looking for is openning a file that was created with my program, run the program and load the data within that file.ie: microsoft word.exe, there's an exe for that file (which would be the main program) and you can save file to a .wrd document.  if you open the .wrd document, it'll run microsoft word with the data from the .wrd file.here's exactly what i have:I have a particle system editor that you're able to edit the data for a particle system, i have created a save and load features to save and load the particles you created so you don't have to write it down or hard code it to remember it.  but now, i want to have a way to just open up my .w2dped file and it will run the editor and load the data into it   ;  You'll want to read about file associations. In a nutshell, you associate the filetype with your application, so that when the file is opened, your application is executed and passed a command line argument which points to the file to be opened.As I have never done this myself, I'll let MSDN explain the rest, though I suspect a little tinkering would probably be quicker [wink]   ;  I'm guessing that you are trying to make Windows Explorer automatically open files with your program? You can use the windows GUI to register the file or you can write code to have your program register the file type automatically. You'll probably have to edit the Windows Registry, I think the key is in HKEY_USERS\...\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Explorer\FileEx or something like that.   ;  is there any way i could keep it non-proprietary to windows?  my application is intended to be cross-platform..  is there maybe a different approach i could go to doing what i'm looking for?   