Troubleshoot SH Files
Common SH Opening Problems
Notepad++ Disappeared
You encounter an error message such as "%%os%% Can't Open SH Files" when trying to open your SH. If this is the case, it's usually due to the fact that you do not have Notepad++ for %%os%% installed on your computer. Your operating system cannot associate your SH with Notepad++, so double-clicking the file won't work.
Tip: If you don't have Notepad++ installed, and you know of another program to open your SH file, you can try opening it by selecting from the programs listed under "Show Apps".
Notepad++ Requires Update
It is possible that your version of Notepad++ isn't able to open your Bash Shell Script file due to incompatibility. Installing the latest version of Notepad++ from Don Ho is recommended. The primary cause of this problem is that your Bash Shell Script file was created by a different (newer) version of Notepad++ than what's installed.
Tip: Sometimes you can get a clue about the version of SH file you have by right clicking on the file, then clicking on "Properties" (Windows) or "Get Info" (Mac OSX).
Conclusion: The majority of SH file opening issues are due to not having the correct Notepad++ version installed.
More Causes of Problems Opening SHs
You can still experience errors opening SH files even with the latest version of Notepad++ installed on your PC. There can be other issues - unrelated to software - preventing you from opening SH files. These other problems include (listed in order from most to least common):
- Windows Registry SH file paths that are incorrect
- Corruption of the SH file description inside the Registry
- Notepad++ or another SH application experienced a flawed installation
- Your SH can't be loaded properly (file corruption)
- Your SH has adversely impacted by malware
- Hardware related to SHs has device driver corruption
- Windows has inadequate resources to open your Bash Shell Script file
Quiz: Which file extension is the most widely used on the World Wide Web?
That's Correct!
Not only is HTML still the "gold standard" file extension of the web, it is also the oldest and still the most widely-used format for serving webpages.
Close, but not quite...
Not only is HTML still the "gold standard" file extension of the web, it is also the oldest and still the most widely-used format for serving webpages.
Poll: When you prepare your yearly taxes, which program do you typically use?