Open multiple instances of CVI by simply double clicking on .prj or .cws

[Catalin@ZMR]

Hello, 

First of all I have to specify that I use LabWindows CVI 9.0.
Is there any possibility to open multiple CVI projects by simply double clicking on .prj/.cws file in Windows 10?

Example:
If I already have an open instance and I double click on the second .prj file it closes the first project and open the second project, but if I'm  working with 4 projects in the same time, I have to open them independently by opening the National Instruments CVI, then browse and look for each project and open it which takes me a long time because the projects are different paths. 

How can I open more projects in the same time, as is it implemented in other tools similar to CVI, by simply double-clicking on .prj or .cws file ?

I'm wanting for your response,

Thank you !

[gdargaud]

To open multiple instances, instead of clicking on a .prj, just go to the start menu and launch another instance of CVI, then navigate to open the project/workspace you want. You can open as many as you want.

Note that you can have several projects in a single workspace (but only one active at the time)

[Catalin@ZMR]

Hello gdargaud

The method you suggested me is the one that I use now, but I'm looking for another method by which I can open multiple instances of CVI (i.e. several different projects) by simply double-clicking on .prj or .cws file. 

[RobertoBozzolo]

I make it regularly by creating a shortcut to the project file with the command line

"C:\Program Files (x86)\National Instruments\CVI2017\cvi.exe" pathname_to_prj_file

This opens a new CVI instance with the pointed project loaded.

[Catalin@ZMR]

Hello RobertoBozzolo, 

It may be a good solution when working with a few projects, but when you have more, it becomes time consuming. 
Thanks for your suggestion. 

I'm sure there's a way to change something through Windows registers, then "the magic happens"  and LabWindows\CVI always opens new instances by simply double clicking on .prj or .cws on the desired project you want to work or to take a loot at the example. 

[RobertoBozzolo]

I don't consider it so time consuming: you only have to create the shortcut once and use it as many times you want. You could also group all shortcuts in a single folder and install it as a custom toolbar in the application toolbar: this saves you the time to navigate inside your disks to locate the correct project file.

What's more, you can tailor each shortcut to point top the correct IDE by editing the command line: this is very useful for me since I have to maintain applications deployed to customers and developed over the years in several versions of CVI (it is not always easy or allowed to update the runtime and associated software on the field)

[Catalin@ZMR]

I understand your point of view perfectly and I consider it's a good idea, but at the moment I'm looking to find that solution to change something in the Windows registers in order to open a new CVI instance every time when you double clicking on any project, because we have around 700 CVI projects, of course I don't work with all them every day, but I always have to open about 8 different projects.

I could start making a shortcut for each of the ones I opened, because the following times would help me when I work with it.

Thanks again for your hint. 

[RobertoBozzolo]

Whoa, 700 projects are *really* a big number! I am presently maintaining about 60 projects which originated over the years, so creating the shortcuts was not a problem; I'd be with you if I had to create 700 shortcuts all at once!

Unfortunately I cannot help you with such a problem. I know CVI accepts a number of startup options, but they are of no help in this respect.

[Catalin@ZMR]

Anyway thanks for this hint, your idea is very good, and useful to use in the future for new projects.