Hi,
From Windows 7 to Windows 8 it has been done alot of changes regarding file file assocations. It seem that the main reason was security and was "patched" by having Windows read the hash for the applications instead of where the application was located.
but there seem to be some major hicups and there is limited info on the web covering these issues.
First issue: when running: Dism /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:\\Server\Share\AppAssoc.xml and then creating a GPO configuration pointing to thi XML file. With this feature only common file extensions is supported and when users are changing to another computer, these settings is not possible to syncronize using roaming profiles.
Second issue: In the appassoc.xml file applications must be either appid(metro app) or common application on local harddrive to be registered and not a .EXE file on a network location.
It seems a little strange if this is the case and if there is no other options for administratos to set file associations in more flexible ways. Does anyone have some more info on this topic other than these link:
https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh825038.aspx?f=255&MSPPError=-2147217396
http://blogs.technet.com/b/mrmlcgn/archive/2013/02/26/windows-8-associate-a-file-type-or-protocol-with-a-specific-app-using-a-gpo-e-g-default-mail-client-for-mailto-protocol.aspx
https://keithga.wordpress.com/2013/11/13/file-associations-in-windows-8/