How do I change all user file format defaults
I've gone this route (using Writer-to-M$ Word as an example) of trying to change all users on a box at once instead of each user individually: \Basis3.4\share\registry
Use a text editor to alter three files in that "registry" folder.
The first is writer.xcd
Open the writer.xcd file with Notepad, and make the following change:
The line that reads as follows . . .
<prop oor:name="ooSetupFactoryDefaultFilter"><value>writer8</value>
. . . should be changed to read:
<prop oor:name="ooSetupFactoryDefaultFilter"><value>MS Word 97</value>
As there are multiple of instances of that entry I've changed them all but alas, poor Yorick, it has not worked. Any other options, such as the writer.xcu file (which I could not open to edit) has failed as well. Any suggestions?
It's not life-or-death but would sure help me out.
https://wiki.documentfoundation.org/Deployment_and_Migration#Post_deployment_configuration
Note that you are not supposed to alter the pre-existing files in the share/registry; you are expected to add there some new files with settings override.
Note that what you are trying to do is a sure way to suffering from format incompatibilities and bugs in external format support.