Phrase: "at this rate"

[Attila]

Hi All,

Is the next sentence correct?

I changed the extension and at this rate I could open the file.

[Mister Micawber]

.
No; rate implies progress or serial effort. I changed the extension, I retitled it, and I emailed it to myself, but nothing worked. At this rate, I will never get the file open.
.
_________________
Canadian-American native speaker
who teaches English for a living at Mister Micawber's
ESL cafe: Interview with Mr. Micawber