Add app to 2000 / XP context menu

[Derek]

UltraEdit has a handy feature during installation that allows you to add it to the context menu.
This allows you to right-click any file and choose UltraEdit in the menu, thus opening the file in UltraEdit.

I have tried to find where it's configured for this but cant see it.
Cant find it in the reg [tho it has to be there, at a guess] and i cant see it in 'File Types' - not even N/A

Any ideas how i do this for other apps?

[Corey]

It seems to me that if you go into the file types thing which sets your file associations you will see features there offered on a per type basis, i.e. .txt files might have a verb to open as well as one to edit whereas .swf files might only have a verb to open. You can add verbs to file types. Not sure if this is what you are looking for but I thought I'd post anyhow.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Derek]

Thanks for reply, Corey.

I had considered that - the only snag being i'd have to do it for every file type ... not appealing.
I cant see an entry for "All Files" - which is a bit of a bummer!

[Corey]

Yes.

Corey Milner
Creative Director, Indigo Rose Software

[Intrigued]

If your on Windows (XP Home Edition for this example)... this may help with your quagmire?

C:\Documents and Settings\replace_with_current_logged_on_username\S endTo

drill down to that directory and put a shortcut to the applications you want a file sent to (this is on the contexual/popup menu you can activate from the Desktop area of your computer... for editing, Emailing, etc.. etc.. of a file(s).

It does not work for all programs I found. However, it has worked for several.

Is this a solution that will help for your situation in question?

[Derek]

Hi

Thanks Intrigued.
As a last resort. I have thought about using that too, but i'm lazy and would like as few menu's as poss to work thru to get to the desired entry.

[Intrigued]

I hear you... it is just a "fly out" menu. How can I convince you it is "easy as pie" to use my suggestion?

I know.. please keep your eye on this swinging watch.

You are getting sleep...er You are happy to use the 'Send To' suggestion. You are at peace using the 'Send To" directory for all your contextual menu problems. No other solution is as appealing as the 'Send To' directory solution... (fade out)

Did it work? (grin)

I fully understand though. That is why I use keyboard (and macro) shortcuts to automate many actions on a daily basis.

[TJ_Tigger]

I am not a VB person but this might be a good place to start.

http://vbhelp.info/kb/kb0070006

[Intrigued]

(credits to "Vic" at http://personal-computer-tutor.com)

Adding Items

Adding Items to the right click menu of Files and Folders is also fairly simple using the Registry. It just involves the creation of a few new keys for each item you wish to add. You edit the same keys used for removing items. Let's use Notepad as an example of an item you'd like to add to the right click menu of all your files or folders.

For folders, go to this key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder

Click the + sign next to Folder and expand it so that the Shell key is visible. Right click the Shell key and choose New>Key and name the key Notepad or whatever else you'd prefer (whatever the key is named is what will appear in the right-click menu). Now right click the new key you made and create another key named Command. Then, in the right hand pane, double click "Default" and enter Notepad.exe as the value.
Exit the registry, refresh, and right click any folder. Notepad should now be on the context menu.


For files, go here again:


HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*

Expand the * key and see if a Shell key exists. If it does exist, follow the same procedure as for folders. If it does not exist, you'll have to create a new Shell first. Just right click the * key and choose New>Key and name it Shell. Then right click the Shell key and continue on the same way you did for adding items to the right click menu of folders.

Once done, Notepad should appear as an option in the right click menu of all your files.

[Intrigued]

I tried such and it worked on this Windows XP (Home Edition) "box" here. But it seems to just open the program. I am confident a solution will manifest itself eventually.

Let me know if this is what you wanted and if it worked for your system.

[TJ_Tigger]

That registry key then points to a Class ID further down, which in turn points to a .dll. For instance if you have winzip installed find the winzip context menu here.

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers\Wi nZip

With a registry value of

REG_SZ {E0D79304-84BE-11CE-9641-444553540000}

If you search for that Class ID you will find it here

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E0D79304-84BE-11CE-9641-444553540000}

With a registy value of

REG_SZ WinZip

Under this class id there is an InProcServer32 entry

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E0D79304-84BE-11CE-9641-444553540000}\InProcServer32

With a registry value of

REG_SZ C:\PROGRA~1\WINZIP\WZSHLSTB.DLL

I don't know if there is a way to do it without having to write for your self a dll. there might be but I have not had any luck finding that information.

Tigg

[Brett]

Yeah, you would definitely have to write a COM-based shell extension DLL to get that stuff working. Not just a simple Registry issue.

[Intrigued]

That is starting to get pretty indepth then; however, thank you for explaining in a little more detail the route to take to get such working properly.

[Derek]

Thanx for your input guys. I'll keep pondering and see what 'grows'