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Author Topic: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?  (Read 14010 times)

tranglos

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Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« on: December 06, 2007, 05:42 PM »
Okay, I really should know this, but there it is, I don't :) I need to add a single command to Explorer's context menu for all files (not folders), manually. I hardly ever use Explorer, since Total Commander is my thing, but there's an increasing number of apps that embed explorer's shell nenu in their file listings (Nero, Acronis True Image, etc). Often I want to view the contents of files in these contexts, but there is no viewer in XP and "Open with" doesn't qute cut it for effiiciency. So I want to add a command, for every file type, that will open the file in Total Commander's lister.exe.

I know there are tools to remove junk from the shell menu (e.g. Shell menu view by Nirsoft), but now I want to do the reverse, hopefully for free. I've no problems with editing the registry, and I think the entry should go under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers, but that's  about what I can figure out. In Explorer -> Tools -> Folder options -> File types you can only add a new action for a specific file type; specifying no extension or "*" doesn't work. (The former produces an error, the latter is ignored.)

I should really know this by now. I was sick with fever when they taught shell menus, I was.

.marek

kimmchii

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #1 on: December 06, 2007, 06:23 PM »
create a shortcut in the "send to" folder then right click on file>send to>the program?
If you find a good solution and become attached to it, the solution may become your next problem.
~Robert Anthony

tranglos

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2007, 07:44 PM »
create a shortcut in the "send to" folder then right click on file>send to>the program?

Ah! It's been years since I used Send To last, but there it is, thanks! :) I'd still prefer a menu item that doesn't require fishing through a submenu, but this will do fine for now.

.marek

AndyM

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tranglos

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2007, 10:20 PM »
Thank you, Andy! It's "shell", not "shellex", after all. For the record, here's the two settings required:

The "OpenWithLister" key is just an internal handle, can be anything. For the "(Default)" value specify the menu item label (with hotkey):

shellmenu_01.pngSimplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?

Next, add a "Command" subkey, and for the "(Default)" value specify the path to program and argument:

shellmenu_02.pngSimplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?

Now I have my beloved lister everywhere and it's all good!
.marek

lanux128

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2007, 10:44 PM »
here is a Delphi component that might be useful..

ws-add-context-menu.png
http://www.david-tay....html#AddContextMenu


Nighted

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #6 on: December 07, 2007, 10:21 AM »
I`m a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class, especially since I rule.

PhilB66

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #7 on: December 07, 2007, 10:37 AM »
awxShellFish

Did you try this one, Nighted?

lanux128

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #8 on: December 09, 2007, 07:39 PM »
awxShellFish

the web page, arniworld has some cool shell applications. good find, Nighted!

ws-arni.png

Nighted

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2007, 02:57 AM »
Did you try this one, Nighted?

Yes, it's very good. You can basically do the same thing with many others though (Fast Explorer, SpiritPyre Extension Pack, SOCKShell, etc.).
I`m a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class, especially since I rule.

PhilB66

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Re: Simplest way to add a command to Explorer's shell menu?
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2007, 07:08 AM »
Tnx. Nighted.