How to edit context menu of Windows Explorer (Win XP)

[Thomas Schuster]

Hi,

not sure if this is the appropriate newsgroup to ask that question, but
any help is appreciated.

I would like to add a new entry to windows explorer context menu, in the
meantime I figured out that I can add entries by editing some registry
keys, for example: "HKCR\*\shell\..."

Unfortunately those entries are only shown if I do a right click on a
file. On the other hand I would like to open an empty folder (so that
there is nothing to mark but just the possibilty to) right click
somewhere within that empty folder and choose my new entry from context
menu.

Does somebody know which registry key I would have to add to get that
done? Thanks a lot!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Thomas,

When you right-click on an empty space in a folder window, the shell extensions defined in the following registry locations load:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

To add an additional context menu item in the above location, you'll have to write (program) a shell extension - context menu handler. Adding static menu items in the above location is not possible in Windows XP.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Hi,

not sure if this is the appropriate newsgroup to ask that question, but
any help is appreciated.

I would like to add a new entry to windows explorer context menu, in the
meantime I figured out that I can add entries by editing some registry
keys, for example: "HKCR\*\shell\..."

Unfortunately those entries are only shown if I do a right click on a
file. On the other hand I would like to open an empty folder (so that
there is nothing to mark but just the possibilty to) right click
somewhere within that empty folder and choose my new entry from context
menu.

Does somebody know which registry key I would have to add to get that
done? Thanks a lot!

 

[Thomas Schuster]

Thomas,


When you right-click on an empty space in a folder window, the shell extensions defined in the following registry locations load:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

To add an additional context menu item in the above location, you'll have to write (program) a shell extension - context menu handler. Adding static menu items in the above location is not possible in Windows XP.

Thanks for your quick reply.

I was writing a vb script that should be used in context menu. If I got
that correct something like a command entry that calls my script
wouldn't work at this point. So my question would be, can you recommend
any readings as introduction to shell extensions?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

introduction to shell extensions?

These references should help.

Creating Shell Extension Handlers:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...int_extending/extensionhandlers/shell_ext.asp

O'Reilly Media -- Bookstore: VB Shell Programming:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/

Shell Extension Interfaces v1.01 (SHLEXT.tlb):
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB/Type_Libraries/Shell_Extension_Interfaces/article.asp

Visual Basic Shell Programming: Chapter 4: Context Menu Handlers:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/chapter/ch04.html

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Thomas,


When you right-click on an empty space in a folder window, the shell extensions defined in the following registry locations load:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Directory\Background\shellex\ContextMenuHandlers

To add an additional context menu item in the above location, you'll have to write (program) a shell extension - context menu handler. Adding static menu items in the above location is not possible in Windows XP.

Thanks for your quick reply.

I was writing a vb script that should be used in context menu. If I got
that correct something like a command entry that calls my script
wouldn't work at this point. So my question would be, can you recommend
any readings as introduction to shell extensions?

 

[Thomas Schuster]

These references should help.

Creating Shell Extension Handlers:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...int_extending/extensionhandlers/shell_ext.asp

O'Reilly Media -- Bookstore: VB Shell Programming:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/

Shell Extension Interfaces v1.01 (SHLEXT.tlb):
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB/Type_Libraries/Shell_Extension_Interfaces/article.asp

Visual Basic Shell Programming: Chapter 4: Context Menu Handlers:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/chapter/ch04.html

Looks good, thanks!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

You're welcome!

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

These references should help.

Creating Shell Extension Handlers:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...int_extending/extensionhandlers/shell_ext.asp

O'Reilly Media -- Bookstore: VB Shell Programming:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/

Shell Extension Interfaces v1.01 (SHLEXT.tlb):
http://www.vbaccelerator.com/home/VB/Type_Libraries/Shell_Extension_Interfaces/article.asp

Visual Basic Shell Programming: Chapter 4: Context Menu Handlers:
http://www.oreilly.com/catalog/vbshell/chapter/ch04.html

Looks good, thanks!