Post by drcard on Feb 22, 2024 15:41:21 GMT -5
It appears I didn't put all my tips in the 2nd Ed., so here is a useful additional tip.
Easily Add Any App to Windows Context Menu
What
Command to add a Registry value that will add an app to Windows’ Context Menu so that app can be ran/opened from the Context Menu.
Why
If you have an app that you use a lot, you would benefit from being able to start or open that app from Windows’ Context Menu (i.e. right click and click to run). Windows’ Context Menu is the one that appears when you right click a blank area of the Desktop or File Explorer. Run the command below and reboot to have that app added to Windows’ Context Menu (and work to run/open the app).
How
Note: You must have Administrator’s privileges and the exact Path address to the app to add the app to the Context Menu.
o Open an Administrator Command window by opening a Run box (WinKey +R), type in cmd, press Ctrl + Alt + Enter keys at the same time, and clicking Yes to the UAC query.
o Copy the following command. If text warping places this command on two lines it still is a single line and must be copied all at once.
reg export “HKCR\Directory\Background\shell” "%userprofile%\Documents\ContextMenu.reg"
o Place the mouse pointer in the Command window and right click once. This will paste the copied command at the prompt (>). Press the Enter key and the command will run. When the command is finished running it will display "The operation completed successfully." and the prompt will return awaiting the next command.
o There is a new file ContextMenu.reg in your User Documents folder. This is a backup of this key before you make changes in case you want to "undo" the changes.
o Copy the following command.
Reg add “HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\XXXX\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Path address to the app" /f
o Paste the above command into a new document. Replace the green XXXX in the command with the text you want to appear in the Context Menu. Upper and lowercase letters do apply so you can have txt or TXT depending upon what you enter. Be sure to replace only the XXXX and do not add extra spaces or remove a slash. Replace the green Path address to the app with the actual Path address to the execution file of the app. For example: the Path address for Notepad is C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe. You can look at the Properties of a shortcut used to open the app to find the Path address in the Target box.
o Once you have the app name and Path correctly placed in the command, copy the command.
o Place the mouse pointer in the Command window and right click once. This will paste the copied command at the prompt (>). Press the Enter key and the command will run. When the command is finished running it will display "The operation completed successfully." and the prompt will return awaiting the next command.
o Close the command windows and reboot for the change to take effect.
o After the Reboot right click the Desktop and see your new Context Menu item and click to open that app.
Easily Add Any App to Windows Context Menu
What
Command to add a Registry value that will add an app to Windows’ Context Menu so that app can be ran/opened from the Context Menu.
Why
If you have an app that you use a lot, you would benefit from being able to start or open that app from Windows’ Context Menu (i.e. right click and click to run). Windows’ Context Menu is the one that appears when you right click a blank area of the Desktop or File Explorer. Run the command below and reboot to have that app added to Windows’ Context Menu (and work to run/open the app).
How
Note: You must have Administrator’s privileges and the exact Path address to the app to add the app to the Context Menu.
o Open an Administrator Command window by opening a Run box (WinKey +R), type in cmd, press Ctrl + Alt + Enter keys at the same time, and clicking Yes to the UAC query.
o Copy the following command. If text warping places this command on two lines it still is a single line and must be copied all at once.
reg export “HKCR\Directory\Background\shell” "%userprofile%\Documents\ContextMenu.reg"
o Place the mouse pointer in the Command window and right click once. This will paste the copied command at the prompt (>). Press the Enter key and the command will run. When the command is finished running it will display "The operation completed successfully." and the prompt will return awaiting the next command.
o There is a new file ContextMenu.reg in your User Documents folder. This is a backup of this key before you make changes in case you want to "undo" the changes.
o Copy the following command.
Reg add “HKCR\Directory\Background\shell\XXXX\command /ve /t REG_SZ /d "Path address to the app" /f
o Paste the above command into a new document. Replace the green XXXX in the command with the text you want to appear in the Context Menu. Upper and lowercase letters do apply so you can have txt or TXT depending upon what you enter. Be sure to replace only the XXXX and do not add extra spaces or remove a slash. Replace the green Path address to the app with the actual Path address to the execution file of the app. For example: the Path address for Notepad is C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe. You can look at the Properties of a shortcut used to open the app to find the Path address in the Target box.
o Once you have the app name and Path correctly placed in the command, copy the command.
o Place the mouse pointer in the Command window and right click once. This will paste the copied command at the prompt (>). Press the Enter key and the command will run. When the command is finished running it will display "The operation completed successfully." and the prompt will return awaiting the next command.
o Close the command windows and reboot for the change to take effect.
o After the Reboot right click the Desktop and see your new Context Menu item and click to open that app.