How to add menu items under right-click or context menu

Contributor Icon Contributed by William_Wilson  
Tag Icon Tagged: Windows  

This tutorial explains how to add programs to right click menu.


(I will be adding a link for command.com or a DOS prompt as that is what was specifically asked for, but any application can be added in similar fasion)

Right Click in Window (not on file or folder):

    I am not sure there is a way to modify this menu, but if i find it i will add it here.

Right Click on File:

    -open regedit (start\run, type regedit)
    -expand until you are in: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell
    -if the key ’shell’ does not exist, right click on * and add new key and name it ’shell’
    -to add the item right click on ’shell’ and create a new key, the name of this key will be what appears in the menu. I named mine “cmd”
    -next right click your newly created key “cmd” and create another key under it named “command”
    -double click the default entry in this folder and type in command.exe
    -(if you are doing a different program, you would do the complete path to that program instead of command.exe)
    -that’s it your done, now when you right click on a file the option to open a command prompt will be there!

Right Click on Folder addition:

    (I realize there is a recipe for this already, but now it’s all in one place)
    -open regedit (start\run, type regedit)
    -expand until you are in: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Folder\shell
    -if the key ’shell’ does not exist, right click on ‘Folder’ and add new key and name it ’shell’
    -to add the item right click on ’shell’ and create a new key, the name of this key will be what appears in the menu. I named mine “cmd”
    -next right click your newly created key “cmd” and create another key under it named “command”
    -double click the default entry in this folder and type in command.exe
    -that’s it your done, now when you right click on a folder the option to open a command prompt will be there!

Enjoy addition of any program you wish.
As always questions may be sent to william_a_wilson@hotmail.com

-William. ยง (marvin_gohan)

 

15 Comments -


  1. misha said on December 10, 2008

    Thank you.

  2. Hobsyllwin said on July 1, 2009

    Oh thank you so much, this is what i was searching.
    +10

  3. Anonymous said on August 4, 2009

    It was useful. However I couldn’t add another where parameters needed to be passed in:
    1. I added “mvn clean install” as a key to shell
    2. I added “command” as a new key
    3. Under value for this key i added the command I usually run on dos prompt
    mvn clean install -Dmaven.test.skip=true

    It keeps presenting browse dialog and asks me to select the app to use to run.

  4. Name said on September 30, 2009

    The right-click on window configuration is under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTDirectory

  5. Name said on November 22, 2009

    how do i add icons to the menus? please email me at meanhacker1@gmail.com

  6. Anonymous said on February 12, 2010

    this is all over the internet if you just found this out its simple for me there are usful to people like me to find out what registry keys are/do and to find out how we use it in programs

    1. This is not a HACK
    2. This is not an Easter egg
    3. Dont be suprised

  7. Anonymous said on March 6, 2010

    Thank is great Tut. Now i wounder how i pass on the file name information onto my pointed program. I will appreciate any helping idea.

  8. Ghis said on March 10, 2010

    thx;) I’ve been looking for this. I’ve already made the key for the item I needed.

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellEdit with Gimp]

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT*shellEdit with Gimpcommand]
    @=”"C:\Program Files\GIMP-2.0\bin\gimp-2.6.exe” “%1″”

    Peace
    Ghis

  9. TheRealSatan said on March 10, 2010

    thx Ghis;)

    I finally found something that works.

    Can you make one that copy a pic from the browser and send it directly to any photo editor (instead of copy/cut/paste+open editor+paste/from/clipboard ?)

    this would be great if you can do this and as easy to put to work as that key you made!! ;))

  10. tesh said on March 24, 2010

    hey dude…i am trying to add “Play with VLC” in context menu…when i do that and select a “.rar” file it only plays the first rar…rather than playing the entire movie which is the case when u select Open with VLC. dunno why it wont play the entire movie…wierd any suggestiosn ?

  11. kas1943 said on July 22, 2010

    How can we ADD Advanced Find (Ctrl-Shift-F) to a right Click Context Menu in Outlook 2007. Specifically, when I place Mouse Mounter over an Outlook Folder, I want to Right Click and have Advanced Find Option like in Outlook 2003.

  12. Sre said on February 17, 2011

    Awesome!..thanks

  13. Richard Greens Boult said on February 27, 2011

    Using windows 7: Within Picasa, I want to add a right click option to use an EXIF/IPTC/Metadata editor. Damned if I can find out how to do it. any ideas ?

  14. Dnlray2020 said on March 6, 2011

    Thanks a lot that was so helpful of you.

  15. Guest Vest said on July 16, 2011

    nice info, thanks

 

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