Add App Menu To Windows Explorer Right-Click Menu

[raineym]

I want to add a menu item for my new app in the Windows Explorer right-click menu. I used to have the .NET 3.x code to do so, and I anted to update it to .NET Framework 4.8.1, but it has been ages since I used it and now I can't find the project that I did it for. I don't work with the registry much and I know that is what the previous code did.

Basically, what I want is a menu that looks like this when you right-click any file (not folder) in Windows Explorer:

MyApp >		
	Command >
		Command
	Command >
		Command
	Command >
		Command

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[.paul.]

The easiest way is to create a .reg file, like this...

example.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\Copy Path]
"Icon"="Z:\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2008\\Projects\\copy path\\copy path\\bin\\Release\\copy path.exe,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\Copy Path\Command]
@="Z:\\Documents\\Visual Studio 2008\\Projects\\copy path\\copy path\\bin\\Debug\\copy path.exe %1"

Doubleclicking example.reg in explorer will add a 'Copy Path' entry to every file's explorer right click menu. The Icon is the app icon in copy path.exe. The Command links to my app, and passes the clicked file path to my app (%1). Be sure to escape \ by doubling it \\

[.paul.]

The Copy Path app is simple...

Module modmain
    Public Sub main(ByVal args() As String)
        Dim path As String

        If Not args.First.StartsWith("::") Then
            path = IO.Path.GetFullPath(String.Join(" ", args))
        Else
            path = args.First
        End If

        Clipboard.SetText(path)
    End Sub
End Module

[raineym]

This is what I am trying to accomplish when right-clicking a file in Windows File Explorer (just an example).

[.paul.]

Registry hives follow a similar design as the windows filesystem. If you want to share the exact data with me, i can create a .reg file for you. You can PM me on this occasion, as i understand if you don't want to make this public...

[.paul.]

All of those Command entries in your example aren't descriptive

[.paul.]

%1 after your file path means the registry passes the clicked file path to your app. Any file path explicitly entered should use double forward slashes between directories and filenames

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command1]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command1\Command1a]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command1\Command1a\Command]
@="your file path"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command1\Command1b]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command1\Command1b\Command]
@="your file path"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command2]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command2\Command2a]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command2\Command2a\Command]
@="your file path"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command2\Command2b]
"Icon"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\*\shell\ProgramName\Command2\Command2b\Command]
@="your file path"

[.paul.]

It'll be a lot more readable with actual menuitem names

[.paul.]

I hope the PM helped. Let me know how you solve the multiple filenames issue. By default, windows will open your app once for every selected filename, where you want it to open once with every filename...