Explorer menu in the Create subsection. How to change the right button menu. Clearing the Windows Context Menu. The main items of the context menu
Good day to all. Most recently, I had to reinstall the system on my computer. Let me remind you that I am using Windows 7 maximum. Everything went almost painlessly with the exception of one small nuance. This time I decided not to install any applications, but leave it only for the system. I installed all the necessary programs on disk D. But since I constantly use the text editor Notepad ++, I wanted the item to appear in the explorer's context menu: Open with Notepad ++. The fact is that this item appears automatically if you install the editor on the "C" drive. But if you install it on another disk, then such a chip will no longer be and you will need to do it yourself and manually. If it is difficult for someone to master many letters, then go directly to
The context menu of Windows Explorer is when you right-click somewhere, that's when this menu appears.
And then I set out to create this point at all costs, because I was very used to it and could not imagine my future life without it. 🙂 My gut felt that this idea could somehow be implemented, but I did not know how to do it. As usual, the Runet could not help me. the solution was found somewhere far beyond the seas, oceans and in some kind of broken English. The author used too many words from some local slang that I barely understood what it was about. Therefore, I will tell you what I understood. 🙂
We will edit. This activity is more for experienced users. Although, if you do everything according to the instructions, a beginner will cope. First, we need to open this very registry. To do this, go to Start - Run, write the regedit command in the field and press Enter. You can also call the window for executing this command by pressing the Win + R keyboard shortcut. If you do not have the Run item in the start menu, then right-click on Start and select Properties. In the window that opens, in the Start Menu tab, click on the Customize button Find the Run item and put a tick on it and apply the saved parameters. 
So, we have opened the registry editor. We need to follow this path:
| HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / * / Shell |
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / * / Shell
Right-click on the shell and select the item: "Create partition". 
We give it a name, for example Notepad and in the right window, double-click on the string parameter and write the value: Open in Notepad ++. This is the label that will be displayed in the context menu. Then on the Notepad section, right-click and create a subsection with the name: "command". No quotes. And in the right window in the string parameter we write the path to the program and at the end add: ″% 1 ″ And to find out the path of the program, you need to select the application, press Shift and the right mouse button. The item will appear: "Copy as path". I got it like this:
| "D: \\ Programs \\ Notepad ++ \\ notepad ++. Exe" "% 1" |
"D: \\ Programs \\ Notepad ++ \\ notepad ++. Exe" "% 1"
Everything is fine, an item appeared in the context menu that we needed, but it does not look very nice. 
Therefore, we need to find out how to add it to the item we created, so as not to get confused and everything is immediately visible and understandable. And there is a solution to this. First you need to find this icon. Its size should be small, 16x16 pixels. I got this icon from the Notepad ++ program itself. This is done using the program. To add an icon, click in the registry editor on the Notepad section and create a string parameter in the right window using the right button. We call it Icon. And paste the copied icon path there. If everything is done correctly, it should look something like this:
As you already understood, in this way you can add almost any programs that you often use to the context menu. Of course, it is not entirely convenient to do this, but it is useful for practice. You will know the device of the computer and its file system. Unsubscribe about your experiments in the comments. I hope you succeed.
In this tutorial, we will take a closer look at the functions of a very useful key that is on any keyboard. This key is called the "Context Menu key". It is located in the lower right part of the keyboard between the ALT and CTRL keys.
Pressing this key brings up the CONTEXT MENU, exactly the same as if you pressed the RIGHT mouse button.
The trick of this button is that the menu called when you click will display functions (menu items) that can be applied in the current program, in the active window, on the desktop, etc. Those. this menu adjusts to the process in which you are directly working, and it is very convenient.
Now let's take a closer look at the basic options for displaying the context menu in different environments and the functions that can be performed using this menu.
1. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on the Windows Desktop
For Windows 7
When you press the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on the Windows 7 desktop, the following menu appears:
1. At the very top of the menu - setting parameters Your video card.
2. View - customize the display of icons on the desktop
3. Sorting- customize sorting by displaying icons on the desktop
4. Refresh - updating the display of content on the Desktop.
5. Paste - if you copied something, you can paste it to the Desktop.
6. Create. Here you can create on the Desktop: folder, shortcut, text document, archive, MS Office documents - Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. (if installed)
7. Screen resolution. Here you can set the required screen settings: select a screen (there may be several of them), find out or set the screen resolution, determine the screen orientation, and also configure other parameters for working with the screen, for example, connect a projector.
8... Gadgets - selection and installation of Windows 7 gadgets. In Windows XP there is no such function.
9. Personalization. Here you can customize the appearance of the Desktop, change the background, splash screen, sounds, theme, window color, etc.
For Windows XP
In Windows XP, as many of course know, the context menu looks simpler, but the functions are almost the same.
When you press the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on the Windows XP desktop, a menu of the following type appears:
1. Using the first menu item Arrange icons we can do the following operations:
Screen resolution configurable on the tab Parameters
2. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on a file or folder in Explorer or any other file manager.
When you press the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context menu" key on a file in Explorer or any other file manager, the menu also adjusts to a file of a certain type. For example, I clicked by video file... The following menu has opened:
In this case, the menu offers functions that correspond specifically to the video file: play, add to the list of the player that is selected by default for this file type. And a number of standard functions: open with, add to archive (if the archiver is installed), send, cut, copy, delete, rename and file properties.
If you click the RIGHT mouse button or on the "Context Menu" on a graphic file, then a menu will open, which will correspond to the graphic file type:
Here you can immediately open, edit or print the selected file in the default image program. In my case, this is the ACDSee program.
You can immediately make the selected file a background image for the Desktop, very convenient when you choose from a large list. And then there are again standard functions for working with files.
There are no special differences in Windows XP,
standard functions for working with a file are called by the command Edit
I will dwell in more detail on the items "Open with" and "Send".
Why the Open With feature is useful
Here you can select or assign any installed program that understands the selected file format to work with the selected file. In this case, I clicked on a video file and several programs can work with this format on my computer: Light Allow, WinAmp and of course Windows Media Player.
If the required program is not in the list, but you know for sure that it is installed, select the menu item "Choose a program"... Windows will prompt you to select programs from a list of recommended or other programs.
In Windows XP, this window looks slightly different, but the meaning is the same:
If you want the selected file format to always be opened by the program you select, then check the box "Use the selected program for all files of this type".
If the desired program is not in the list of recommended programs, or in others, but you know for sure that the program is installed, then press the button "Overview…" and select it from the folder where the program is installed.
Why the Send function is useful
With this function, you can send (transfer, transfer) the selected file via BlueTooth (bluetooth), Skype, mail, to the Desktop, to the archive, to write to a CD / DVD disc, to a USB flash drive, so to speak. etc.
3. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key in any Internet browser.
And here, too, the menu adjusts to different situations, depending on where you click on the web page. For example, if you click link, then a menu like this will open:
Using this menu, you can open the content of the link in a new tab or in a new window, add the link to bookmarks, send the link, copy the link, if the link is a file, then you can save it using "Save Object As ..." If you have installed programs for downloading, you can download the contents of the link with their help.
If you click the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" from the picture on the web page, then a menu with other functions will open:
Here you can copy the image to the clipboard and paste, for example, into a Word document, you can save the image to your computer using "Save Image As ...", send the image by mail, make the selected image a desktop background, find out information about the image (type, size, file name), etc.
Let me summarize. In this lesson, we examined the most popular options for using the context menu, which is invoked by clicking the RIGHT mouse button or pressing the "Context Menu" key on the keyboard.
Namely:
1. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on the Windows Desktop
2. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key on a file or folder in Explorer or any other file manager.
3. Pressing the RIGHT mouse button or the "Context Menu" key in any Internet browser.
The essence of this lesson is to learn how to use the useful functions of a specific active environment of your computer. In any environment, by clicking with the RIGHT mouse button or by clicking on the "Context Menu" button, you will receive a list of useful functions available at a given time, relative to the selected object.
We are already familiar with the concept of a context menu. It's time to deepen our knowledge about it and consider the topic - How to remove or add commands to the Windows context menu.
Windows functionality allows the user to edit the context menu to his liking.
Editing the context menu (a set of "explorer" or "actions" menu commands) is possible in one of two ways:
- Through program parameters;
- Through the Windows registry;
- With the help of additionally installed applications.
Let's see how this is done:
Installed programs often themselves have (by default) the function of integration into a set of context menu (CM) commands. Then such a parameter is present in their settings on the main tabs, or maybe on such as "Integration", "Download" or "Add", etc. For example, for the WinRAR archiver, it is enough to uncheck the settings:
It is clear that in this way you can both add (install) and remove (remove) a command (commands) from the list. They do the same with other applications.
We work with the registry
Be very careful when working with the Windows Registry. To be in the registry, you need to set a search in the "Start" menu by typing "regedit", and run the found executable file "regedit.exe":
Making a copy
Before editing the Registry of any version of Windows (including Windows 7), do not forget to create a backup copy for safety reasons. To do this, in the editor, select the Export command on the File tab. Select "Entire register" at the bottom of the opened dialog. Assigning a name and specifying the location - "Save":
If something irreparable happens (especially for an inexperienced person), you can return the registry to its previous state by using the "File" / "Restore" command, specifying a previously created backup file.
Clearing a directory set
The registry itself looks like a tree-like block diagram (on the left), each of the branches of which has its own parameters (on the right). The "shell", "Shellex ContextMenuHandlers" and "Folder \\ shell" branches of the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \\ Directory" directory are responsible for the folder context menu. Having examined these branches in more detail, you can make sure that the "shell" folder contains the upper part of the context set, and the Shellex ContextMenuHandlers - the lower one. The folder "Folder \\ shell" - repeats the previous one.
Removal of program elements from the set is performed in each of the branches. On the right mouse, the deletion element is highlighted, the "Delete" command is called:
Now for files
Here is the same procedure, but in different branches. Since the "* / shellexContextMenuHandlers" and "* / shell" branches in the "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT" registry key are responsible for the set of Context Menu commands for files:
The removal procedure is exactly the same. Do not forget to just delete the unnecessary in both branches.
We use third-party applications
It is much easier (and safer for a beginner) to delete or add an item to the context menu of any version of Windows (including Windows 7) using additional utilities.
After installation and launch, in the program window (by the "Type" column) you can see all programs from the Windows context menu (type \u003d Context Menu).
Unnecessary is removed by highlighting and pressing the red circle:
An interesting and useful utility with a self-explanatory name (available in a free version) Ccleaner. It has many beneficial properties. Website - http://ccleaner.org.ua/. In our case, it clears the registry of unused entries, paths to programs, shortcuts, etc.:
To clear the Context Menu, go to the "Service", in the "Startup" tabs, find the "Context Menu". A list of applications added to the set and their status (included: yes / no) will be displayed here:
To delete - being on a line, the command "Delete" is called with the right mouse. Since a second return (inclusion in the list) is possible only when reinstalling or reconfiguring the application, it is recommended to select the "Disable" option. - Then it will be possible to return it lego ("Enable").
Add with FileMenu Tools
It is very easy to add a new item to the context menu using the FileMenu Tools program.
It offers the user three tabs:
- Left - management of the proposed elements;
- Medium - to configure the "Send" function;
- Right - disables commands added by third-party programs from the list:
You need to add a new element using the “Add Command” command. To specify its parameters, the lower right part of the window is intended - "Properties". For example, to add the line "Open in Firefox" to the menu list (opening HTM and HTML files):
In the "Menu Text" you need to enter the name, and in the "Extensions" - the options for the extensions:
In the "Program Properties" the route to the executable file of the Firefox.exe application is written:
The added item is saved by clicking the green element at the top of the window (on the left):
This article helped you understand the various ways to edit the context menu. Now you know how to add and remove elements from it not only using Windows tools, but also using other programs.
Leave your comments.
The context menu (right-click menu) is a handy tool to speed up your work in Windows. Today we will reveal a few simple secrets of working with the context menu and the system registry. Read how to customize this important element to suit your needs without extraneous applications, using only the built-in registry editor regedit.
Why is the context menu (right-click menu) convenient and why should you clear it
I would like to immediately determine the terminology so that there will be no confusion in the future.
The Explorer context menu, or, as it is sometimes called, the action menu, is a set of commands that can be invoked by clicking right (contextual) mouse buttons on any file or folder. Depending on the object for which it is called, the menu will have a different look or "context".
Note. Of course, not only Windows Explorer has an action menu, but most of the installed applications as well, because this is the most convenient way to access the most important commands.
Immediately after installing the operating system, the context menu has a standard and tidy look, but as additional software is installed, new items are constantly added to it. In the end, there are so many of them that the use of this useful tool turns into flour. Therefore, it is critically important to be able to maintain the contents of the Windows context menu in order for fast and comfortable work.
This can be done in two ways:
- Semi-automatic using third-party software.
- Manually, using the Windows Registry Editor.
Perhaps the first way can be a little easier, but the second way there is no need to use various questionable programs downloaded from the Internet, everything is done by standard means.
Moreover, using the registry will allow you to delve deeper into the internal processes of the system and learn a lot of new things, so we will tell you exactly about the second option.
How to edit Explorer context menu via registry
Launch Registry Editor:
- Enter the menu P usk.
- Enter the command in the search bar regedit and press Enter.
Important! Any careless and rash operations can have dangerous consequences, up to a complete failure to boot Windows. To insure yourself against errors, be sure to back up the registry before you start editing it!
Procedure for creating a backup registry file:
- We go to the menu " File"In the open editor.
- We select the item " Export».
- In the window that opens, in the lower field “ Export range", Choose" Whole register».
- We indicate the desired location and name of the new file and click " Save».
Note.In case of problems after manual editing, the registry can be restored to its original state from a backup copy using the " Import" on the menu " File»Editor regedit.
As you can see, the registry itself has an original tree structure. The tree itself is displayed on the left side of the editor, and the list of parameters in the selected branch on the right. To work with the context menu, we are interested in a single section: “ HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT».
As already mentioned, different sets of commands correspond to different objects (folders, files), so you will have to edit them in the registry separately. Our main goals: clearing the context menu of folders and common menu items for all file types.
Important! We will not change the standard system items of the context menu through the registry. Only items added by installed applications are edited.
Clearing the context menu of folders
All settings of the context menu of directories are stored in the branches:
... Directoty Shell.
... Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers.
... Folder Shell ex ContextMenuHandlers.
If you look closely, you can easily see familiar commands among the branches of these branches. So, the registry branch “ Directory Shell"Contains the items at the top of the menu, and" Directory Shellex ContextMenuHandlers"- bottom. " Folder ShellEx ContextMenuHandlers"Basically repeats the content of the previous branch, so remove the same items if necessary from both branches.
It remains only to remove unnecessary commands. The choice of what to remove and what to leave on the list is a personal matter for everyone. Moreover, depending on the list of installed applications, the content of the menu will differ significantly. Right-click on the unnecessary registry entry and select " Delete". Then repeat this operation for the rest of the selected items.
This is the neat appearance of the registry branches in question and the menu itself after the completion of the cleaning procedure.
Clearing the context menu of files
The procedure itself is no different from the one that was carried out in the previous section. Only the branches of the registry branch have changed " HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT", Storing the required parameters.
Now this:
... * shellexContextMenuHandlers.
They store common elements for all file types registered in the system.
Following the example of cleaning for folders, we delete all unnecessary branches in the registry and get a nice and convenient context menu.
This article will focus on the Explorer context menu. And to be more precise, about how to add or remove various items and links in it. This menu appears every time we right-click on an element on the desktop, in windows, and even on an empty space. On a newly installed operating system, it will be relatively blank. In addition to video card drivers and standard sections, you will not see anything there.
Over time, various programs and applications will fill this menu, and it may already look something like this:
It often looks the same in other applications.
But if no settings were found, then there are a few more steps to take. Indeed, in this case, it is necessary to correct the registry using the registry editor. Therefore, just in case, we make a backup copy of the registry. After that, we start the registry editor and go to this path: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / * / shellexe / ContextMenuHandlers
Add items to the context menu using the utility
Here, adding a new item simply by editing the registry will not work. Therefore, we will use a special program Ultimate Windows Context Menu Customizer. Which allows you to flexibly customize the context menu. For example, we can select unnecessary sections in the menu and delete them.
If anyone has any difficulties, write in the comments to the article and I will be happy to help you.
