Playing with shell extensions to provide some custom context menus.
Consists of a simple command line client that is called from registry commands. It executes the requested operation. It is also used to configure registry commands, and some other stuff.
If the command fails, code/stdout/stderr is logged and user gets a message box.
Caveats:
- Operations on files are enabled generically, eventually specific extensions could be supported.
Built with VS2022 and .NET8.
Commands vary depending on which part of the explorer they originate in.
| Context | Description |
|---|---|
| Dir | Right click in explorer right pane or windows desktop with a directory selected. |
| DirBg | Right click in explorer right pane with nothing selected (background). |
| DeskBg | Right click in windows desktop with nothing selected (background). |
| Folder | Right click in explorer left pane (navigation) with a folder selected. |
| File | Right click in explorer right pane or windows desktop with a file selected. |
These are the builtin commands. It's stuff I've wanted to add to an explorer context menu.
| Menu Item | Context | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Tree | Dir | Copy a tree of selected directory to clipboard. |
| Open in Sublime | Dir/DirBg | Open selected directory/here in Sublime Text. |
| Open in Everything | Dir/DirBg | Open selected directory/here in Everything. |
| Execute | File | Execute if executable otherwise open. Suppresses console window creation. |
Registry sections of interest:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE(HKLM): defaults for all users using a machine (administrator)HKEY_CURRENT_USER(HKCU): user specific settings (not administrator)HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT(HKCR): virtual hive ofHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINEwithHKEY_CURRENT_USERoverrides (administrator)
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT should be used only for reading currently effective settings. A write to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT is
always redirected to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes.
In general, write directly to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\ClassesorHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classesand read fromHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.
Shellinator bases all registry accesses (R/W) at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes aka REG_ROOT.
Shellinator command specifications contain these properties:
| Property | Description |
|---|---|
| Id | Short name for internal id and registry key. |
| RegPath | Where to install in REG_ROOT. |
| Text | As it appears in the context menu. |
| CommandLine | Full command string to execute. |
Supported RegPaths are:
| Context | RegPath |
|---|---|
| Dir | HKCU\Directory |
| DirBg | HKCU\Directory\Background |
| DeskBg | HKCU\DesktopBackground |
| Folder | HKCU\Folder |
| File | HKCU* |
This generates registry entries that look like:
[REG_ROOT\spec.RegPath\shell\spec.Id]
@=""
"MUIVerb"=spec.Text
[REG_ROOT\spec.RegPath\shell\Id\command]
@=spec.CommandLineCommandLine is a free-form string that is executed as if entered at the command line.
There are some macros available.
Built in macros:
| Macro | Description | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| %L | Selected file or directory name. | Only Dir, File. |
| %D | Selected file or directory with expanded named folders. | Only Dir, File, Folder |
| %V | The directory of the selection, maybe unreliable? | All except Folder. |
| %W | The working directory. | All except Folder. |
| %<0-9> | Positional arg. | |
| %* | Replace with all parameters. | |
| %~ | Replace with all parameters starting with the second parameter. |
Shellinator-specific macros:
| Macro | Description |
|---|---|
| %ID | The Id property value. |
| %SHELLINATOR | Path to the Shellinator executable. |
!! Note that all paths and macros that expand to paths must be wrapped in double quotes.
The builtin env vars like %ProgramFiles% are also supported.
Not used currently in Shellinator but could be implemented later.
Note!! Must use MUIVerb, not default value @="text". A hard learn.
[HKCU\Directory]
[HKCU\Directory\shell]
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu]
@=""
"MUIVerb"="Top Menu"
"subcommands"=""
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu\shell]
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu\shell\sub_menu_1]
@=""
"MUIVerb"="Sub Menu 1"
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu\shell\sub_menu_1\command]
@="my_command.exe"
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu\shell\sub_menu_2]
@=""
"MUIVerb"="Sub Menu 2"
[HKCU\Directory\shell\top_menu\shell\sub_menu_2\command]
@="my_command.exe"- General how to: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/context-menu-handlers
- Detailed registry editing: https://mrlixm.github.io/blog/windows-explorer-context-menu/
- Shell command vars: https://superuser.com/questions/136838/which-special-variables-are-available-when-writing-a-shell-command-for-a-context