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Integrating into Windows Explorer context menu

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.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty margin-bottom:0;

36

10

I want to write a small tool, that does the following:

When you right click on a file with a certain file-extension the Windows Explorer context menu shows an additional entry.

When you click this entry a certain EXE is launched with this file as one of its parameters.

I would like to use C#/.NET 2.0 for this. If it's not possible I could also do it with C++/Win32.

My questions are:

1. Is it possible with C# .NET 2.0?


2. What are the necessary functions for integrating into the Windows Explorer context menu?


3. How can I make this permanent? (I don't want to relaunch this tool after every boot)


4. What do I have to take special care of? (different OS, security permissions, etc.)

c# .net explorer file-extension

share|improve this question

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

add a comment | 

36

10

I want to write a small tool, that does the following:

When you right click on a file with a certain file-extension the Windows Explorer context menu shows an additional entry.

When you click this entry a certain EXE is launched with this file as one of its parameters.

I would like to use C#/.NET 2.0 for this. If it's not possible I could also do it with C++/Win32.

My questions are:

1. Is it possible with C# .NET 2.0?


2. What are the necessary functions for integrating into the Windows Explorer context menu?


3. How can I make this permanent? (I don't want to relaunch this tool after every boot)


4. What do I have to take special care of? (different OS, security permissions, etc.)

c# .net explorer file-extension

share|improve this question

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

add a comment | 

I want to write a small tool, that does the following:

When you right click on a file with a certain file-extension the Windows Explorer context menu shows an additional entry.

When you click this entry a certain EXE is launched with this file as one of its parameters.

I would like to use C#/.NET 2.0 for this. If it's not possible I could also do it with C++/Win32.

My questions are:

1. Is it possible with C# .NET 2.0?


2. What are the necessary functions for integrating into the Windows Explorer context menu?


3. How can I make this permanent? (I don't want to relaunch this tool after every boot)


4. What do I have to take special care of? (different OS, security permissions, etc.)

c# .net explorer file-extension

share|improve this question

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

share|improve this question

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

edited Dec 3 '09 at 10:16

Peter Mortensen

14.3k1919 gold badges8888 silver badges116116 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

asked Dec 3 '09 at 9:50

clampclamp

14.1k7070 gold badges184184 silver badges283283 bronze badges

2 Answers
2

active

oldest

votes

25

You will need to access the registry and add a key under root\File\shell or rootFolder\shell, depending on which items you want the menu item visible on.

Try this article at CodeProject, it's quite useful.

Edit: There's another article here which may be of help.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 31 '12 at 6:24

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  codeproject.com/KB/cs/dateparser.aspx
  
  – Kiquenet
  Oct 5 '10 at 18:33
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 for the link to the great 'simple shell context menu' project.
  
  – Danyal Aytekin
  Jul 15 '11 at 14:08
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Still useful, thanks Mark
  
  – Luke Wyatt
  Aug 13 '12 at 14:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  is there any updated version for win 10?
  
  – souvickcse
  Aug 30 '16 at 22:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

It is, incidentally, not supported to use .NET for shell extensions, due to the current inability to host multiple runtime versions in the same process (.NET 4 will lift this restriction).

Consider the case where you have two shell extensions; one for .NET 3.5, one for .NET 1. Which runtime will get loaded into your process? Well, it's more or less random--it depends which shell extension gets loaded first. Sometimes it might be the 2.0 runtime, sometimes it might be the 1.1 runtime.

This is also an issue if a .NET program creates common file dialogs; your shell extension may or may not load, and may or may not run with the correct runtime version.

As such, if you go down the Shell extension route you should use native C++/COM/Win32.

share|improve this answer

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The latest .Net 4.0 runtime supports in process side-by-side loading of the .Net 4.0 runtime (and ALL future runtimes) with earlier .Net runtimes. See following excerpt from msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee819091.aspx "With the ability to have multiple runtimes in process with any other runtime, we can now offer general support for writing managed shell extensions—even those that run in-process with arbitrary applications on the machine."
  
  – logicnp
  Mar 2 '10 at 7:38
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

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25

You will need to access the registry and add a key under root\File\shell or rootFolder\shell, depending on which items you want the menu item visible on.

Try this article at CodeProject, it's quite useful.

Edit: There's another article here which may be of help.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 31 '12 at 6:24

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  codeproject.com/KB/cs/dateparser.aspx
  
  – Kiquenet
  Oct 5 '10 at 18:33
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 for the link to the great 'simple shell context menu' project.
  
  – Danyal Aytekin
  Jul 15 '11 at 14:08
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Still useful, thanks Mark
  
  – Luke Wyatt
  Aug 13 '12 at 14:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  is there any updated version for win 10?
  
  – souvickcse
  Aug 30 '16 at 22:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

25

You will need to access the registry and add a key under root\File\shell or rootFolder\shell, depending on which items you want the menu item visible on.

Try this article at CodeProject, it's quite useful.

Edit: There's another article here which may be of help.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 31 '12 at 6:24

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  codeproject.com/KB/cs/dateparser.aspx
  
  – Kiquenet
  Oct 5 '10 at 18:33
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  +1 for the link to the great 'simple shell context menu' project.
  
  – Danyal Aytekin
  Jul 15 '11 at 14:08
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  Still useful, thanks Mark
  
  – Luke Wyatt
  Aug 13 '12 at 14:09
  

  
  
  
  


• 
  
  
  

  
  3
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  is there any updated version for win 10?
  
  – souvickcse
  Aug 30 '16 at 22:20
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

You will need to access the registry and add a key under root\File\shell or rootFolder\shell, depending on which items you want the menu item visible on.

Try this article at CodeProject, it's quite useful.

Edit: There's another article here which may be of help.

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 31 '12 at 6:24

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

edited Jan 31 '12 at 6:24

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

answered Dec 3 '09 at 9:57

Mark BellMark Bell

21.9k2020 gold badges9999 silver badges128128 bronze badges

3

It is, incidentally, not supported to use .NET for shell extensions, due to the current inability to host multiple runtime versions in the same process (.NET 4 will lift this restriction).

Consider the case where you have two shell extensions; one for .NET 3.5, one for .NET 1. Which runtime will get loaded into your process? Well, it's more or less random--it depends which shell extension gets loaded first. Sometimes it might be the 2.0 runtime, sometimes it might be the 1.1 runtime.

This is also an issue if a .NET program creates common file dialogs; your shell extension may or may not load, and may or may not run with the correct runtime version.

As such, if you go down the Shell extension route you should use native C++/COM/Win32.

share|improve this answer

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The latest .Net 4.0 runtime supports in process side-by-side loading of the .Net 4.0 runtime (and ALL future runtimes) with earlier .Net runtimes. See following excerpt from msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee819091.aspx "With the ability to have multiple runtimes in process with any other runtime, we can now offer general support for writing managed shell extensions—even those that run in-process with arbitrary applications on the machine."
  
  – logicnp
  Mar 2 '10 at 7:38
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

3

It is, incidentally, not supported to use .NET for shell extensions, due to the current inability to host multiple runtime versions in the same process (.NET 4 will lift this restriction).

Consider the case where you have two shell extensions; one for .NET 3.5, one for .NET 1. Which runtime will get loaded into your process? Well, it's more or less random--it depends which shell extension gets loaded first. Sometimes it might be the 2.0 runtime, sometimes it might be the 1.1 runtime.

This is also an issue if a .NET program creates common file dialogs; your shell extension may or may not load, and may or may not run with the correct runtime version.

As such, if you go down the Shell extension route you should use native C++/COM/Win32.

share|improve this answer

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

• 
  
  
  

  
  

  
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
  The latest .Net 4.0 runtime supports in process side-by-side loading of the .Net 4.0 runtime (and ALL future runtimes) with earlier .Net runtimes. See following excerpt from msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/ee819091.aspx "With the ability to have multiple runtimes in process with any other runtime, we can now offer general support for writing managed shell extensions—even those that run in-process with arbitrary applications on the machine."
  
  – logicnp
  Mar 2 '10 at 7:38
  

  
  
  
  

add a comment | 

It is, incidentally, not supported to use .NET for shell extensions, due to the current inability to host multiple runtime versions in the same process (.NET 4 will lift this restriction).

Consider the case where you have two shell extensions; one for .NET 3.5, one for .NET 1. Which runtime will get loaded into your process? Well, it's more or less random--it depends which shell extension gets loaded first. Sometimes it might be the 2.0 runtime, sometimes it might be the 1.1 runtime.

This is also an issue if a .NET program creates common file dialogs; your shell extension may or may not load, and may or may not run with the correct runtime version.

As such, if you go down the Shell extension route you should use native C++/COM/Win32.

share|improve this answer

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

share|improve this answer

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges

answered Dec 3 '09 at 10:05

DrPizzaDrPizza

15.3k66 gold badges3535 silver badges5252 bronze badges